More people than ever before are concerned about their carbon footprint. No one wants to use antiquated systems that hurt the environment. As a bonus, since many eco-friendly technologies are also designed to reduce energy use, you will often enjoy lower monthly bills.
You might not know where to begin when it comes to upgrading your current plumbing to something eco-friendlier. Here are some of our best recommendations on the best green plumbing solutions for the residents of Santa Rosa, CA.
Tankless Water Heaters
Aside from the fact that tankless water heaters provide a practically endless supply of hot water, they are vastly superior for both the environment and your energy bills. A traditional tank water heater holds a finite supply of hot water in a tank. When you’ve used up all of the water in the tank, you have to wait another hour or so for more hot water to be made.
As the name implies, a tankless water heater doesn’t involve heating water and holding it in a tank, but rather instantly heats water as it passes through the system. This means that you’re not constantly heating a reservoir of hot water and are only actively using energy while the hot water is actually running.
Tankless hot water heaters are generally more expensive to install than traditional varieties of water heaters. Furthermore, if you’re transitioning from a tank model, you’ll have to invest in having your old unit uninstalled and removed from your property. However, while the upfront cost might be significant, you’ll end up saving money in the long run through reduced energy expenses each month.
Those who transition to a tankless system typically rave about it, as you’re never without hot water. This makes it an especially smart investment for large families, as you can say goodbye to timing your showers. Beyond this benefit, tankless water heaters take up less space and have longer lifespans than their tank counterparts, requiring fewer repairs and replacements.
Heat Pump Water Heaters
Heat pump water heaters are another option for those looking for a more energy-efficient way to supply their home with hot water. A heat pump water heater does utilize a tank, but heats the water by capturing heat from the surrounding air rather than generating it. This means that less energy is used in the process of heating your water. While this system doesn’t provide unlimited or instantaneous hot water like a tankless water heater does, it will help to reduce your energy bills and your carbon footprint.
These systems tend to be a bit less expensive than tankless water heaters. Furthermore, you might be eligible for a tax credit for upgrading to a heat pump system. This means that you will enjoy saving a bit of money on top of what you can anticipate saving on your monthly energy expenses. If you want to find a greener water heating solution for your home but a tankless water heater isn’t an option, this might be the right choice.
Low-Flow Faucets
If the idea of a faucet with a weak output makes you balk, don’t worry, as that’s not the experience that a low-flow faucet provides. While the amount of water utilized is indeed less than what’s used by a traditional faucet, you don’t notice a difference in the water output. Despite not noticing any major change in output, you’ll use less water over time, which means you won’t only lower your monthly bills, but will help to conserve water and our environment. There are also low-flow showers and toilets available, which can further help to render your home eco-friendlier.
Eco-Friendly Appliances
Even if your old washing machine or dishwasher seems to be in working order, it might not be the most efficient when it comes to saving water and energy. High-efficiency appliances are designed with both the environment and your wallet in mind, utilizing less energy to do the job just as well as the older models could. Like many eco-friendly upgrades, these appliances might cost a bit of money upfront, but they will really help to lower your monthly bills over time.
Insulated Pipes
If your pipes aren’t insulated, you might not be using hot water as efficiently as you could be. When hot water travels through uninsulated pipes, it can lose heat and cool during the journey, which means you have to turn the water even hotter than you want it to be in order to get your desired temperature. It’s a good idea to ensure that your pipes are insulated, which can help you to use less hot water and lower your energy expenditure. This is especially important before the cooler winter months. Not only are insulated pipes better for your overall energy usage, but they can prevent bursts in the event that the temperature drops substantially.
Rainwater Harvesting Tanks
If you’re looking to be as green as possible, consider investing in a rainwater harvesting system. Unlike other items on this list that are best installed by professional plumbers, this is a relatively easy system to purchase and set up on your own. While not a “plumbing solution” per se, it’s a good way to use a little less water for outdoor tasks like watering plants and washing the car. Plus, it’s a great way to teach your kids about the importance of conservation and protecting our environment. Just make sure to explain to them that they should never drink the water from these tanks, as rainwater is not safe for human consumption unless it’s been properly treated.
In addition to teaching your kids to not consume unsafe water, it’s important in general to talk to your kids about not wasting water in the bath, shower or at the sink. Since kids don’t often want to listen to their parents when they talk about monthly bills, remind them that we only have one planet to live on, so it’s important that we conserve our resources and turn off the water when we aren’t actively using it. This small chat with your kids can do wonders to reduce your monthly water usage.
Regular Plumbing Maintenance
Hidden leaks or improperly functioning systems could be wasting water and costing you extra on your monthly bills. While those tiny leaks might not be big enough to cause any significant water damage or hinder your daily life, the costs can really start to add up over time. This is why one of the smartest eco-friendly plumbing solutions is to book regular plumbing maintenance appointments to ensure that your system is running efficiently and that there aren’t currently any hidden leaks in your home.
At [company_name], we know what to look for during these regular plumbing maintenance appointments, in addition to being the best at installing new eco-friendly systems that will help you to save both money and the planet. We also offer heating and cooling services. Call our knowledgeable staff today and we will be more than happy to give you more information and plumbing tips about how you can make your home a little eco-friendlier.