Question

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)

Answer 1

To determine which upgrade Sara should prioritize for her eco-friendly home improvements, we need to analyze the water savings potential from each item she intends to replace: the toilet, the leaky faucet, and the washing machine.

1. **Toilet**: The current toilet uses 5 gallons per flush, and the new toilet uses 1.2 gallons per flush. Assuming an average household flushes the toilet about 5 times per day, the water savings can be calculated as follows:
- Current usage: 5 flushes/day * 5 gallons/flush = 25 gallons/day
- New usage: 5 flushes/day * 1.2 gallons/flush = 6 gallons/day
- Savings: 25 gallons/day - 6 gallons/day = 19 gallons/day
- Annual savings: 19 gallons/day * 365 days = 6,935 gallons/year

2. **Leaky Faucet**: The amount of water wasted depends on the severity of the leak. A slow drip can waste approximately 3 gallons a day, while a more significant leak could waste up to 30 gallons a day or more. Assuming a conservative estimate of a slow drip:
- Savings: Approximately 3 gallons/day
- Annual savings: 3 gallons/day * 365 days = 1,095 gallons/year

3. **Washing Machine**: The current washing machine uses 35 gallons per load, while the new high-efficiency model uses 10 gallons per load. Assuming an average household does around 5 loads per week, the water usage can be calculated as follows:
- Current usage: 5 loads/week * 35 gallons/load = 175 gallons/week
- New usage: 5 loads/week * 10 gallons/load = 50 gallons/week
- Savings: 175 gallons/week - 50 gallons/week = 125 gallons/week
- Annual savings: 125 gallons/week * 52 weeks = 6,500 gallons/year

**Final Comparison of Water Savings**:
- Toilet: 6,935 gallons/year
- Leaky Faucet: 1,095 gallons/year (varying based on severity)
- Washing Machine: 6,500 gallons/year

**Recommendation**: Sara should replace the **toilet first**. This is because it provides the highest potential for water savings (6,935 gallons/year), making a significant impact on her household water usage.

**Reasoning**: By addressing the toilet first, Sara will achieve the most considerable reduction in water waste, allowing her to conserve a substantial amount of water annually. The upgrade aligns well with her goal of making her home more eco-friendly and is a more effective step compared to the other repairs. Additionally, newer toilets often come with improved technology that enhances performance, which can positively impact overall user experience.