Earth-Friendly Plumbing: 8 Practical Tips To Go Green

Does being environmentally friendly seem like a good idea, but a lot of work? Going green can be as simple as making a bunch of small adjustments to your everyday activities—whether at home, work, or play, the choices we make can add up to improve the planet.

Don’t be daunted by making a change. Start with just a few of these tips, and soon you’ll be saving water, energy, money, and the Earth!

Save Water at Home

If you are trying to reduce your water consumption, you could switch from baths to showers or simply take shorter showers. But there is a way to reduce water use and still enjoy a high-pressure, full lather shower.

Install Eco-Friendly Water Fixtures

Low-Flow Showerheads

Low-flow showerheads keep a high water pressure while controlling both the amount of water that you need to use and the amount of water that you need to heat, which is why they are green.

High-Efficiency Toilets

High-efficiency toilets use up to 20% less water than the current federal standard requires. Consider low-flow models to save water in your bathroom. Dual flush toilets also help save water as they let you control how much water you need to flush.

Save Energy at Home

According to the Nature Conservancy, the carbon footprint of the average American is around 16 tons—one of the highest rates in the world. Dropping carbon footprint can seem like a tall order, but using less energy at home is easier than you may think.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

You can determine your household’s average carbon footprint using online tools like this one, then follow our tips to reduce your environmental impact!

• Unplug the charger to your phone or other portable electronic devices when you aren’t charging them.
• A laptop consumes 80% less electricity than a desktop computer and uses up to one-fifth of the energy.
• If you have a car, consider switching to a hybrid option. Always make sure that your tires are inflated so that you get better mileage.
• Use your microwave oven instead of your regular oven.

Tankless Water Heater

Want to help the environment and save money at the same time? Switch your traditional storage tank heater over to a tankless model.

A traditional storage tank heats water and then stores it. Often that water will cool while it is sitting, which means that you need to expend more energy. A tankless model works on-demand to deliver just the right amount of hot water when you need it. Tankless models are more operationally efficient, and they generally have a longer lifespan, which means less maintenance money.

Reduce Waste at Home

Did you know one in six plastic water bottles that are purchased are actually recycled? Plastic bottles also release harmful chemicals and toxins as they decompose and have been linked to health issues such as cancer and reproductive problems.

Install Whole-Home Water Filtration

To really help the Earth, break the habit of buying plastic water bottles. You can easily install an effective water filter either at the point of use (i.e., on your faucet) or for your whole home (i.e., at your water source). The result will be high-quality water that isn’t damaging to the planet.