Archive for water saving
WaterSense Products a Key Element in Green Rebuilding Efforts
Posted by: | CommentsOn May 4, 2007, the town of Greensburg, Kansas was destroyed by an EF5 tornado. Ninety-five percent of the town was leveled by the storm and 11 people lost their lives. In the wake of this tragedy the residents of Greensburg chose to take advantage of what they realized was an historic opportunity and began to rebuild their home into the first LEED Platinum town in the country.
Today, on the 3rd anniversary of the Greensburg tornado, the Professor gives a tip of the hat to the resilient residents of Greensburg for their amazing accomplishments.
Most of the news coverage has focused on Greensburg’s wind farm, rainwater harvesting efforts, recycled building materials, and LED-powered streetlights. However, one other important feature in the town’s new, environmentally-friendly plan includes the installation of WaterSense-certified plumbing products in the reconstructed homes.
To help residents conserve water, American Standard Brands donated a number of products, including several low-flow Cadet 3 and FloWise toilets, both of which use 20% less water per flush than standard toilets. Several Greensburg homes also received water-saving Reliant 3 faucets and FloWise bath and shower kits.
Making use of clean energy technologies and reclaimed building materials are truly laudable actions, but as always, the Professor is especially pleased to see that water conservation is a key aspect of Greensburg’s low-impact lifestyle.
Dual Flush Toilet Review: Washdown vs. Siphonic Action
Posted by: | CommentsProfessor Toilet is pleased to see enthusiasm for dual flush toilets finally catching on in the United States.
Designed more than 30 years ago by an Australian Toilet Scientist, dual flush technology can reduce water usage by up to 67%. To put this into perspective, that’s like saving an average of 9,600 gallons a day over the old 3.5-gallon behemoths, or enough water to fill three hot tubs each day when compared to a 1.6-gallon toilet.
Dual flush toilets are actually mandated in Australia and Singapore, and catching on fast in North America because of the simple premise: “push 1 for 1 and push 2 for 2,” A number 1 flush uses less water, a far more pleasant alternative to “if it’s yellow, let it mellow.” A number 2 flush is designed to take down solids without clogging, typically using the same 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) as standard toilets like the Champion 4 and Cadet 3.
Dual Flush Washdown vs. Dual Flush Siphonic
One issue slowing more widespread adoption of dual flush toilets in the US is a technical term that toilet scientists call skid marks. The Professor assumes that you don’t need a visual on that; in short, it’s a bowl that won’t stay clean after pushing 2 for 2. You may use other words for it when it happens.
Dual flush toilets rely on the “push” of water to cleanse the bowl in what is known as a washdown flush. In contrast, standard toilets depend on the more popular siphonic action to “pull” waste out.
To strengthen the push action, the bowls of dual flush models are sloped more sharply than standard toilets to give the water greater momentum, which can also increase splashing. The steeped bowls mean a smaller “water spot” or water surface area in the bowl, which makes it more likely that toilet paper or other waste will cling to the sides of the bowl, staining and generating odors.
The toilet engineers at American Standard have overcome these two hurdles with a dual flush toilet that removes every last trace of paper and waste, as well as one that offers a large traditional water surface area.
The WaterSense-certified H2Option Dual Flush Toilet is the first truly siphonic dual flush toilet, which generates strong push and pull action through forceful but quiet jetted action under the rim. When the user flushes H2Option, some of the water is instantly diverted to the rim where there are a series of chambers. The air in the chambers pushes the ongoing coming water forcefully out into the bowl. The resulting downhill rush of water creates an all-but-irresistible pull on the water behind it, so that every last trace of waste is removed from the bowl.
NJDEP’s Water Supply Program Auctions Handpainted Rain Barrels
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the Professor’s favorite ways to preserve fresh water resources outside of the bathroom is by collecting rainwater for household uses like watering lawns or gardens. The benefits of rainwater harvesting are many: it can reduce your water bill, keep excess rainwater out of local sewage systems, and because rainwater is naturally softened, it’s the best water to use for watering delicate plants and for washing windows and cars.
Program Rainwater harvesting can even be beautiful, thanks to ‘The One Barrel at a Time Artist Co-op,’ which came out of a collaboration between NJDEP’s Water Supply Program, the Rutgers Water Resources, Lucid Graphics, and a number of talented NJ artists.
The Co-op is currently auctioning off handpainted rain barrels on ebay. To view – and bid on – these unique works of art just follow this link or visit www.ebay.com and search for ‘Rutgers Rain Barrel.’ The auctions will close this Saturday, May 1st, so place your bids now if you’d like to support this project
AIA Survey: Architects see increased consumer demand for water saving toilets
Posted by: | CommentsEven as architects report doing more modest kitchens and baths, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported demand for certain products had risen significantly, particularly for those that promote energy and water efficiency.
