Easy Steps for Going Green
On April 22nd, the world will be celebrating the planet that provides us with the means to live – the Earth. Earth Day stands to spread awareness on the importance of environmental protection, and how people can translate these lessons into their daily lives.
Protecting the Earth starts at home. So why not start by protecting life’s most precious, and necessary, resource that is water? There are countless efforts that individuals and families both can make in their daily lives to decrease the overall amount of water used while still leading a healthy and efficient lifestyle.
By making some of the plumbing-related improvements that follow, you can help make every day Earth Day in your home.
Switch to Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters, also known as on-demand water heaters, work to heat water only as necessary.
When needed, water will flow through a pipe to the water heating unit, where the water is heated either by a gas burner or electrical element.
These heaters are more energy-efficient as compared to their water heater tank competition, as the water is heated instantaneously, as necessary.
Install Eco-Friendly Plumbing Fixtures
Limiting the amount of water used daily in a home is achievable with the right tools. Luckily, many modern plumbing technologies have been developed to limit the consumption of water within a household, such as:
Low-flush toilets. These toilets work to use a significantly smaller amount of water with each flush.
Low-flow showerheads. Low-flow showerheads limit the amount of water emitted from their faucets, in turn limiting the amount of water used during each shower.
Automatic/timed faucets. Automatic faucets can prevent the waste of water, and the spreading of bacteria from person to person. Automatic faucets usually come equipped with a sensor that turns on a faucet when activated and will run for a specific, short period.
Invest in a Whole Home Water Filtration System
Americans purchase more bottled water than any other nation in the world, and have over 2 million tons sitting in landfills across the country. Sadly, these bottles can take over one thousand years to biodegrade.
Recycle your plastic water bottles for good, and invest in a whole home water filtration system that will work to remove impurities from your home’s water supply.
Sediment such as clay, dirt, and silt, along with harmful chemicals such as chlorine, can make their way into your home, drinking water, and air.
Water filtration systems remove this sediment and chemical build-up, improving the overall healthfulness of drinking water, allowing you to use your home's water supply much more efficiently.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
A carbon footprint is the measure of environmental impact of an individual or group, measured in pounds of carbon dioxide.
Limiting your water consumption helps you and your family reduce your overall environmental impact on the Earth. Some ways to reduce your carbon footprint include:
- Reducing the length of showers to use less water, and less energy to heat the water.
- Wash clothing in cold water. This one step can save a family 500 pounds of carbon output in a year.
- Replace furnace filters regularly to keep them working as energy efficiently as possible.