Eco-Friendly Plumbing Fixtures Save Water and Energy: Here’s How

Saving water and energy is a prudent and environmentally conscious decision for your finances and the environment. Low-flow plumbing fixtures present an ideal solution to lower water consumption without compromising performance. Learn about the benefits of water-saving fixtures, how they compare to traditional models and effective strategies to conserve even more water in your everyday habits.

How Much Water Can Low-Flow Fixtures Save?

These more efficient plumbing fixtures first started gaining traction around the 1990s. The movement was primarily driven by heightened awareness of water conservation concerns and our environmental impact. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 established maximum flow rates for faucets, showerheads and toilets throughout the United States, supporting the public adoption of a new generation of low-flow plumbing fixtures. This early framework helped establish more efficient fixture designs designed for reining in water consumption while retaining performance.

Take into account how much water low-flow fixtures save compared to their conventional counterparts:

• Faucets: Older faucets run at about 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm), whereas low-flow faucets lower to 1.5 gpm or less without weakening the water pressure.
• Showerheads: The old standard for showerheads was 2.5 gpm. Low-flow designs for showerheads lower water consumption to 2.0 gpm or lower.
• Toilets: Older, inefficient toilets can use up to 7 gallons per flush (gpf). By comparison, the current federal standard maximum is 1.6 gpf, with many dual-flush models with averages as low as 1.28 gpf.

The Technology Enabling Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures

Low-flow fixtures take advantage of a few different design options to preserve performance while using less water. Here’s how they work:

• Aerators: Many low-flow faucets and showerheads feature aerators, a component that mixes air with water to retain pressure while still reducing the volume of water needed.

• Flow restrictors: Faucets with these devices control the amount of water that passes through the fixture without a significant drop in pressure.

• Dual-flush technology: More low-flow designs feature two flush controls—one for liquid waste using less water, and a larger flush for solid waste. This optimizes water use based on need.

4 Benefits of Water-Efficient Plumbing Fixtures

Installing low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets provides benefits in a number of ways:

1. Reduced water waste: The EPA’s Water Sense program calculates that you can save 700 gallons of water per year by replacing the traditional faucets in your home with new, low-flow versions.
2. Smaller water bills: Low-flow fixtures lower your monthly utility bills by using less water. In fact, a WaterSense-labeled showerhead can save 4 gallons of water every time you shower, which adds up over time.
3. Also helps with water heating costs: Using less water for daily chores results in you using less hot water, which means another boost to your savings by helping cut hot water costs.
4. A longer plumbing system life span: Cuts to the water flow means less strain on your plumbing system, potentially lengthening its life and reducing the need for repairs.

Suggestions on How You Can Save Even More Water

While these water-saving fixtures make a big difference on their own, you can go further to conserve water whenever you use them. Here are a few useful suggestions:

• Take brief showers: Even if you own low-flow showerheads, you still use more water when you stay in too long. Cutting your shower time by a minute or two conserves water and cuts energy use.
• Don’t waste water whenever you brush your teeth: Try and only leave the tap running if you’re actively using it. If you leave the bathroom or spend a couple of minutes to actually brush your teeth, turn off the faucet so you don’t waste water.
• Use dual-flush toilets appropriately: The dual-flush design only benefits you if everyone using that bathroom knows the right way to use it it. Start with the half-flush button for liquid waste and only select the full flush for solid waste. Some handle-flush toilets also have dual-flush capabilities. A partial flush uses less water, while keeping the handle depressed empties the entire tank to wash away solid waste more efficiently.
• Don’t allow anyone to flush trash: Toilets are exclusively designed to process toilet paper and human waste. Flushing anything else always wastes water and raises the risk of clogs. Do your water bills a favor by only tossing facial tissues, paper towels, cotton balls and similar products in the trash can.
• Try and resolve leaks as soon as you can: Even low-flow fixtures could eventually leak, wasting more water and hamstringing efficiency. Make an effort to regularly check for leaks and address any you find to maintain your water conservation efforts.

Request a Free Quote for Low-Flow Fixtures Today

Ready to reduce your water usage and save money? Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is here to help! We install efficient low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets to support water and energy conservation. With our 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can rely on us to follow through on the promise of superior products and services you need. As soon as you’re ready to upgrade your plumbing fixtures or just need a few more water conservation tips, please contact us today.