Professor Toilet thanks Supply House Times for pointing out that demand for low-flow (high efficiency) toilets showed a particularly impressive jump in demand – requested in 63% of 2009 bathroom remodels; up from 57% in 2008 according to the AIA 2009 Home Design Trends Survey.
Once viewed with skepticism, as we learned a few lessons ago in The Day Bad Flushing Began, low-flow toilets have greatly increased in popularity as homeowners become more economically and environmentally minded. Those who try out the latest models know that double-flushing is not at all necessary, and enjoy significant savings on their water bills immediately.
American Standard, for instance, recently conducted a test retrofitting of its newest low-flow toilet, the H2Option, in the Chastain Lakes neighborhood of Kennesaw, GA and the reviews were overwhelmingly positive. The H2Option offers a dual-flush system that allows users to choose between a 1 gallon and a standard 1.6 gallon “turbo flush.” Chastain Lakes homeowner and real estate agent Peg Grady said she told her guests to “trust [her] on the turbo flush!” and noted that there was “no comparison” between her old traditional toilet and the H2Option. Neighbor Rene Merritt agreed, telling us she was “super satisfied by everything that has happened.”
Replacing a standard toilet with a dual flush system can save more than 29,000 gallons of water per year, which can translate to big savings on water bills. With so many new low-flow toilets available on the market, it’s no wonder that more and more consumers are embracing siphonic dual-flush toilets.
Greenversations Green Plumbers Combat Climate Change and Plumber Perception
Posted by: | CommentsCame across an interesting post about GreenPlumbers® on the EPA’s blog: Greenversations Green Plumbers Combat Climate Change.
It strikes the Professor that media coverage about GreenPlumbers doesn’t include the usual “cracks” about plumbers. In this article, Greenversations equates GreenPlumbers with superheroes–albeit Luigi of Super Mario–but still, recognizing the plumbing profession as a critical and valued link the fight to preserve freshwater resources. Greenversations lists the actions that superhero GreenPlumbers take:
- Water audits
- High efficiency product and equipment upgrades
- Installation and maintenance of greywaterand rainwater catchment systems.
Georgia’s first certified Green Plumber, Nick Marine, of Marine Plumbing, does all the above, as well as solar installations across the Southeast.
Not Enough Water in the Bowl? Scout, the Toilet Drinking Dog Tells All
Posted by: | CommentsWith some water saving toilets, there isn’t enough water in the bowl.
Then there’s Scout’s bowl. Scout, the Toilet Drinking Dog, is quite satisfied with the water spot on the Cadet® 3 FloWise Toilet which saves 20% more water than Scout’s previous favorite water hole, an older 1.6 gallon per flush.
If you’re reading this, the Professor assumes that you do not drink out of toilets. The benefit of larger water spots for humans is a cleaner bowl with less streaking.
Water Saving Toilets & Urinals of the Future | GreenBiz.com
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The American Standard Pint Urinal is among the advanced technologies featured on today’s GreenBiz.com blog.
Toilets Take a Stand for World Water Day in Washington, DC on March 23rd
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Toilets will take a stand on the steps of our nation’s Capitol to draw attention to the lack of access to clean water.
American Standard water saving toilets will be used to stage the World’s Longest Toilet Queue in the park between Union Square and Capitol Hill on Tuesday March 23.
It’s a funny visual for a deadly serious issue: Lack of access to fresh clean water. The world’s largest environmental health crisis, poor sanitation kills 4,500 children every day. Read more at American Standard.
Submit your name and contact information to be considered for World Water Day Capitol Hill visits.
Download more information about the World’s Longest Toilet Queue in Washington D.C.
Google Maps to to World’s Longest Toilet Queue in Washington D.C. on March 23, 1 pm.
Tips for Saving Water Around the House
Posted by: | CommentsWater Conservation Put to the Test in Metro Atlanta
Posted by: | CommentsNo one loves tests as much as professors. And no one loves a test of toilets more than Professor Toilet.
Especially when test results reveal a high grade of satisfaction when it comes to toilets, faucets and showerheads that save water.
American Standard identified 21 homeowners in two suburban Atlanta communities who volunteered to replace their existing toilets and bathroom sink faucets last fall with high-efficiency WaterSense®-certified models, and to replace their showerheads with the highly-rated FloWise showerhead that delivers an invigorating, satisfying soak while reducing water usage up to 40 percent.
After two months of measurement, green building consultant Tommy Linstoth, LEED-AP found an overall household savings of at least 25 percent. The level of satisfaction has been higher than expected. American Standard has not received a single request to return to the higher-consumption products and several volunteers reported that the products exceeded their expectations, as well as the performance of their previous higher-consumption products. Learn more at Tommy’s RehydrateUS.org blog.
Below, Tommy explains the purpose of the test:
