Friday, February 27, 2009

6 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT Your Toilet

6 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT Your Toilet

1. EPA study in 2003 estimated that 45 percent of America's 222 million toilets still did not meet the standard

2. Hilton Palacio del Rio in San Antonio saw a 60-percent savings on its water bill after implementing the dual-flush toilets

3. $7.08 average sewer and water costs in the US per 1000 gallons

4. Dual flush toilets allow for a full flush 1.6 gallons (for #2) and 0.8 gallons half flush (for #1)

5. Australia, Europe, and China already use dual flush toilets

6. Boston, MA paid $5.76 for one thousand gallons of water. This is before sewer charges.

Friday, February 20, 2009

5 Toilet Facts that may surprise the Cr*p out of you

Toilet Facts that may surprise the Cr*p out of you

1. In the US we flush close to 5 billion gallons of water everyday

2. The average person Flushes 19 gallons of water per day

3. Toilet Use per flush can be approximated by measuring the volume of water inside the toilet tank (width x length x height) and dividing by 231.

4. A family of four uses 280 gallons of water a day indoors, and toilets account for about 27 percent of that

5. A dual flush toilet saves up to 4,000 gallons of water per year

-- This stunning report brought to you by the Macus Trade Research Team

DIGG THIS ARTICLE

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

RUNNING OUT OF WATER?

RUNNING OUT OF WATER?



Media Credit: Mills Campanil

In the face of a statewide drought and mandatory water rationing, Mills is stepping up to reduce water use on campus.

The board of the East Bay Municipal Utility District (East Bay MUD) declared its water conservation program after two consecutive dry years reduced the district reservoir to dangerously low levels, according to a May 13 San Francisco Chronicle article.

"Water is the new oil," said Barb Haber, the interim associate vice president of Campus Planning and Facilities. "We desperately need to conserve it, or it will be gone."

East Bay MUD intends to cut all water use by 15 percent, according to their website. However, they give individual residences a specific reduction goal.

In August, all residences that get water from East Bay MUD received a letter that listed their water allotment. This allowance is based on the amount of water the customer used in each two-month billing period over the last three years.

If residences exceed the amount of water they are allowed to use, East Bay MUD charges a fee, which includes a two-dollar surcharge for every 748 gallons of extra water the residence used.

Haber said that she does not know how much water Mills is currently using, but did say that campus residence halls are not meeting the required reductions.

In order to raise awareness about rationing, Mills posted flyers that featured tips on how to reduce personal water use in several residential halls.

Staff also put up stickers that say "Thank you for not wasting water" on campus bathroom mirrors and shower stalls.

"Maybe if the student sees it, they'll think twice about leaving the water running while they're brushing their teeth," Haber said.

Some students have taken up the cause. Last November, Earth CORPS, an environmental group on campus, teamed up with Bon Appetit to remove the trays from Founders Commons and thus reduce the amount of water needed to rinse them.

Sophomore Magee Page, the president of Earth CORPS, said that they were inspired by the University of Arkansas, which went trayless last August, and saved 200,000 gallons of water because of it.

Mills students used 192 trays during an average weekday lunch, and the dishwasher must be run 24 times to clean all the trays, according to the October edition of the Mills Sustainability Newsletter.

Bon Appetit began by removing the trays every Wednesday. Earth CORPS members advertised their cause by standing in front of Founder's steps with a billboard. The billboard was made out of two trays and said, "Go a day without a tray."

They collected signatures from 240 students who pledged to go trayless, according to Page. The Sustainability Newsletter reported 181 signatures.

By the week before fall finals, the trays were permanently removed.

The College is also taking a technological approach to water conservation.

On Wed. Jan. 21, staff members conducted an inventory of all dormitory showerheads. Any showerhead that is not a low-flow model will be replaced with water-saving ones equipped with an aerator, according to a student-news post Ruth Sears placed.

Haber said an aerator injects the water with oxygen so that the water feels fuller even though less water is released.

