Nowadays, everyone including homeowners and business owners are interested in going green. Global warming is on almost everyone’s mind. And everyone wants to make some contribution to slow it down by making a positive impact on the environment. There are many ways to do so – making changes to your lifestyle and constructing an environment-friendly building. Going green with Plumber Sydney with is also a choice.
What is Green Plumbing?
Green plumbing refers to different ways in which you can conserve water, reduce your energy consumption, and create a more energy-efficient plumbing system. Its implementation is possible when you are building a new home or remodelling an existing one.
Goals of Green Plumbing
The various goals of green plumbing are discussed here. You can also find out how to achieve these goals.
1. Reducing Water Consumption
Install eco-friendly fixtures in your home that reduce the amount of water you use. These are low-flow fixtures that lower water pressure. They can reduce your water consumption by up to 60%. Examples of fixtures you can ask your plumberarea to install in your home can be as follows:
- Low-Flow Showerheads: A typical bathroom showerhead will use up to 19 litres of water per minute. When you install low-flow showerheads, they can limit water consumption to less than half that.
- Dual Flush Toilet: Your standard toilet uses up to 25 litres of water for each flush. Installing a dual flush toilet can limit that to just 6 litres, which is a fourth of it. These toilets are also referred to as low-flow toilets.
- Low-Flow Faucets: Replacing your standard faucets with low-flow taps in your kitchen and bathroom can reduce your water consumption by up to 40%. It is recommended to choose faucets with WELS rating of 6 for the bathroom and 4 for the kitchen.
- Flow Regulators & Leak Monitors: Use flow regulators to lower the flow rates. They can help reduce your water consumption by almost 50%. Installing leak monitors can alert you if any leaks are detected.
A leak monitoring device can help you detect hidden leaks. The Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme or WELS is a Australian government scheme that requires water-efficiency products to be labelled according to the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005. It is recommended to select products with this rating to conserve water.
2. Energy Conservation
Your Plumbing system can play a big role in conserving energy in your home. This can further lower your energy costs. Some of the steps you can take in this regard are as follows:
- Insulate the Pipes: Insulating the pipes can help prevent heat loss from pipes.
- Install an Energy-Efficient Water Heater: Replacing your old water heater with a green one can lower your energy bills by 15% or more. For example, tankless water heaters are more efficient. They don’t need to reheat water all day long. These energy-efficient water heaters can deliver hot water on demand.
When the pipes are un-insulated, the hot water will lose a lot of heat when flowing to the faucets and shower. Insulating pipes can help in cutting down on your electricity or Gas services usage.
On-demand hot water circulation pumps can almost instantly deliver how water to pipes. There is no need to run the faucets for a long time and wait for hot water to come. It is also recommended to replace your old washing machine and dishwasher with modern energy efficient units. This can further help in cutting down on your electricity and water usage.
3. Create a Healthier Home
Green plumbing also focuses on making the water used in your home safer and healthier for your family. Some of the key systems you can install to achieve this goal are as follows:
- Filtration System: Such a system will eliminate chemicals, microorganisms, various contaminants, and particulates from water. The system can also extend the lifecycle of your water heater and reduce the energy usage.
- Carbon Filters & RO Systems: Installing carbon filters on your faucets and showerheads can absorb a wide range of pollutants. Adding an OR filtration system can purify the water used for drinking and cooking purposes.
Your water supply company can provide you a water quality report. This can help you identify any chemicals or minerals that you may want to remove. Keep in mind that there are different types of water filters, dealing with different types of issues.
Shower head filters can help keep your skin soft and healthy and protected from hard water. Activated carbon systems can absorb pollutants before they come in contact with your skin. While RO filters can be installed on individual faucets, whole house filtration units are comprehensive system. There are even more steps you can take to create a greener home.
Reduce Your Shower Time
While you install all or some of these systems, it is recommended to take measures to lower your use of water. Reducing your shower time is an important step you can take in this direction. Singing in the shower is a common cause of excess wastage of water. It is also recommended to turn off the shower when shampooing.
Making a Gradual Transition
It may not be possible to make all the above-mentioned changes at once. You Plumbing Sydney company can help you in making a gradual transition based on a priority analysis. Have the professionals update one or more components at a time, so that gradually the complete system has moved over to green plumbing.
You can recover the initial investment within a short period of time. The reduced water bill and energy bills can help you save much more in the long-term. Besides, your contribution to the environment will have a long-term impact of its own.
So if you are thinking of making environment-friendly changes to your home, plumbing is a great place to get started with. It benefits you and your family, the environment, and your pocket. There is hardly any reason why you should not start taking the steps towards embracing green plumbing. You will also be making your contribution to saving the planet.