Eco-friendly, sustainable, climate-conscious. These are more than buzz-words we throw around every Earth Day. They are ways of decreasing negative impact on the environment in meaningful ways, beyond simply turning off lights in unoccupied rooms and separating the garbage from the recycling. But sometimes, adopting a sustainable or eco-friendly plumbing lifestyle without sacrificing home comfort can be a challenge. Luckily, advancements in plumbing have made it easier than ever to reduce water consumption, save money on your water bills, and prolong the use of plumbing and water-using appliances.
Here are six measures you can take to make your plumbing system more efficient and environmentally-friendly.
- Low Flow Fixtures. A typical showerhead delivers approximately 26 gallons of water during a 10-minute shower. By comparison, a low-flow showerhead saves up to 6 gallons of water per 10-minute shower without any noticeable change in water pressure.
- Touchless Faucets. A motion sensor faucet is activated only when your hand comes near the sensor. This eliminates water waste while helping to reduce the spread of germs.
- Water-Saving Toilets. Like faucets and showerheads, older toilets consume a great deal of water – about 3.5 gallons of water per flush. A high-efficiency toilet can cut water usage by over half. Better yet, a dual-flush model reduces water consumption even more with the liquid waste button.
- Energy-Efficient Water Heater. The older your water heater, the harder it must work to deliver hot water when you need it. Traditional tank-style heaters constantly consume energy to heat and reheat the many gallons of water in the tank whether it’s called for or not. If your water heater is nearing the end of its equipment life, consider replacing it with a tankless system that heats water only when you need it.
- Pipe Insulation. Insulated water pipes prevent the water flowing through them from losing heat as it travels to your faucet or showerhead. This small, inexpensive change can save both water and electricity since your water heater won’t need to work as hard to deliver hot water.
- Eco-Friendly Treatment Products. In addition to reducing water consumption, being sustainable means paying attention to the products and chemicals that go into your plumbing system and groundwater. Don’t pour fats, oils, and grease down the drain where they can solidify around the inside of a pipe and lead to a clog. When clearing clogs, use gentler enzyme-based drain cleaners that are not only safer for the water supply but for plumbing pipes as well. And never dispose of harsh chemicals down the toilet or drain.
At Eagle Service Company, we help you enjoy all the comforts that central plumbing can deliver while cutting way back on water consumption. So, for one or more win-win product upgrades of your own, contact us today.