She added that most people don't know the difference between the shower heads. "They'll both allow you to get the soap out of your hair," she said.

While a regular showerhead uses 42 gallons of water in a 10-minute shower the low-flow model uses only 10 gallons in the same amount of time, according to Sears's post.

Currently, only half of the residence hall showerheads are low-flow, but Haber hopes these will be replaced soon.

She said she also wanted to put aerators on Mills sinks, but the sinks are too old to support them.

The Life Sciences Building also houses a water-conserving feature. The toilets are duo flush, so people can choose a full flush or half-flush, which saves water.

Haber said that if any toilets need to be replaced in the future and the building space allows it, Mills will install dual flush toilets.

Even equipment maintenance makes a difference in water use, Haber said. She explained that just wasting small amounts of water adds up over time.

According to the East Bay MUD website, a leaky toilet can waste up to 7,000 gallons of water per month.

A faucet leaking a steady drip, which is about 100 drops per minute, wastes 350 gallons of water per month. A small stream wastes 2,000 to 2,700 gallons per month.

According to an Oct. 2 ABC Local article, East Bay MUD customers have cut water usage by 11.3 percent as of October 2008, but this is short of the company's 15 percent water reduction goal.

For more information on water rationing and the California drought, visit http://ebmud.com/drought/default.html.

TIPS FOR CONSERVING WATER
1. Always make sure to turn off the faucet properly. If it still drips, take out a work order and have the faucet fixed.

2. Instead of using running water, fill the sink with water when you are washing dishes or rinsing fruit and vegetables.

3. Put a gallon jug under the faucet when you are trying to heat running water in the sink or tub. You can then use this water for other things around the house.

4. Don't walk away while water is warming up. You may not get back to it before hot water is wasted.

5. While brushing your teeth, turn off the tap. Rinse using a cup for water; run the tap only to rinse the toothbrush.

6. When showering, wet your body first and then turn off the water. Apply soap, and then turn on the water to rinse.

Source: East Bay MUD website

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Average person uses fifty gallons of water per day

Be aware of how much water you use! Awareness is the first step in conservation. The average person uses fifty gallons of water per day on the following activities:

· Toilet - 19 gallons per day
· Bathing & hygiene - 15 gallons per day
· Laundry - eight gallons per day
· Kitchen - seven gallons per day
· Housekeeping - one gallon per day

TOTAL 50 GALLONS

You can determine your average daily water use by using one of the following two methods.

Metered Water

If your water use is metered, review your water bill. Divide your water usage by the number of days in the billing period and also by the number of residents of your household. If your water is measured in cubic feet, convert to gallons by multiplying by 7.48.

Unmetered Water

If your water use is not metered, you must determine your water use for each fixture. Flow rates for showers and faucets can be measured by using a container and watch to measure the amount of water discharged through the fitting in a minute. Toilet use per flush can be approximated by measuring the volume of water inside the toilet tank (width x length x height) and dividing by 231. (There are 231 cubic inches in a gallon of water.) After you have determined the water use of each fixture, you will need to record the number of uses and the length of time each fixture is used to determine your average daily water use. Remember to estimate the amount of water used by appliances such as clothes washers and dishwashers as well as home water treatment systems.

Water-saving devices are economical and permanent. Low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators save valuable water and energy used to heat water without requiring changes in personal water use habits. Dual flush toilets are also a great way to conserve water.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Miami-Dade Toilet Replacement Program

Miami-Dade Toilet Replacement Program
Just in Time for Dry Spell

Picture of palm treesFor all its associations with lush tropical vegetation, pristine beaches, and swampy habitats, coastal and southern Florida are often short on fresh water. The west coast of Florida is under year-round water conservation measures, and now water shortages are affecting the southeast of the state as well. It has been so dry in southeast Florida Exit Disclaimer that in March, the South Florida Water Management District imposed mandatory water restrictions that are having an impact on more than 5 million Floridians, nearly a third of the state's population. Miami-Dade is among the four counties affected, as well as Broward, Monroe, and Palm Beach Counties.

