Going green is a great choice for helping the environment, and there are
so many ways to do it. By changing the way you eat, shop, travel, and
even live in your home, you can make a significant impact. If you’re
looking to build a green home or retrofit an existing one, you should
consider green plumbing. Not only is it environmentally friendly, but
it makes for a healthier home. Here are a few changes that can be made
to the plumbing infrastructure that will change the way you use water.
Conserving Water Usage
Installing low flow showers, faucets, and toilets will limit the amount
of water these fixtures use. Low flow fixtures use up to 60% less water
by decreasing water pressure. A regular toilet uses about 3.5 to 7 gallons
of water per flush. A low flow toilet will use between two to five times
less than that. This saves considerable water usage and money.
You can also consider installing a leak monitoring device, which will alert
you of hidden leaks as soon as they happen. Energy Efficient dishwashers
and washing machines greatly cut down on water and electricity usage, as well.
Conserving Energy Usage
You wouldn’t immediately think that your plumbing can affect other
energy usage in your home, but it does:
- Uninsulated pipes will cause hot water to lose heat while traveling to
the shower or faucets. Insulate your pipes to get more out of your hot
water heater and cut down on gas or electricity it uses.
- On-Demand Hot Water Circulation Pumps deliver hot water to pipes within
seconds. You don't have to run the faucets for several minutes while
waiting for water to heat up.
- Installing a new, energy efficient water heater will make a big difference
in the total energy your home uses. Water heaters account for up to 15%
of energy use.
Better Plumbing for Better Health
You can get a water quality report from your water supply company. This
will show you any minerals or chemicals in the water supply you may want
to eliminate. There is a variety of water filters out there, and they
all focus on different issues. Know what you want before you commit.
- Shower head filters screw on to either replace or add on to an existing
shower head. These can help with hard water and keep your skin healthy and soft.
- Activated carbon systems are installed on shower heads to absorb pollutants
that come into contact with you while bathing. Reverse Osmosis Filters
can be installed on faucets throughout the home to treat water used for
drinking, cooking, washing your face, etc.
- A whole house filtration system filters water where it comes into your
house and provides your home with clean water. They eliminate contaminants
and microorganisms in the water from the start. This is not only healthy
for you, but it also delivers clean water to your water heater, reducing
its energy usage.
If you’re thinking of making some eco-friendly changes, plumbing
is a great start! With benefits for you, your wallet, and the environment,
there's no reason to delay making a greener choice!