3 Tips for Going Green This St. Patrick’s Day!
As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, there’s no better time to go “green” with some helpful home tips. Combining new plumbing fixtures and simple habits can greatly affect a home’s water usage. Not only is this good for the environment — treating water takes a lot of energy — but it’s also good for the water bill. Luckily, saving water doesn’t require homeowners to change their whole routine. A few minor changes can help homeowners save money by saving water. Read on to discover these three green plumbing tips!
Try Eco-Friendly Fixtures and Appliances
One of the best ways to prevent wasting water is by investing in low-flow fixtures. Thanks to new technology, homeowners no longer have to sacrifice significant water pressure when switching to low-flow fixtures. With aeration, low-flow showerheads and sink faucets use less water without sacrificing water pressure. Standard sink faucets have a flow rate of around 2.2 gallons per minute. On the other hand, newer “eco-friendly” models start at 1.5 gallons per minute. For shower heads, the federal standard is 2.5 gallons per minute. But low-flow showerheads use around 2 gallons per minute. This can generate some significant savings over time.
Low-flow toilets are the way to go for those serious about saving water. By upgrading the toilet, homeowners can save up to 4,000 gallons of water per toilet per year! This is because standard toilets use between 2 and 4 gallons per flush. Newer toilets use between 1.1 and 1.6 gallons per flush. And with adjustments to the flushing pressure, homeowners don’t have to worry about clogs. Many low-flow toilets experience fewer clogs than older toilets.
Implement Simple “Green” Habits
Other than installing water-saving fixtures, the best thing homeowners can do to save water is to adopt “green” habits. Some of these are common sense, while others may be a bit surprising. Ensuring that any little ones in the house aren’t running the bathroom faucet while brushing their teeth is a good start. But keeping showers under 5 minutes can save hundreds of gallons a week — especially in combination with a low-flow showerhead.
Running the dishwasher is another big one. Waiting until the appliance is completely full before running it is a good water-saving practice. If just a few dishes need washing, doing them by hand can save water. But the trick is to not fill up an entire basin with water to do them. Putting some soap directly on a sponge and only turning on the tap to wet and rinse can use less water than the dishwasher. Likewise, doing fewer and larger loads of laundry is better than doing smaller loads more often.
Think Before Flushing
Going “green” at home isn’t just about water conservation. There are certain things homeowners can do to make things easier on the environment and the local water treatment facility. And the best way to do this is by minding what gets flushed down the toilet. Only human waste and toilet paper should go down the toilet. Things like wipes — even “flushable” ones — can muck up the plumbing and water treatment efforts downstream. This also goes for things like paper towels and personal hygiene products. These things can eventually end up polluting the ocean, as well. Best to keep them out of the toilets!
With the three simple tips above, homeowners can make a big difference in how much water they use and their environmental impact. Not only is this good for the world, but it’s good for the wallet, too!
About Dutch Enterprises
Dutch Enterprises have been serving Cape Girardeau, MO, since 1962! The family-owned and operated company provides free estimates and fast turnarounds. They also provide flat-rate pricing so there are no surprises! Contact them today for plumbing fixture installation in Cape Girardeau, MO.
