It seems like everyone is talking about ‘going green’, and your plumbing is no exception. But aside from just helping the planet, eco-friendly plumbing can also save you some serious cash. If you’re building a new home, doing some renovations, or just want to replace some old plumbing fixtures, consider green plumbing. Your wallet and our environment will really appreciate it!
Have you ever thought about how much your plumbing is costing you?
With water meters now being installed around the state and electricity charges on the increase the average Tasmanian family could save somewhere around $400 – $600 each year by implementing the options below.
What can you do to take advantage of eco-friendly plumbing?
Between your pipes, toilets, taps, and appliances, and outdoor water usage, there are tons of ways to go green and save some money at the same time. And, best of all, it is not difficult to take advantage of these new green plumbing inventions!
1. Pipes
Insulating your hot-water pipes can save you water and energy. For example, the sooner your water gets hot, the less water you will waste waiting for it to warm up, and the less energy you will burn in the process.
2. Toilets
Newer, green toilets are not expensive, and they can cut your water bills dramatically. In fact, newer toilets only use 6 or 3 litres of water to flush – unlike the old toilets that used up to 12 litres of water to flush!
One of the newest, eco-friendly plumbing inventions is the dual-flush toilet, which allows you to select either a long or short flush every time you use it.
Replacing a traditional single flush toilet with a water efficient dual flush toilet saves about 51 litres per person per day and using a water efficient dual flush toilet reduces household water use by around 30,000 to 40,000 litres per household per year.
3. Taps
Did you know that the average family of four uses 1200 litres of water every day, and most of it comes out of our taps? Follow the link and complete the water use calculator to work out your water use at home. http://web.tcdc.govt.nz/swutprod/flash/flash_calc.asp
Eco-friendly plumbing taps can significantly reduce your water consumption. For example, some new taps come with restrictors. There are also low-flow and adjustable-stream showerheads that use less water. And, you can even buy smaller, greener bath tubs that require less water for a relaxing bath.
If you really want to take advantage of green plumbing, opt for a grey water collection system. These devices collect and recycle the water that you use during a shower or bath, and use it to water plants.
4. Appliances
Energy star appliances are a great way to upgrade anytime you need a new water heater, dishwasher, refrigerator, or washing machine. Appliances with an energy star rating conserve energy (which cuts your bills), and also produce fewer harmful emissions (which help the planet).
And, if you don’t have a dishwasher, now is the time to get one. Using a dishwasher actually uses less water and energy than if you were to do the dishes by hand!
5. Outdoor Water Usage
Eco-friendly plumbing can also extend beyond the walls of your home. For example, a drip irrigation system keeps your plants hydrated, without saturating them and using too much water. Fancier systems even come with weather or plant-sensitive sensors that can tell when your plants need to be watered. If you just had a thunderstorm, the sensors will notice and shut off your watering system. Or, if your shrubs don’t require much water to stay healthy, your sensors will notice, and they will only water them once in a while.
Collecting storm water from your roof gutters to a water tank will give you water for your garden and if coupled with a pump can provide water to clean your car, flush your toilet and wash your clothes. These three combined draw nearly 50% of your daily water usage.
Summary—Why Conserve?
Installing water-efficient plumbing fixtures and appliances contributes to conserving water and energy and reducing wastewater flows. Benefits include reduced utility bills for homeowners; deferred capital expenditures for system expansions for the utilities providing water, energy, and sewer services; and a cleaner, higher-quality environment for all.
For a more detailed explanation of these and other options available for you to conserve and care for our environment at your home, please contact our office to have one of our service managers come to offer ways in which we can save you money. This service comes at a cost but is fully refunded should you proceed with any of the options presented to you.
