Green and Clean: Sleek Water-Wise Bathroom Fixtures

Sure, we’re called the “water world,” but remarkably little of the grim stuff — less than 1 percent — is available to us as potential drinking water. The rest is tied up in saltwater, ice caps and other less-accessible sources. That scarcity is not clear to the majority of us in the planet, where water is economical and easy to find, however you can find a billion others that aren’t as blessed. And our time of easy water might be waning too, together with all the U.S. Government Accountability Office predicting water shortages from 36 states by 2013.

Being water wise may cut your utility bills, reduce the demand for expensive investments in water treatment and delivery methods, and lead to a more sustainable water potential. The toilet is where to start since it is the water hog into your house, accounting for more than half of the indoor water you use. Check out these water-wise plumbing fixtures that don’t compromise function or style.

Garret Cord Werner Architects & Interior Designers

To find water-wise fixtures, look for the WaterSense tag. WaterSense, a partnership plan with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is an independent organization that reviews plumbing fixtures for water efficiency (one of many different jobs). Their certificate, or approval, is given to fixtures that are at least 20 percent more efficient without compromising functionality. The average bathroom makeover with WaterSense fixtures saves 7,000 gallons of water annually. That’s enough water to wash six months worth of laundry.

Toilet taps. Obtaining a faucet with all the WaterSense can diminish your sink’s water flow by around 30 percent. Doing this will save the average house 500 gallons of water annually. You can also add an aerator to toilet taps. An aerator reduces water flow while maintaining or even increasing water pressure by mixing water with atmosphere.

And regardless of how much water comes from your faucet, do not forget to switch off the faucet while shaving or brushing teeth.

Buckminster Green LLC

Dual-flush toilets. Toilets consume a lot more water than any other indoor fixture, accounting for 30 percent of most houses’ indoor water usage. Dual-flush toilets, increasingly popular in houses, are a simple way to lower water usage without compromising effectiveness. A dual-flush toilet is different from normal models with two flush options: 1 for liquid waste, which uses under a gallon of water, and a second for sound waste.

clivusmultrum.com

Clivis Multrum Foam Flush Toilet Fixture

Composting toilets. Composting toilets, which use little or no water, are ready for the mainstream using smart systems that could look like traditional toilets (save for missing the water tank). Producers like Clivus Multrum and Sun-Mar offer concentrated systems that have distant tanks for the waste. The tanks could be sized so that minimal attention is required.

Bidets. The U.S. is famous for a love of being uberclean, so it is surprising that we haven’t adopted bidets, as they offer you a cleanliness we can’t get with toilet paper. Beyond hygiene, bidets save water, since making toilet paper is a remarkably water-intensive procedure. And some bidet users raise their shower spans, saving more water.

ROSEMARY MERRILL DESIGN

Toilet: Bidet retrofit. Toto’s Washlet and comparable goods allow traditional toilets to behave as both toilet and bidet with all the easy inclusion of a new seat. The seat comes with an integrated water nozzle that acts as a bidet.

sloanvalve.com

Sloan Aqus System

Graywater reuse. It’s a little mad that we use potable drinking water to flush our toilets. Aqus is a simple system that routes utilized sink water (graywater) through a filter and disinfectant and into any nearby toilet tank to be used in flushing. Being water clever couldn’t be easier.

Searl Lamaster Howe Architects

Urinals. Residential urinals will make your bathroom fun for boys while conserving water. Some manufacturers, for example Kohler, offer waterless urinals for even greater water savings.

Michael Abrams Limited

Showerheads. You do not have to give up a luxe shower encounter to save water. Feel virtuous when lathering up using a WaterSense-certified shower head. WaterSense knows that nobody wants a wimpy shower spray therefore their authorized fixtures tout a “satisfactory shower that is equivalent to or better than traditional showerheads on the market” while using just two gallons of water each minute.

Showers typically use less water than baths, as long as they are kept short. A timer can help you keep track of just how long you have been lathering up.

AT6 Architecture : Design Build

Bathtubs. There is nothing like a long, luxurious bath. That luxury requires a lot of water — approximately 50 to 70 gallons per tub. Being water wise doesn’t have to mean giving up your long soak. When remodeling or construction, look for smaller baths having a capacity of less than 60 gallons. Additionally, once you’re just looking for a quick clean, you’d be more water smart to jump in the shower, where you’ll use about half the water.

More:
Design an Easy-Clean Bathroom
2012 Faucets and Fixtures: Watch What’s New for Your Toilet

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