Sara should replace her old washing machine first. This is because the washing machine consumes the most water out of the three items she wants to upgrade. By replacing her old washing machine with a high-efficiency model that uses only 10 gallons per load, she can save a significant amount of water with each use.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, high-efficiency washing machines can save up to 3,000 gallons of water per year compared to traditional models. This means that Sara can reduce her water usage by a substantial amount by upgrading her washing machine. In addition, using less water also means less energy will be used to heat the water, which can further reduce her household's environmental impact.
Furthermore, replacing the washing machine first aligns with the principle of prioritizing upgrades that yield the most significant impact. By focusing on the item that consumes the most water, Sara can make a bigger difference in her household's water conservation efforts before moving on to replacing the toilet and faucet.
Sara is working on making her house more eco-friendly. She has a number of upgrades she wants to make such as replacing her toilet that uses 5 gallons per flush with a new toilet that uses 1.2 gallons per flush. She also wants to replace a leaky faucet in her kitchen. Finally, she would like to replace her old washing machine that uses 35 gallons of water per load with a new high-efficiency model that only uses 10 gallons per load.
Which item should Sara replace first and why? Support your answer with evidence and reasoning.
(4 points)
1 answer