These water restrictions have arrived just as WaterSense partner Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (MDWSD) is launching a new toilet replacement program, lending greater urgency to a program that has been in the works since last April. MDWSD will stage its first distribution of free high-efficiency toilets (HETs) to county residents in May 2007. Residents will simply need to arrive at the event location to pick up their new HET. For qualifying senior citizens and low-income households, MDWSD is also sponsoring a total bathroom retrofit, which includes installing new, water-efficient toilets, faucets, and showerheads.

The toilet replacement program also offers up to a $100 rebate toward purchasing an HET for Miami-Dade residents who cannot attend one of the free HET distributions or who would like to replace more than one toilet. The rebate program, which starts this month, is limited to two toilets per household and the existing toilets must have been installed before January 1, 1996.

By encouraging residents to retrofit their bathrooms with water-efficient toilets, MDWSD is helping to bring southeast Florida closer to its recent goal to cut water consumption by 15 percent and more in some areas. MDWSD will document water savings from the toilet replacement program by tracking participating household's water bills.

The good news for consumers is that even without access to free HETs, they are still a good deal. Many utilities offer rebates (contact your local water utility or WaterSense at (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) to see if they are offered in your area) and these water-efficient toilets might help you save on your water bill. HETs are designed to use an average of 20 percent less water than standard 1.6 gallon per flush toilets, while maintaining or improving flushing power. As WaterSense labeled HETs hit the market in 2007, consumers can trust that this label ensures both high performance and water efficiency.

Learn more about Miami-Dade's toilet replacement program

Friday, February 13, 2009

Wall Mount fashion Toilet

The next Fashion Toilet we have is a wall mount named the Mandarin

wall mount

Description:Wall mount with concealed tank Dual Flush Toilet (1.6 and .8 gallon flush)
Size (inch):23-1/2in. x 15in. x15-3/4in.
Size (mm):595mm x 380mm x 400mm
Flush: Siphon Jet
Bowl: Elongated
flush actuator: two-button
Two Piece


* Includes toilet seat + concealed tank
* MFG Brand Name : Arrow
* MFG Model # : Ab2122


Dual Flush Toilets: By using a dual flush high efficiency toilets you can save 4,000 gallons per year and your children can each save about a third of a million gallons during their lifetime. A dual flush toilet is simply a toilet with two different ways to flush it. The full flush uses 1.6 gallon per flush and that is for solid waste. The half flush uses 0.8 gallons per flush and it is for liquid waste.


Dual flush toilets help gain LEEDs credit points for water efficiency.


Ships in 1-3 days

Price: 689.99

Fashion Toilets continued

The next fashion toilet we have is the Capri:

capri


Description:Powerful Dual Flush Toilet (1.6 and .8 gallon flush)
Size (inch):27-1/3 in. x 14-3/4 in. x 29 in.
Size (mm):695mm x 375mm x 740mm
Flush Siphon Jet
Bowl Elongated
Rough-in 12 in.
Drain Floor
Skirted trapway for easy clean
flush actuator two-button
One Piece


* Includes toilet seat
* MFG Brand Name : Hegii
* MFG Model # : H098


Dual Flush Toilets: By using a dual flush high efficiency toilets you can save 4,000 gallons per year and your children can each save about a third of a million gallons during their lifetime. A dual flush toilet is simply a toilet with two different ways to flush it. The full flush uses 1.6 gallon per flush and that is for solid waste. The half flush uses 0.8 gallons per flush and it is for liquid waste.


Dual flush toilets help gain LEEDs credit points for water efficiency.


Ships in 1-3 days

Price: 354.99

High Fashion Toilets

We have the newest high fashion toilets. Our toilets are dual flush, which are water saving.

