If any city is going to celebrate April 22nd and Earth Day, it’s going to be San Francisco. We live in a city and state that take pride in being progressive and looking at the bigger picture.
What picture could possibly be bigger than trying to make sure the planet we live on is one that we can pass onto future generations without a big mess to clean up? There are plenty of things we can do, right here and now to help fight against environmental abuse, and you can even start with your plumbing. Here’s how.
Look At Your Carbon Footprint
Do you know what your carbon footprint is, and how you can reduce it? Your footprint is how much carbon dioxide you contribute to the atmosphere. In other words, how much of this particular greenhouse gas you generate to increase global warming, which is a bad thing for everyone.
Be mindful of the products you use regarding how much CO2 they create. Look at companies that have committed to lowering CO2 emissions in their manufacturing processes, and reward those companies for their conscientiousness with your business.
Install a New Tankless Water Heater
Older water heaters use much less efficient, practically Victorian technology; they hold gallons of water in a large tank that you need to afford space for in your home and use significant amounts of energy to warm up that large volume for use in your taps and showers.
A tankless water heater is much more energy efficient, as it heats the water directly in your plumbing, without needing the large amounts of energy to affect gallons at a time. With the right installation, you can save $100 a year on your energy bills thanks to this newer technique.
Use a Water Filter
City water has always taken a scorched earth approach, adding chlorine to eliminate every potentially deadly bacterial contaminant in the water. However, chlorine in water, even at safe drinking levels, does not make for the best drinking water.
Installing a water filter, either on the tap, or in your home’s plumbing, does a great job of not just protecting you from contaminants, but can give you cleaner looking, better smelling, better tasting water for all your uses, especially drinking and cooking.
Replace Old Plumbing Fixtures with Eco-Friendly Versions
Older showers pump out immense amounts of water, especially if you want a high-pressure shower. Toilets of old flush gallons of water away every time you use them. All of this adds up to a lot of unnecessary water going down the drain or sewage pipe, but you’re still paying for it, in addition to wasting it.
With eco-friendly plumbing fixtures, you get a much better rate of water efficiency, and you don’t have to sacrifice comfort or results. Low flow toilets use less water depending on which flush you use, while energy efficient shower heads can still give you the pressure you crave without using up too much water in the process. And despite this, you actually end up paying less on your bills!