There’s a lot of “waste” that happens in the bathroom (if you catch our drift). We don’t mean just what goes in, but just the general amount of energy and resources your bathroom consumes.
After all, bathrooms account for the most water usage of any room in the house. The EPA estimated that if just one in every 10 bathrooms upgraded their water efficiency (meaning showerheads, toilets, and sinks), we could save an estimated $1.5 billion in utility costs and about 74 billion gallons of water.
Turning your bathroom into something eco-friendly is great for both your wallet as well as the environment. We’ll break it down a bit more.
Upgrade to Water Efficient Showerheads
Shower use accounts for nearly 17% of the total indoor water use. With water-efficient showerheads, the average family can save up to 18,200 gallons of water per year.
Water-efficient showerheads deliver by reducing water usage without compromising performance. They cost an average of $10 and simply require you to screw them in. Very easy installation.
Install a Tankless Water Heater
Tankless water heaters—aka “hot water on demand”—can use 30-50% less energy than units with tanks. This is possible because they only heat water once you turn on the faucet. Energy isn’t being expended in that “off” time.
When buying one, you’ll want to make sure it’s the proper size for your family and household. A smaller unit may not be able to serve more than one faucet at a time – meaning, that showers while washing the dishes won’t be possible.
Use Water-Efficient Bathroom Faucets
Similar to the showerheads, water-efficient bathroom faucets use a reduced amount of water—30% on average—than normal flow.
Many manufacturers sell these – just make sure you look for the Water Sense label. This means it meets the EPA’s standard for water efficiency.
Replace Your Toilet with a Low Flow Toilet
Many of the water-using urban myths come from those who leave the sink flowing as they brush their teeth. While that uses a huge amount, it’s the toilet that uses the most water in the house (880 gallons per week for a family of four).
Older toilets will use 3.5-7 gallons per water flush; newer low-flow toilets use an average of 1.6 GPF.
Here’s the best thing about using eco-friendly products: most of them can pay their way back in a short time (due to your savings in utility costs). It’s great to see that these products make sense for both your expenses as well as the health of the environment.
Most of the above products are simple to install – however, for replacing toilets and water heaters, you’ll certainly want to call a certified professional.
Ready to go green? Get in touch with Apollo Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning to get the savings started.