High fashion Toilet number 1 is our Keewaydin toilet:
keewaydin2

Description:Powerful Dual Flush Toilet (1.6 and .8 gallon flush)
Size (inch):26-1/3 in. x 15-3/4 in. x 31 in.
Size (mm):670mm x 400mm x 785mm
Flush: Siphon Jet
Bowl: Round
Rough-in: 12 in.
Drain:Floor
Skirted trapway: for easy clean
flush actuator: two-button
Two Piece


* Includes toilet seat
* MFG Brand Name : Faenza
* MFG Model # : FB1621


Dual Flush Toilets: By using a dual flush high efficiency toilets you can save 4,000 gallons per year and your children can each save about a third of a million gallons during their lifetime. A dual flush toilet is simply a toilet with two different ways to flush it. The full flush uses 1.6 gallon per flush and that is for solid waste. The half flush uses 0.8 gallons per flush and it is for liquid waste.


Dual flush toilets help gain LEEDs credit points for water efficiency.


Ships in 1-3 days

Price: 324.99



The next high fashion toilet we carry is the Arielle:
arielle

Description:Powerful Dual Flush Toilet (1.6 and .8 gallon flush)
Size (inch):28-1/4 in. x 14-2/3 in. x 27-1/4 in.
Size (mm):715mm x 370mm x 690mm
Flush Siphon Jet
Bowl Elongated
Rough-in 11 in.
Drain Floor
Skirted trapway for easy clean
flush actuator two-button
One Piece


* Includes toilet seat
* MFG Brand Name : Hegii
* MFG Model # : H087


Dual Flush Toilets: By using a dual flush high efficiency toilets you can save 4,000 gallons per year and your children can each save about a third of a million gallons during their lifetime. A dual flush toilet is simply a toilet with two different ways to flush it. The full flush uses 1.6 gallon per flush and that is for solid waste. The half flush uses 0.8 gallons per flush and it is for liquid waste.


Dual flush toilets help gain LEEDs credit points for water efficiency.


Ships in 1-3 days

Price: 364.99

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Phoenix is all for Dual Flush Toilets

PHOENIX — A state lawmaker from Tucson wants to conserve Arizona's water
by giving a tax credit to those who replace their toilets with dual-flush
versions, which use less water for liquid waste.

www,macustrade.com

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Putting the Lid On Water Waste: New Toilets Are Going Green In Lieu of Gallon Guzzling

Putting the Lid On Water Waste: New Toilets Are Going Green In Lieu of Gallon Guzzling

By Jura Koncius
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 18, 2007; Page H01

Americans are finally flushing away old attitudes about toilets.

Consumers who have already embraced eco-friendly living in kitchens, gardens and cars are targeting the bathroom, the largest drain on indoor water. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average family of four uses 280 gallons of water a day indoors, and toilets account for about 27 percent of that. So in sustainable circles, the question of the moment is "How low is your gpf?" -- which, for the uninitiated, stands for gallons per flush.

Toilets made before 1994 were real water guzzlers, using from 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush. In 1994, federal law mandated that new toilets had to conform to a new standard of 1.6 gpf. The quest for improvement has led to other innovations, including dual-flush technology, which uses as little as 0.8 gallons to dispose of liquid waste and 1.6 gallons for solid waste.

Long used in Europe, Japan and Australia, and a favorite of the American green building community, dual-flush models are now being widely specified for newly constructed condos, beach house developments and colleges, and are being used in home remodeling projects. Costs range from $200 to $500 for most models.

The dual-flush, dubbed "the eco-throne" by Popular Science magazine, is experiencing a sales boom in this country. A spokesman for Australian manufacturer Caroma, which has sold the dual-flush for more than 25 years, says U.S. sales doubled in the past year. Some water-challenged municipalities are offering residents discounts on dual-flush toilets, or even free ones (see sidebar ).

"Anything to save water," says Florence Fasanelli, who installed a $395 Toto dual-flush model in her bungalow in American University Park. She keeps her thermostat low in the winter, uses a tankless water heater and drives a Prius. "We all have to do our part."

The EPA is stepping up efforts to publicize the benefits of conserving water. "We believe water efficiency is the blue wave of the future," says Benjamin H. Grumbles, the EPA's assistant administrator for water. Last year the agency introduced Water Sense, a labeling program similar to the Energy Star rating for appliances, to alert consumers to water-efficient products.

