Going Green: Easy Steps for the Home
“Going green” does more than protect the home from leprechauns. The green movement is growing thanks to its countless benefits for the modern American home. Greener plumbing solutions can save homeowners money and water, producing a greener, more eco-friendly home.
Of course, getting started on “going green” can seem like a big step. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be. There are many simple ways to make a home greener in time for St. Patrick’s Day, and not one of them requires green paint or shamrocks!
Don’t Waste Water
It may sound simple, but not wasting water is the first step towards making the home more eco-friendly. After all, water is one of the most important resources on the planet! The average American household wastes 9,400 gallons of water a year. For context, that can wash 300 loads of laundry. Across the country, that adds up to 900 billion gallons of water wasted a year.
Water waste in a household can stem from many sources. The easiest for homeowners to fix is fairly hands-on: turn off faucets and water fixtures when not in use. It’s easy to excuse the thirty seconds of running water when brushing teeth or flossing, but that’s where the water waste can add up. Leaking pipes are another source of water waste that can be reduced by locating and fixing leaks.
Take it Easy on the Toilet
What does a toilet have to do with water waste? Quite a bit, as it turns out. Older toilets can waste quite a lot of water compared to a high-efficiency toilet (HET), also known as a low-flow toilet. Toilets built before 1982 use 5-7 gallons of water per flush. New toilets require only 1.6 gallons of water per flush, and they can manage the job without sacrificing efficiency or causing clogs. Upgrading the toilet can save hundreds of dollars a year and over twenty-thousand gallons of water!
Go Eco-Friendly with Fixtures and Appliances
If homeowners are willing to spend a little money to get a lot of green, they should consider investing in eco-friendly plumbing fixtures and appliances.
High-efficiency appliances have become popular in modern homes. Toilets aren’t the only plumbing fixtures that come in high-efficiency forms. Older showerheads can pump out water at a rate of 5.5 gallons per minute. A high-efficiency showerhead uses only 2.5 gallons of water per minute, reducing the water usage by half. Sinks are another common water waster- exchanging an older sink that uses about 2.2 gallons of water per minute to a high-efficiency model that uses only 1.6 gallons per minute can reduce water usage and its corresponding utility bill by 30%.
Larger appliances can be updated for more water-saving, eco-friendly gains. New dishwashers save over 3,000 gallons of water over their lifetime, and investing in a tankless water heater can save on water and electricity costs in a home!
A local expert plumber can help homeowners find the best “green” plumbing solutions that will work for their home needs.
About Everest Plumbing
You shouldn’t have to worry about plumbing problems- that’s what Everest Plumbing is here for! They’re proud to serve their Greenville community with straightforward pricing and a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. They will always complete their work neatly, cleanly, and on time. Contact them to learn more about eco-friendly plumbing solutions in Greenville.
