Plumbing For a Green Home and Lower Water Bills

Among the most appealing qualities of opting for a green living is the satisfaction of containing two elements most dear to you – energy and cash. Green plumbing is an option now being offered by plumbers in just about every city. If you are capable of handling a wrench, you could customize your plumbing yourself too. Minor changes in the tools used in plumbing circuits can together make a huge difference in the amount of water used.

The foremost targets of green plumbing are faucets and shower heads. Retrofit aerators and low flow shower heads are now available at affordable prices. These aerators when fitted into faucets significantly reduce the amount of water flowing through the taps without reducing the pressure. The advised rate of flow of water is one gallon per minute for bathroom sinks and 1.5 gallon per minute for kitchen sinks. The area over which water sprays is wide, but the amount of water involved in reduced. Low flow shower heads have been recorded to result in water savings anywhere between 25% and 60%.

Toilets that date back to 1992 or earlier use ample water, with almost 3.5 gallons of water being used per flush. Dual flush feature is a new option in the market that is expensive when compared to the traditional single flush, but is a worthy investment. Spend slightly more on installing dual flush toilets and reap the benefits in the form of reduced water bills and carbon footprint. This design allows you to control the amount of water used to suit the need of the moment. Such installations also engender a sense of responsibility in children as this habit of conserving water also manifests itself in other ways.

There are a range of products available in the market today, with prices being pittance, that help you control the amount of water being used by your toilet. Toilet Tummy™ is a product that has been in the market for over two decades that saves the amount of water used per flush. The product has been reviewed to result in substantial savings in water usage and water bills. Toilet water tanks, adjustable flappers and leak deduction tablets are among other products that help save water.

Have your sinks and toilets checked for leaks as these leaks account for a large part of wasted water. These leaks also cause the flushing away of hard earned money in the form of escalated water bills. Also, it has been recorded by reliable institutions that about 26% of potable water is wasted away in household due to leaks. This makes it important for a green house to have its plumbing checked to ensure that there are no unwanted water channels.

Hot water is energy expensive with bother water and heat generated going to waste at a rapid pace. This problem can now be tackled by using drain water heat recovery systems. Green buildings can now have these heat recovery systems installed beneath water tubs and showers so that the heat is captured from draining waste water. This captured heat can then be reused.

Apart from shower heads, faucets and toilets, there are other appliances that use plenty of water to get the job done. For example washing machines, Front loading washing machines use about half the amount of water that top loading washing machines do. Those seeking to replace their existing washing machines are advised to invest in front loading ones if a green home and reduced water bills are alluring goals.

A green in-house system also has space for grey water usage. Grey water is the term used to refer to recycled waste water. The waste water generated by domestic functions such as washing, cleaning and bathing can be recycled instantaneously, and this recycled water can be used for irrigation purposes. Check with the laws of your state to ascertain if grey water is legal as not all states have permitted the use of this process.

Apart from concentrating on the plumbing of a house, one must also focus on the habits of individuals to truly create a green world. Simple acts like turning off water flow as you brush or shampoo your hair contribute to significant reductions in the amount of water used, and thus water bills. Use dish washers that are water efficient, and use it only when there are a more than just a couple of utensils to be washed. Fewer utensils are best washed by hand in the kitchen sink, with controlled water faucets limiting the amount of water used for the purpose.

The demand for green plumbing has risen over the recent past resulting in the establishment of agencies that focus on green needs. You will most probably find in your neighborhood a plumber with vast knowledge on the latest offerings of the manufacturing industry to assist in making the world environment friendly. Subscribe to the services of a plumber to conduct regular checks to find and fix leaks, if any. When constructing a new house or renovating one, calling in a plumber for green options is an investment that will be rewarded well.

Author Bio: Jason Phillips is a professional interior designer and at a position of team leader at his company. He usually suggests Tacoma plumbers for designer plumbing while designing interiors of any home.