Next week the EPA is scheduled to release a voluntary 1.28-gpf-or-less specification for high-efficiency toilets, down from the 1.6 mandated in 1994. Consumers can choose a more water-efficient fixture for even greater savings on their water bills. Manufacturers that meet the 1.28-gpf standard will be eligible to display the Water Sense logo.

Low-flush toilets haven't always had great reviews. When the new federal mandate on toilets took effect in 1994, the first generation of weak 1.6-gallon models prompted waves of consumer complaints: One flush was not doing the job, and multiple flushes were negating water savings. There were stories of people hoarding 3.5-gpf models and of an underground market in older toilets. It took a few years for manufacturers to fix the problems. Although consumers were not required by law to rip out their old toilets, newly installed units had to meet the 1.6-gpf guideline. An EPA study in 2003 estimated that 45 percent of America's 222 million toilets still did not meet the standard.

Last year the EPA awarded its first Water Efficiency Leaders (WEL) awards to spotlight water-efficient products and practices. Toto USA, a pioneer in the development of the 1.6-gpf toilet, was one of six WEL winners. (Another winner was the New York State Funeral Directors Association, which reduced the volume of water used in an embalming from 120 gallons to an astonishing 5 gallons.)

Dual-flush toilets are going upscale. Last year Toto introduced the dual-flush Aquia, a stylish two-piece "skirted" design (smooth porcelain from rim to floor) available in six colors, including black and biscuit. According to company spokeswoman Lenora Campos, a family of four using the dual-control model could save 7,000 gallons of water a year beyond what is already saved by the standard 1.6.

Dual-flush models once were available mainly through plumbing wholesalers and kitchen and bath showrooms. But that is changing. Home Depot says it carries several models in its stores, and Lowe's carries two available by special order.

A few weeks ago Cristina Cenciarelli called her children -- ages 12, 10 and 7 -- into the remodeled powder room of their 1920s Baltimore home for updated toilet training on how to use the two-button control. But only the 7-year-old needed the lesson.

"My kids are already familiar with dual-flush, because we visit my family in Italy every summer," says Cenciarelli, who comes from Rome, where two-button toilets are the norm. "They know that when they go for Number One, they flush the Number One button, which is smaller in size. And for more, they flush the other one."

The ladies' rooms at the EPA offices in the new green Potomac Yard office complex in Arlington are equipped with 84 Caroma dual-flush toilets. There is still a learning curve for some of these products. "I was on the tour with four women, so we went into an unoccupied women's room," says Dale Kemery, a spokesman for the agency. "The tour guide was proud to open the stall door and point to the two buttons on top of the toilet. Then one of the women on the tour said, 'How are you going to flush that with your feet?' "

Dual Flush Toilets in the Washington Post
www.macustrade.com

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Dual flush toilets explained by consumer

The fact is, green toilets have come a long way and are pretty effective at what they do. Water is a precious, scarce resource that can be conserved with the right toilet technology. Within the green toilet category, you have the high-efficiency, pressure-assist, and the dual-flush toilet, or a combination of all three. Let me explain further.

In the March 2007 edition of domino, the esteemed, green entreprenuer Graham Hill said, "save thousands of gallons by following 'if it's yellow, let it mellow. If it's brown, flush it down.'" Sorry, but that won't fly with my wife or dog. That's where the dual-flush toilet comes in handy. The dual flush toilet has full volume flush (1.6 gallons) and water-saving flush (0.8-1.1 gallons), which you use accordingly, depending on whether you have a #1 or #2. A dual-flush toilet using 0.8 for the water-saving flush will save a typical household roughly 7,000 gallons of water per year.

The high-efficiency toilets are about 20% more efficient than the 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) standard, flushing in at about 1.28 gallons. Depending on your state, there may be rebates available for these types of toilets, and a typical household will save about 4,000 gallons of water per year. Many of these toilets use the pressure-assist technology, which adds a little umph to the flush. So you use less water, but that's compensated by pressure-assist technology.

