Looking to find ways to save money on a custom home build or even your current home? Have you thought of upgrading or replacing plumbing fixtures as a way to add immediate value to your home, save money, provide ease of use, keep the kitchen and bathroom more sanitary, and reduce your impact on the environment? The latest advances in water-saving technologies can do all of this and more.
There is no need to wait for Cal Tech’s award-winning solar-powered toilet design that can “turn human waste into hydrogen, water, and electricity” to come on the market before you can build your new home or retrofit your existing home with innovative plumbing designs that are available today including:
- Hands-free technology
- Tankless water heaters
- Low flow toilets
- High-efficiency faucets
- Gray water systems
A healthy home can be accomplished in a variety of ways, especially with hands-free fixtures. Hands-free faucets are designed for both bathrooms and kitchens, significantly reduce germ contamination and are very well-loved by parents with children who’ve been known to get distracted while the water’s running. In the bathroom, the installation of a touchless toilet kit enables the user to wave their hand above the toilet tank to flush it. With some kits, the toilet lid will automatically close without slamming shut. You can round out your kitchen and bath décor with soap or lotion dispensers that are also hands-free.
Tankless Water Heaters
More and more homeowners are replacing their hot water storage tanks with the newest tankless water heaters. Tankless water heaters supply hot water on demand and save the homeowner both the time and expense of storing hot water and constantly reheating it. Unlike a storage tank with a limited supply of available hot water, the heat exchanger technology can provide you with an endless supply of hot water no matter the number of tasks.
Low Flow Toilets
High-efficiency, low-flow toilets are one of the easiest ways to cut down on household water consumption. All home improvement stores and plumbing suppliers stock these high-efficiency toilets. If the toilets in your household were installed before 1994 or if they use more than 1.6 gallons of water with each flush, there are better options today with toilets using about 1.28 gallons per flush. Dual Flush toilets using even less water for liquid waste! A family of four could save more than 15,000 gallons of water per year by replacing an inefficient toilet with a 1.6 gpf (gallon per flush unit) and even more with a toilet rated 1.28 gpf.
To save the average family more than 700 gallons of water year, simply replace old fixtures for new high-efficiency WaterSense labeled fixtures. High-efficiency faucets and showerheads not only reduce water use but save energy by reducing the demand for water heaters. WaterSense labeled bathroom sink faucets and accessories reduce water use without reducing performance. They are not the low flow products of a generation ago. Today’s high-efficiency showerheads combine water savings with high performance.
Gray Water Systems
Not everything requires potable water. Being able to reuse water is important to not only the environment but your budget and since no one can recall the last time the cost of water ever decreased, reducing water use is even more important. You can reduce your non-potable water use with the implementation of a gray water system. The State of Colorado allows water from bathtubs, showers, washing machines, as well as water from bathroom and laundry room sinks to be harvested for gray water systems. If you are considering a new home, please talk to your Builder about integrating a gray water system into your design and make the most of every drop of water.
What is WaterSense?
The Federal Government EPA’s WaterSense program labels plumbing fixtures for efficiency and performance. The labels indicate whether low-flow fixtures perform as well or better than similar counterparts. Their website has tools that allow you to search for WaterSense labeled products. WaterSense labeled products are certified to meet EPA criteria for water efficiency and performance. Ask your local plumber or homebuilder about WaterSense labeled products.
Plumbing may not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think about technology and its impact but these innovations can immediately impact your home’s aesthetic and impact and your budget and comfort. Talk to your local plumber or homebuilder today. And best of all, updating your plumbing fixtures or building with the latest technology provides you the opportunity to take advantage of multiple rebates that may be available from your local utility companies and local and state government.