GreenPointers: Faucets, Showerheads, and Toilets

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Finding the Right Toilet

Toilets are by far the main source of water use in the home, accounting for nearly 30 percent of an average home's indoor water consumption.

If you replace older, existing toilets with WaterSense labeled models, you can save 4,000 gallons per year with this simpler, greener choice. Learn more about WaterSense toilets.

If you already have a high-efficiency toilet, it will qualify for points toward a GreenPoint Rating. Learn more about the benefits of a green label.

Does It Pay to Go Green?

This summer's research findings that homes with green labels command a 9% price premium over homes without a label continue to garner media attention.

This article in the Palo Alto Weekly takes a look at the study in the Bay Area context, and how the 'Prius effect' can get you an even higher price for your green labeled home.

Read the article.

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GreenPoint Rated Guide
to a Green Remodel

Full of pointers on how to make your remodel green, healthier, and more comfortable, this guide will help get you started.

Click here to download

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GreenPointers:
Faucets, Showerheads, and Toilets

Our series of GreenPointers provide helpful tips for a healthier, greener home in a variety of topics. Today's topic is faucets, showerheads, and toilets.

It's easy to take running water for granted. But in California, dwindling fresh water supplies and a growing population mean water is a precious resource. You can do your part to protect our communal water supplies with some simple changes in your home.

Installing efficient faucets, showerheads, and toilets isn't just good for the environment. Using less water means lower water and sewer bills and lower energy bills for heating water. Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing your fixtures:


	GET MONEY BACK
	Check with your local water provider for possible rebates. Water providers and local governments encourage people to install water-saving toilets, faucets and showerheads because these fixtures reduce demand for water supplies and reduce the volume of wastewater that needs treatment.
	MEASURE WHAT'S GOING DOWN THE DRAIN
	To measure the flow rate of your faucets and showerheads, you'll need a watch and a bucket or container that holds at least one gallon and is marked with volume measurements. Turn the taps until they are fully open, hold the container under the stream of water, and time how long it takes to obtain one gallon of water. Then divide 1 gallon by the time (in minutes). For example, if it takes 30 seconds to obtain 1 gallon, then the flow rate is 2 gpm (1 gallon / 0.5 minutes). If it takes 18 seconds to obtain 1 gallon, then the flow rate is 3.3 gpm (1 gallon / 0.3 minutes).
	MAINTAIN IT
	If you add a flow reducer to a faucet tip, remember to do simple periodic maintenance to keep it from becoming clogged. Just unscrew the flow reducer, rinse it clean of debris, and screw it back on.
	FIND OUT MORE
	For more information about high efficiency faucets, showerheads and toilets and other tips on saving water, go to www.epa.gov/watersense.

Read the complete faucets, showerheads, and toilets GreenPointers.

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Oct 23, 2012 3:00 PM

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GreenPointers: Faucets, Showerheads, and Toilets