We all want to save money and make good investments. First, the best investment we can make is purchasing a home. Some of us may have a little in the stock market, 401k, along with a small amount here and there. If it goes up, we get excited. If it goes down, we start to worry. Most homeowners would agree that our house is a great investment.
Unlike other investments, we’re always trying to get the most out of our home by saving wherever possible. That usually starts with our utilities, such as water, gas, and electricity. You can start by investing in WaterSense appliances and fixtures. WaterSense is a program that’s part of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Its purpose is to encourage water efficiency. A product with the WaterSense label meets all the specifications for a water-efficient product.
Start With The Obvious And Turn Off The Tap
Did you know that if you turn off the water while brushing your teeth, you can save 8 gallons of water per day, assuming you brush twice daily? Additionally, you can save 10 gallons per shave if you turn off the tap while shaving, assuming you shave five times a week. That’s a total of 5,700 gallons of water per year. Energy and water savings comes in small increments, much like saving money or losing weight. Save some here and save some there, then it all starts adding up.
Use Your Dishwasher Before Hand Washing
When dishwashers were first introduced, they used up to 15 gallons of water in a single cycle. However, newer models of dishwashers are built to use as little water as possible while washing the dishes. In reality, full-sized dishwashers are regulated by the department of energy to use 5 gallons of water per cycle. Furthermore, an Energy Star-approved dishwasher only uses 3.5 gallons every cycle.
Create New Habits Regarding Your Water Usage
It takes around sixty-six days or more for a new habit to become second nature. The time it takes for a new action to become habitual also varies greatly depending on the individual, the context, and the behavior in question. Participants in Lally’s study took 18 to 254 days to acquire a new habit. If you want realistic expectations, you should know that it might take two to eight months to establish a new habit in your daily water usage.
WaterSense Efficient Appliances and Fixtures
Did you know that homeowners can save as much as 20 percent on their bottom line each month by installing water and energy-efficient appliances and fixtures such as water heaters and toilets? Did you know that Congress overwhelmingly passed the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) that requires all toilets sold in the U.S. must only use 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF) or less? The EPAct also set new standards for showerheads, faucets, and toilets.
In 1992, Congress overwhelmingly passed – and President George H.W. Bush signed – the Energy Policy Act (EPAct), which set national water efficiency standards for toilets, faucets, and showerheads. Those standards went into effect in 1994. These latest measures became effective in 1994. However, in recent years California law, Section 1101.3 of the Civil Code, mandates the installation of water-efficient plumbing fixtures. As a result, toilets using more than 1.6 gallons of water every flush should get replaced if you own a house or a commercial structure in California.
Replace Your Inefficient Toilets With A WaterSense Approved Toilet
Did you know that 38% of household water usage is from flushing our toilets? That sounds crazy! Let’s put it another way, almost half of our water usage comes from flushing our toilets. Did you know that replacing your old inefficient toilet with new WaterSense-labeled toilets can save 13,000 gallons of water per year, saving you $130 in water costs? The reality is you can pay for a new toilet in less than two years from the saving you’ll get from your new toilet.
Don’t be content with 1.6 GPF when you can purchase a dual flush toilet that uses as little as 1-1.28 GPF for liquid waste and 1.28-1.6 GPF for solid waste. Furthermore, the latest designs and technologies make flushing waste efficient without using excessive amounts of water. Changing toilets don’t have to break the bank. Household toilets are one of the more affordable fixtures in your home.
Save Big By Replacing Old Faucets And Fixtures
Did you know that a homeowner can save as much as $250 over a faucet’s lifetime in energy and water costs by replacing inefficient faucets and aerators with WaterSense-labeled models? Unfortunately, most homeowners don’t set out to replace a faucet or fixture without reason. And faucets, fixtures, and toilets can last many years and still function well. Why replace them? If they’re old, chances are they use too much water. Our bathroom faucets should never exceed 1.2 gallons per minute (GPM). Showerheads should not surpass 2.0 GPM according to the federal standards set in 1994.
Replace Your Old Showerheads With WaterSense-labeled Models
Most WaterSense shower heads and faucets often get referred to as “low flow.” However, a better description is “high efficiency.” Purchasing a highly efficient WaterSense-labeled showerhead is equal to or better than traditional showerheads, according to energy.gov. Did you know that if you replaced your showerheads with WaterSense-labeled models, you could save as much as $70 on energy and water costs? Additionally, a family can save over 2,700 gallons of water a year.
Bathroom Makeover Can Pay For Itself In A Year
Did you know that you can do a complete bathroom makeover by installing new WaterSense-labeled faucets, toilets, and showerheads, and it could pay for itself in one year? Understandably not all scenarios are the same, and some fixtures may cost more than others. Although, the point is that a household can save money annually by replacing old faucets and fixtures while saving water. Take your time and do some planning. We usually wait until something breaks before taking action. Stay ahead of the game and make your bathroom makeover fun for you and the family.
Big B’s Plumbing Is Ready To Help
If you feel it’s time to get retrofitted with new WaterSense-labeled faucets, toilets, and showerheads, Big B’s Plumbing has you covered. Our plumbing experts are ready to bring you the value and expertise you would expect.