In the future, you may hear someone say they installed a low-flow toilet, but dig a little deeper. Was it a dual-flush? A high-efficiency toilet with pressure-assist technology? A dual-flush with pressure-assist technology? A high-efficiency, dual-flush tiolet with pressure-assist technology? Here are a few places to go to look for toilets: Toto Aquia Dual-flush, Caroma Dual-flush, Zurn EcoVantage, Sterling Rockton Dual-flush, and American Standard FlowWise.

http://prestonkoerner.greenoptions.com/2007/02/22/flush-it-all-away-the-green-way/

www.macustrade.com

Monday, February 9, 2009

Dallas is going green

Enpact group is company based in Dallas

Enpact Group recently completed construction on a multi-family property featuring LEED-certified exterior wood, R-20 foam insulation in walls and ceiling, strategic use of natural light through window and skylight placement, roof material created from recycled plastics, dual flush toilets, rapidly renewable bamboo wood floors, ENERGY STAR GE Profile stainless steel appliances, soy-based low-VOC stain and sealants on interior cabinets, concrete floors and exterior wood, dual-flush toilets and a SEER 21 multi-speed HVAC system with fresh air intake.

The exterior features maintained trees on property, a permeable shared driving surface to minimize paved areas and native Texas landscaping to lower water consumption. The property is powered by a mixture of 100 percent renewable energy from Texas-based Green Mountain Energy Company.

Enpact Group's condominiums were built within the same price range as similar "non-sustainable" construction, which may come as a surprise to buyers who still think that being green comes at a cost. In fact, for the same money as regular new construction in the area, buyers can actually save money on energy while enjoying the benefit of living an "eco-chic" lifestyle. "We think this will appeal to a buyer who wants to add an extra element of style to urban living. Greener design has an aesthetic quality that extends beyond the usual," says Korba.

for more of this story go to http://greenerbuildings.com/blog/2009/01/15/eco-friendly-growth-dallas

Green in the news brought to by www.macustrade.com

Friday, February 6, 2009

Conserving water saves money

"Conserving water is also vital to our communities and saves money. Flow restrictors on showerheads and faucets, while not very glamorous changes, are cheap and reduce water consumption dramatically. Newer dishwashers, low-flush or dual-flush toilets (offering half-flush and whole flush options), and front-loading washing machines save multiple gallons. On demand water heaters can also save water and energy. Family health concerns are another reason to go green. Indoor environments frequently exude toxic chemicals found in many modern building materials. Even small projects like painting or replacing carpet or furniture are opportunities to make less toxic choices and to protect children who like to taste-test their surroundings."
Erica Gies

Dual Flush Toilets in the news
www.macustrade.com

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Go green! 5 simple ways to do your part

Who ever said, "It's not easy being green?" If Arizona residents took just a few steps we could help make the earth a better place and it would benefit our families and our wallets, as well. If you want to start doing your part, you can go green with these ideas.

1. Let’s begin with water. It is time to reevaluate our consumption. One of the most innovative and effective water saving tools is the dual flush toilet, which can save an estimated 4,000 gallons of water per year.
Dual Flush toilets made the 1 position.

dual flush toilets: www.macustrade.com

2. With energy prices on the rise, there are many enticing utility and tax incentives for energy efficiency and renewable energy. The best way to start - design an eco-friendly home. In our climate, the basic concepts, include:

Vertical shading. Install this on the East and West sides of your home. Window coverings allow sunlight in for natural heat and block the sunlight to keep your home cool, depending on the time of year.

Horizontal shading. Trees and shrubs on the South side of your home, will also help with natural cooling and heating.

3. Air quality is something we all need to be more aware of to keep our families healthy. You can do this, by changing air filters regularly at least once every three months.

Going Green in Arizona is also being made easier with a brand new store in Scottsdale called a.k.a green. It’s showroom near Old Town Scottsdale foreshadows the future by educating customers and selling building and home products that are healthier for people and the planet.

