When you think of your dream bathroom, what do you picture? At Eco Plumbers, we picture an eco-friendly bathroom that is entirely water and energy efficient. This means using WaterSense products, which are the approved standard in water efficiency by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). By using WaterSense products, such as low-flow toilets, water efficient faucets, and high-efficiency showerheads, you can create an incredibly environmentally friendly bathroom and save on your water bill, too. To learn more about the installation of WaterSense products, contact The Eco Plumbers today.
What is WaterSense?
WaterSense is a government sponsored program that involves a partnership between the EPA and manufacturers of water-efficient products. Those products that meet EPA standards will have the WaterSense label, enabling consumers to easily see if a product is water efficient without having to compare the complex details of each item. WaterSense products are always tested and certified via a third party who is independent from both the EPA and the manufacturer, ensuring that only products that actually meet the specifications receive the label.
Low-Flow Toilets
Did you know that your toilet accounts for almost 30% of water consumption for the average homeowner? Old toilets that are not water-efficient are huge wasters of water, using about 6 gallons each time you flush. If you install a WaterSense low-flow toilet, you can use just 1.28 gallons each time you flush. This will decrease your toilet water use by up to 60%, saving almost 13,000 gallons of water each year. In utility costs, this amounts to over $110 each year and $2,200 during the entire lifetime of your toilets.
For an even larger perspective, consider how much water could be saved across the United States if every homeowner installed WaterSense low-flow toilets. This would save about 520 billion gallons of water annually, which amounts to the water flow over Niagara Falls over the course of 12 days. WaterSense toilets are available in many different styles and price ranges. In addition, it is possible that your utility company will offer a voucher or rebate for purchasing a WaterSense toilet.
Efficient Sink Faucets
Another important WaterSense product to consider is a water efficient faucet for your bathroom sink. These faucets will use only 1.5 gallons of water per minute. In addition, you can install a low-flow faucet aerator. This changes the way water streams out of your faucet and saves on water consumption. Along with changing the type of faucet you use, you should also turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth or shaving. This will save you a maximum of 300 gallons of water every month.
High-Efficiency Showerheads
Finally, water efficient showerheads are another WaterSense product that will save water consumption in your bathroom. Showering typically adds up to about 17% of the average home’s daily water use. While the standard showerhead will utilize 2.5 gallons of water per minute, WaterSense showerheads must use less than 2 gallons per minute. This can save you about 2,900 gallons of water every year. In addition, a water-efficient showerhead will require less use of your water heater, further saving on electricity.
