Conserving water saves energy by reducing the cost of water treatment, heating water, and running appliances that use water.
In fact, according to the EPA, if every U.S. home had efficient plumbing fixtures the U.S. would save more than 3 trillion gallons of water, and an estimated $18 billion dollars per year!
Here are some water-saving plumbing upgrades to consider.
Water Conserving Toilets
Toilets typically are responsible for most water wasted in the average home, consuming as much as 30 percent of an average home’s (indoor) water. If your toilets were installed prior to 1994, there is a good chance it uses more than 1.6 gallons of water when flushed. Consider replacing older toilets with a current EPA standard 1.28-gallon model. As an alternative for older larger tank toilets, you can conserve water by placing a small water-filled bottle into the toilet tank to reduce the displacement.Low-Flow Shower Heads
Showering accounts for around 20 percent of an average home's indoor water consumption. Today's low-flow showerheads can reduce water consumption by as much as 70% while still providing a strong spray of water.Efficient Faucets
If you have older, inefficient faucets that use more than 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM), consider replacing them with high-efficiency faucets that have a flow rate of less than 1.5 GPM. Alternatively, you can add an aerator or flow restrictor to the faucet to easily reduce its water flow.Have questions about water-conserving plumbing fixtures? Call Maxwell Plumb. We're here to help.