Plumbing systems impact the environment in numerous ways, from the amount of water they use to the carbon emissions they produce to meet our hot water needs. Water is our most precious resource, so we all need to conserve as much as we can. Finding ways to lower your carbon footprint is equally important. We’ll look at some of the best eco-friendly plumbing solutions for protecting the environment and saving money.
Tankless Water Heaters
Water heating typically accounts for 15%-20% of a household’s total energy consumption, placing it behind only heating and air conditioning. Although tank water heaters are more efficient than they used to be, they still consume a substantial amount of energy to maintain a large volume of water at a high temperature. They also waste some energy by losing heat through the tank. This issue is known as standby heat loss, and it leads to a water heater needing to run occasionally even if no one has used hot water that day.
Upgrading to a tankless water heater typically results in a 10% to 35% reduction in the amount of energy you need to meet your household’s hot water demand. Tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand, enabling them to use less energy and lower their carbon emissions. With a tankless water heater, you also have the added benefit of unlimited hot water.
Water Filtration Systems
Installing a water filtration system is extremely beneficial for lessening the amount of bottled water your household consumes, allowing you to save money as you help protect the environment. Bottled water has a massive impact on the environment in numerous ways. For starters, it requires huge amounts of fossil fuels to produce the plastic for the bottles. To produce one plastic bottle, it also takes around twice as much water as it does to fill the bottle. You also need to factor in the impact of transporting the bottled water.
A water filtration system will remove any impurities from your home’s water supply, ensuring you always have access to clean, fresh, great-tasting water. The easiest option is to install a point-of-use reverse osmosis system in your kitchen. You can also opt for a multi-stage whole-home filtration system so that you can enjoy clean water throughout the house.
Low-Flow Faucets and Showerheads
Low-flow faucets and showerheads have been mandated since the 1990s, but some older homes still have standard fixtures that can use up to 50% more water than modern ones. Many manufacturers now also produce faucets and showerheads that are even more efficient and surpass the current flow rate standards. You can tell if a fixture exceeds the minimum standards, as it will usually carry the EPA WaterSense label.
If you have any standard fixtures in your house, installing low-flow fixtures can substantially reduce your water bills and be one of the best water-saving plumbing upgrades you can make. Conserving water also reduces the strain on municipal water systems and the amount of greenhouse emissions produced by water treatment facilities.
Dual-Flush Toilets
As with low-flow fixtures, the United States has long mandated the use of low-flush toilets. Old standard toilets typically use at least 3.5 gallons of water per flush. Any toilet sold in the U.S. now must be a low-flush model that uses no more than 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf). Toilets that meet the EPA’s WaterSense criteria can use no more than 1.28 gpf. There are even ultra-low-flush toilets that use less than 1.1 gpf, but these sometimes have issues with getting everything to go down in a single flush. As such, a better option is often to install a dual-flush toilet.
Dual-flush toilets have two flush settings, one for liquid waste and one for solids. The solid flush is still typically around 1.6 gpf, ensuring you shouldn’t have to flush twice. The liquid flush typically uses between 0.8 and 1.1 gallons, allowing you to save substantially more water than you would with a standard low-flush toilet.
At Reddi Services, we’re the top choice for energy-efficient plumbing in the Kansas City and Phoenix Metro areas. From fixture replacements to tankless water heaters and water filtration systems, we offer a range of green plumbing solutions to suit every need.
For more information or to schedule service, contact our team at Reddi Services today.
