Honor St. Patrick By Going Green In The Home
Going green leaves less of a carbon footprint on the earth, which is extremely important in the age of growing technology. Many people may think that going green means buying electric vehicles, replacing windows with Energy Star-rated products, and more. However, homeowners may not know that there are other ways to go green.
One way is to choose energy-efficient appliances. If there’s a refrigerator that needs to be replaced or a dishwasher, make sure it's Energy Star rated. This rating means that it meets a high level of energy efficiency. There may also be an incentive that goes along with it.
Another way to go green is to reduce water usage within the home. A plumber can install aerators on faucets to change them to low-flow showerheads. Low-slow showerheads will limit the amount of water that comes out of them, leading to less water usage and lower water bills.
Of course, there are plenty of other options covered in this article, so read on to get helpful tips for the home.
How To Save Water With New Fixtures
If a plumber sees that a toilet was installed before 1993, it’s probably using 2 gallons more water per flush than anything manufactured today. New toilets use only 1.28 to 1.6 gallons of water per flush, even without WaterSense certifications.
More so, dual flush toilets are a great option. They use less water than a regular toilet because it uses a different means to flush solid and liquid waste. There are two buttons on top of the toilet, one for liquid, which uses less water, and one for solid waste, which uses more water.
Faucets are another option for saving water. Faucets use more than 15 percent of indoor water. By restricting the flow from 2.2 gallons of water per minute to less than 1.5 gallons of water per minute, the average household can save 700 gallons of water per year.
Lastly, showers use as much as 17 percent of indoor water. Before 1992, they used 5.5 gallons of water per minute. More recently, the flow rate standard was reduced to 2.5 GPM, but that still uses 40 gallons per day. Showerheads with WaterSense technology can’t use more than 2 gallons per minute. This saves up to 2,900 gallons of water per year.
Green Water Heaters
When selecting a water heater, it’s important to consider the energy factor. This is the overall measure of efficiency based on the 64 gallons of hot water used per day, no matter what the tank size is.
Additionally, the smaller the tank, the more energy-efficient it’s going to be. Energy Star models with an energy factor between 0.67 and 0.70 are the most efficient conventional gas-fired storage models.
When it comes to maximum energy efficiency, gas-fired water heaters units that have sealed combustion or power venting are best. This is a two-pipe system, one brings the outside air into the water heater, and the other takes out the combustion gas outside.
How To Make Green Habits Easy
It’s not tough to enforce green habits in the home. There are a few ways that homeowners can incorporate green habits into their daily routines. One way is to reduce the time spent in the shower. The less time somebody is in the shower, the less amount of water is being used.
Additionally, turning off the water while brushing teeth can save a decent amount of water as well. The same goes for shaving. Lather, shut off the water, shave, and rinse.
When doing the dishes, don’t let the water run while washing them. If there are two parts of the sink, fill one side with water, put the dishes in it, wash them, then put them on the other side and then rinse them quickly before putting them on the drying rack.
About Force Plumbing and Heating LLC
Force Plumbing and Heating LLC is a family-owned and operated plumbing company in Holmdel, New Jersey. They offer 24/7 emergency services and specialize in various areas such as remodeling, clogged toilet repair, and more. They are fully licensed, bonded, and insured, and they offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