Reported by: Jennifer Harrington

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Feeling flush, government offers $50 for better toilets


Obviously flush with cash, the Manitoba government is offering a $50 rebate to anyone in the province who buys a high-efficiency toilet on Feb. 21.

The government is limiting the one-day offer to two toilets per customer.

Manitobans use less water, at 219 litres per day, than most Canadians, at 329 litres per day, but that doesn't mean residents should be resting on their backsides, the government says.

The rebate is part of an effort to conserve 80 million litres of water annually and save Manitobans $2-million on their collective annual water bill.

"We have worked with retailers to join in this new effort and are pleased with their widespread support to help preserve more clean water for future generations," Water Stewardship Minister Christine Melnick said.

www.macustrade.com

Melnick said on Feb. 21 the public can go to participating retail outlets throughout the province and receive an instant $50 rebate on the purchase of a high-efficiency, dual-flush toilet.

A matching $50 rebate is also available under the federal government's EcoEnergy program when purchasing an eligible high-efficiency, dual-flush toilet.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Cut your Water bill in Half with Dual Flush Toilets and other fixtures

Just installing aerators on sinks can help decrease the flows from your faucets.
Related Links
More Go Green stories
You might not know it, but on average half of your utility bill likely comes from your water heater having to constantly warm. But you don't need to call the plumber to cut your water bill in half.

Roscoe Overton was looking for a way to save money and save the earth through the purchase of his home. Not too aware of the latest green developments, it was the perfect time for his phone to ring.

“The plumber called and he said ‘hey, we have an opportunity to make a change’, and I said ‘what's that’, and he said, ‘we can get with the greenhouse’,” said Overton.

Mike Thigpen, the plumber on the other line, had found a way to install green water saving upgrades while also saving customers, like Roscoe green in the long run.

“There's only so much water on the planet, they're not making anymore and we've got to make sure there's enough to go around,” said Mike.

The first item to assess is a fast but highly effective way to cut water use yourself, just pop an aerator into each of your home's faucets.

“Automatically you cut the water usage in your sink by 50 percent,” said Mike.

Dual flush toilets can also really cut your water waste. “A standard dual flush toilet has one button for liquid waste, one for solid waste,” said Mike. Here, by treating bathroom situations different, the dual button toilet alternates between 1/2 gallon and 1 1/2 gallon flushes.

From dual flush toilets to solar water heaters, savings keeps adding up. The newest water heaters on the market could save you up to $1,200 in federal taxes, not to mention a hefty city rebate.

Mike shared,” There is a significant amount of savings because you're only heating water that you'd use rather than water that you're storing.”

That average savings is 50 to 70 percent.

Another trick you can do it yourself to limit water usage, install a low flow shower head. They’re readily available at hardware stores, just screw on the new shower head for big water savings.

“We're in a drought, you've got to save water; we're in an economic crisis, and you’ve got to save energy,” said Mike.

That savings was a big bonus for Roscoe. And he's thankful he gained awareness early enough to implement the green upgrades.

Monday, February 2, 2009

America's Greenest Hotel Has Dual Flush Toilets


A four-acre family home and vineyard is being billed as "America's greenest hotel." The Bardessono, a 62-room hotel, 92-seat restaurant and spa opens in Yountville, California today. The plans for the Napa Valley hotel have been in progress for 11 years, when the Bardessono family began their journey to turn family vineyard into a hotel. The family worked with Seattle developer Phil Sherburne to create a hotel that they hope will be awarded the platinum rating from the LEED Green Building Rating System. The 62-room hotel also includes a restaurant featuring locally sourced food and beverages and green spa that uses organic products.A rooftop pool includes private cabanas.

Salvaged wood was used for the project and two geothermal wells provide heat and cooling as well as hot water. Solar panels produce power and exterior Venetian blinds are automatically controlled to adjust to the sun. Other green features include low-flow fixtures, dual-flush toilets, drought-resistant landscaping and organically-sourced linens and cleaning supplies. Rates start around $500 a night.