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Tips for Building "Green" - Plumbing
The vast amount of information available about building green can be overwhelming. To assist our customers in making environmentally sensitive decisions while building their new home, Donald A. Gardner Architects has compiled this handy FREE guide to building green.
Plumbing
When it comes to plumbing, saving water is the name of the game. With water shortages already affecting many areas of the country and predicted to increase in the future, the way we use and conserve water resources is a huge priority. Thousands of gallons of water can be saved every year by making a few small changes in our daily habits and by purchasing and installing the latest water-saving appliances and fixtures.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense website (www.epa.gov/watersense) the average household spends as much as $500 per year on water and sewer bills. Making a few simple changes could save homeowners up to $170 per year. If all U.S. households installed water-efficient appliances, the country would save more than 3 trillion gallons of water and more than $18 billion per year. A tremendous amount of energy is required to treat water supplies. According to the EPA, letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours. By using water more efficiently, we reduce the need for costly new wastewater treatment facilities and save energy as well. The EPA offers suggestions for simple things everyone can do to help conserve water:
Bathroom — where over half of all water use inside a house takes place:
a) Do not let the water run while shaving or brushing teeth.
b) Take short showers instead of tub baths. Turn off the water while soaping or shampooing.
c) If you must use a tub, close the drain before turning on the water and fill the tub only half full. Bathe small children together.
d) Never use your toilet as a waste basket.
Kitchen and Laundry — simple practices that save a lot of water:
a) Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool.
b) Wash fruits and vegetables in a basin. Use a vegetable brush.
c) Do not use water to defrost frozen foods; thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
d) Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher; wash only full loads.
e) Add food waste to your compost pile instead of using the garbage disposal.
f) Wash only full loads of laundry. Use the appropriate water level and load size selection on the washing machine.
Landscape Irrigation:
a) Detect and repair any leaks in the irrigation system.
b) Use properly treated wastewater for irrigation where available.
c) Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day (early morning is best). Do not water on windy days.
d) Water trees and shrubs, which have deep root systems, longer and less frequently than shallow-rooted plants that require smaller amounts of water more often.
e) Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only – not the street or sidewalk.
f) Use soaker hoses or trickle irrigation systems for trees and shrubs.
g) Install moisture sensors on sprinkler systems.
h) Use mulch around shrubs and garden plants to reduce evaporation from the soil surface and cut down on weed growth.
i) Remove thatch and aerate turf to encourage movement of water to the root zone.
j) Raise your lawn mower cutting height – longer grass blades help shade each other, reduce evaporation, and inhibit weed growth.
k) Minimize or eliminate fertilizing, which promotes new growth needing additional watering.
l) When outdoor use of city or well water is restricted, use the water from the air conditioning condenser, dehumidifier, bath, or sink on plants or the garden. Don’t use water that contains bleach, automatic-dishwashing detergent or fabric softener.
Other Outdoor Suggestions:
a) Sweep driveways, sidewalks and steps rather than hosing off.
b) Wash the car with water from a bucket, or consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water.
c) When using a hose, control the flow with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
e) Avoid purchasing recreational water toys which require a constant stream of water.
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