Eco-Friendly Plumbing Tips for Energy Cost Savings

By: Tom Hartel

If you are looking for energy cost savings and want to be more eco-friendly, you should take a closer look at your plumbing and fixtures. There may be more energy going down the drain than you think. Changing your fixtures to more efficient options can save thousands of gallons of water per year which is beneficial to both the environment and your wallet.
Deciding on what to change is a great first step on your way to an eco-friendly home or business, here are a few plumbing applications to explore:

Low Flow Toilets

Few people realize how much water a toilet uses. New standard toilets can use about 1.6 gallons of water per flush while older models use much more. Low flow toilets are 20% more energy efficient than a standard toilet. That water and energy cost savings adds up when you think about how many people are using your toilet and how many times it gets flushed per day. Ask a plumber about your options!

Copper Pipe to Retain Heat

Using copper pipe in your plumbing is another option for energy cost savings. They are great for retaining heat as it moves throughout a building. They keep your hot water hot and reduce the amount of energy it takes to heat that water. Copper is a very strong and safe material to work with and generally will require less maintenance.

Low Flow Shower Heads

Just like low flow toilets reducing the flow of your shower head can help reduce water and energy usage in your eco-friendly home. The standard shower head uses 2.5 gallons of water per minute compared to your average low flow shower head which uses 2 gallons per minute. This may not seem like a lot but adds up when you think about how many minutes per day your shower is running water.

High Efficiency and Tankless Water Heaters

High efficiency water heaters are yet another eco-friendly option for your home. They work by condensing vapor that would otherwise go unused. The system recovers the heat from that vapor and more efficiently heats water. There are also energy cost saving benefits for using tankless water heaters. These water heaters will last about 20 years which is approximately double the life of your average water heater. They also use less natural gas, saving both money and the environment.

More Efficient Fixtures

Fixtures like faucets account for a lot of water use as well. There are plenty of option out there for reducing gallons per minute to kitchen and bathroom sinks. Replacing your faucet and accessories with more energy efficient options can reduce water used in your sinks by about 30%. Dishwashers are another area of your plumbing energy cost savings to consider. Using a more energy efficient dishwasher saves both water and money on your utility bill.Make Your Home More Eco-friendly Today
When it is time to take the plunge and switch your plumbing fixtures to better more environmentally friendly options, a professional plumber will help you along the way. They can give you the answers you need on the eco-friendly options you choose. Switching can save you thousands of dollars in the long run, and the environment will thank you.

At Valley Fire Protection & Plumbing, we offer commercial and residential plumbing services that will help you along the way to more eco-friendly plumbing. Contact us today and let’s schedule a visit.

By: Tom Hartel
I acquired my expertise by directing day-to-day operations of the business for over 20 years. Continuous hard work helped me become a nationally recognized speaker and expert on fire protection, fire sprinklers, special hazards, and plumbing systems. In this blog, I share my knowledge that will hopefully help you make better decisions for your projects.

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