(NAPSI)—During this busy season of holiday parties, shopping, and family festivities, it’s easy to forget how much this time of year can increase your environmental footprint. A family of four uses about 400 gallons of water at home daily, but when you add holiday cooking and guests to the mix, the gallons can really add up!

If you have a houseful this holiday season, you can still save water by using these simple tips:

• When cooking: Thaw your turkey or other frozen foods in the refrigerator overnight instead of under the tap with hot water. Clean vegetables in a pan of water rather than running water.

• When cleaning up: Running a (full) dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hand in small batches. And scrape the leftover scraps from plates instead of rinsing them before loading.

• When the guests leave: Run only full loads of sheets in the clothes washer.

Need a few holiday gift ideas for the hard-to-buy-for person on your list? Check out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense^® product search tool for a variety of gifts that not only save water, but are independently certified to perform well! Here are a few suggestions to make savings a fixture in your home year-round:

• Have a teenager that lets the shower run a little long? A WaterSense labeled showerhead can save your family about 2,900 gallons of water per year, plus the energy used to heat that water—enough to power your home for 13 days. WaterSense labeled models also provide the same water coverage and satisfying spray as showerheads that use 20 percent more water.

• For the person on your list who loves a perfect lawn but doesn’t have the time to water it, how about a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller? This smart appliance accesses local weather data and does the thinking for you in terms of when and how much to water. Plants get the right amount of water, and sprinklers don’t go off when it’s raining, saving nearly 8,800 gallons of water annually.

• Need a last-minute stocking stuffer? WaterSense labeled bathroom faucet aerators save 700 gallons of water per year without a noticeable difference in flow, plus enough energy to dry your hair for 10 minutes a day!

Check out the WaterSense product search tool at www.epa.gov/watersense/product_search.html, or learn more water-saving tips for the holidays at www.epa.gov/watersense.