Going green has been an emerging trend nowadays due to the threat of global warming. There are many ways to make a positive impact and help the environment, such as changing your lifestyle and even building an eco-friendly home. As a homeowner, there are various methods to go green with your home. One of the most overlooked systems where you can apply green strategies is your home’s plumbing.
The Australian government’s water efficiency labelling scheme (WELS) requires certain products to be registered and labelled with their water efficiency in accordance with the standard set under the national Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005. This rating can help you choose products and systems that will help you save water.
‘Green plumbing’ refers to techniques that help homeowners reduce energy consumption, save water, and create a healthier home. Whether you are building a new house or renovating a current home, here are some green plumbing alternatives that you can use.
Green plumbing to reduce water consumption
Using environmentally friendly fixtures allows you to lessen the amount of water that you use in your home every day. Low-flow plumbing fixtures decrease water pressure and can use up to 60% less water.
Low-flow showerheads. Most bathroom showerheads use about 19 litres a minute, low-flow showerheads allow you to use only 9 litres without affecting your shower routine.
Dual flush and low-flow toilets. While regular toilets can use up to 25 litres of water with every flush, a dual flush or low flow system can reduce that to a maximum of 6 litres per flush, which would help you save around 90 litres daily.
Low-flow and single lever mixer taps. Installing low-flow faucets in your bathroom and kitchen can help you reduce water consumption from 15 litres per minute to 9 litres per minute, which is almost 40% water usage reduction. Bathroom faucets with a WELS rating of 6 and kitchen taps with a WELS rating of 4 are considered quite water efficient.
Flow regulators and leak monitoring devices. Using flow regulators prevents high flow rates, and can reduce your water usage by almost half. Leak monitors alert you immediately if there are any leaks in the system, allowing you to fix the problem before the leaks worsen.
Green plumbing to conserve energy
When thinking about conserving energy, your plumbing is probably the last thing that will come to mind. However, ensuring your plumbing system is energy efficient will help you significantly lower energy costs and reduce your carbon footprint.
Insulate your pipes. Heat can escape through the pipes in your home. Insulating your pipes can prevent heat loss as the hot water travels from the heater to your faucet or shower.
Energy-efficient water heater. Switching to a green water heater can reduce your energy bill by up to 15%. Instead of reheating water throughout the day, tankless water heaters heat water to your desired temperature in a matter of seconds, and only when you need it.
Green plumbing for a healthier home
Not only will green plumbing reduce water and energy consumption, it can also make the water you use at home healthier and safer for you and your family.
Whole house filtration system. This removes any microorganisms, particulates, chemicals, and other contaminants from your water, delivering cleaner water to your home. It can also prolong the lifespan of your water heater and lower its energy usage.
Reverse osmosis systems and carbon filters. If your problem is poor water quality at home, these changes are exactly what you need. Install carbon filters on your showerheads and faucets to absorb any pollutants from the water that you use for bathing. Reverse osmosis filtration helps purify the water you use for cooking and drinking.
How to go green with your plumbing
You don’t have to make all the changes mentioned above all at the same time in your home. Start with having a professional plumber update one or two parts at a time until you have completely switched to green plumbing. You may need to invest in buying the green plumbing fixtures and paying for the installation, but in the long run, you will be saving big bucks with the reduced water and energy bills. To top it all off, you will be contributing to helping save the environment.
If you want more information about green plumbing or if you are considering installing green plumbing fixtures in your home, contact Green Planet Plumbing by giving us a call or sending us an email. We are on-call 24/7 and we will gladly assist you with any of your concerns.
