St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner! And, with the holiday approaching, now is the perfect time to go green. What do we mean by “go green,” you ask? Well, there are several things you can do around the house that will drastically reduce the amount of water and energy you waste every month. Going green is just the right thing to do for the environment. And, if helping the environment isn’t enough to convince you to go green, then perhaps the savings will! That’s right, going green helps save money! So, to learn how to save money and help the environment, let’s talk about a few ways you can go green this St. Patrick’s Day!
Go Green Tip 1: Keep Your Drains Unclogged and in Good Shape
Make sure that your drains are in good working order. Clogged drains become inefficient. Use biodegradable soaps and detergents to keep your system healthy and avoid cleaners with harsh chemicals that can damage your pipes.
Tip 2: Swap Standard Light Bulbs with CFL Bulbs
CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs) bulbs last a lot longer than a standard incandescent light bulb and use 75% – 80% less energy. The great thing about a CFL is they provide the same amount of light.
Here’s a quick comparison:
*Incandescent light bulbs can last 750 – 3,000 hours
*CFL bulbs last an average of 10,000 – 12,000 hours
Older household appliances were built less with energy efficiency in mind. Toilets made before 1992 typically use up to 3.5 gallons of water each time they’re flushed. By having a low-flush toilet installed, you’ll use less than half that amount of water because you can choose between two flush options: a lower flow for liquid waste and a higher flush option (still less than 3.5 gallons) for solid waste.
We’ve talked about the benefits of a low-flow showerhead before, and that’s because it’s one of the quickest and easiest ways to conserve water in your home. The latest low-flow showerhead models can save you around 7.5 gallons of water each minute and don’t cut down on water pressure.
Go Green Tip 5: Periodically Check for Plumbing Leaks
Chances are if you have a leak, it’s probably not going to be in an exposed area. It’s likely to be in your basement or in the plumbing between the street and your house, or other less-used plumbing areas in your house. A good way to check is to walk around your house looking and feeling for wet spots.
Tip 6: Replace a Leaky Faucet.
A leaky faucet that drips water all day can waste up to 150 gallons in a day. Combat this by repairing or replacing leaky faucets as soon as they’re noticed. This can save up to a shocking 4,500 gallons of water per month – huge savings on your water bill and on the environment.
Go Green Tip 7: Install a Faucet Aerator to Lower Your Water Usage
A 1.0 GPM aerator uses 55% less water than a standard 2.2 GPM aerator without reducing water pressure. This is one of the easiest and economical ways to cut down your water bill each year. Many times you can save 13,000 gallons of water a year by installing a faucet aerator. That could be a savings of over $100 a year!
Save Water With Brothers Today!
By taking a small, concerted effort, it’s easy to make your plumbing system more efficient and effective. And by keeping your system in good shape and updating household appliances like toilets, showerheads, and washers, you can make a severe dent in your yearly water consumption. Don’t overlook the small changes that make a big difference – it can save you the cash in your wallet and the environment.
Need help going green this St. Patrick’s Day? Well, then call Brothers Plumbing Heating & Electric today at 303.451.5057 to schedule an appointment today!
