(BPT) – The average American family uses more than 300 gallons of water every single day, 70 percent of which occurs indoors. Flushing the toilet, brushing your teeth and taking a long hot shower all add to the consumption of this valuable natural resource.
So what can you do within your own home to reduce water usage? Start by looking at your faucets and fixtures in the bathroom. While these pieces add a lot to a room’s décor and style, you don’t have to sacrifice high design or performance at the expense of saving water.
Here are four tips that can help you lower your water consumption (and your costs) immediately:
1. Maximize technology in the shower.
As a homeowner, you want strong water pressure and performance when it comes to your shower. Technology in today’s showerheads can help users enjoy a powerful shower spray even at lower water flow rates. The Danze Mono Chic 4-1/2” showerhead uses Air Injection technology to maximize water pressure, yet can offer up to 30 percent in water savings.
2. Upgrade your faucet.
The style and efficiency of bathroom faucets have come a long way in recent years. Stylish single-hole, single-handle faucets, such as the Danze Mid-town faucet, is perfect in that it combines high design with water conservation. Look for faucets like this that operate at 1.2 gallons per minute and can save hundreds of gallons of water each year.
3. Not all toilets are created equal.
While many toilets operate at the EPA WaterSense approved 1.28 gallons per flush, not all perform at the level you need. And the words “bad performance” and “toilet” should never be talked about in the same sentence! Be sure to ask your plumbing professional for insights on the tank components and bowl features that ensure a high quality, reliable toilet. Gerber’s award winning Avalanche line is known among plumbers as a water-saving option (up to 30 percent over traditional models) that can also look beautiful.
4. Know your showerhead’s flow rate.
Today’s standard showerhead operates at 2.5 gallons per minute. However, some states require a lower flow rate to comply with water conservation efforts. Be sure to choose a showerhead that conforms to your state’s regulations, yet maximizes the performance (and follows the décor of your overall room). Some manufacturers create a showerhead style and offer it in varying flow rates, including 1.75, 2.0 and 2.5 gpm.
Your everyday choices influence how much fresh water you use throughout your home. Choosing the right water-saving faucets and fixtures for your bathroom can have a significant impact on conserving this resource, without impacting the performance and style you deserve.
For more product information on water-saving bathroom fixtures, visit danze.com.
