Go Green with Water-Efficient Plumbing Fixtures in Your Office

In today’s business environment, companies are constantly being encouraged to put energy conservation policies and procedures in place. Going “green” makes a lot of sense, especially for businesses and offices that use substantial amounts of energy or other resources. Careful and efficient use of water goes hand in hand with green policies and energy conservation. If you are looking for ways to save water in your office, the following information on water-efficient plumbing fixtures can help you decide what changes and additions you can make to reduce water usage and save money.

The WaterSense Program

One of the first places you can turn to get reliable information on water conservation and the use of water-efficient plumbing fixtures is the federal WaterSense program. WaterSense, a program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, offers detailed and authoritative information on saving water and making water conservation a part of your day-to-day routine. The WaterSense program also provides certifications for water-efficient plumbing fixtures and other devices. Any fixture or piece of equipment bearing the WaterSense label has been tested and certified as being efficient, allowing users to save water, money and energy.

Water-Efficient Plumbing Fixtures

Installing water-efficient plumbing fixtures and systems in your office will make an immediate difference in the amount of water you use and the amount of energy your facility consumes every month. Some of the more effective and efficient of these fixtures include the following:

• High-efficiency toilets: High-efficiency toilets, or HETs, can use less water than traditional toilets while still providing effective waste removal. Since toilet use can consume at least 20 gallons of water per person per day in an office environment, using less water per flush will significantly reduce overall water usage. HETs use an average of 1.3 gallons per flush, which is 20 percent less than the standard 1.6 gallons per flush. Even though HETs use less water, there should be no concerns about waste removal; they are designed to effectively remove both liquid and solid waste with only one flush.
• Dual-flush toilets: Dual-flush toilets provide the option of using less water per flush. A lower-water flush gets rid of liquid waste, while a flush that uses more water gets rid of solid waste. Dual-flush toilets are among the most water-efficient fixtures you can use for this purpose. They typically reduce water usage around 30 percent over standard toilet models.
• Waterless urinals: Waterless urinals are growing in popularity as an alternative to standard urinals. They are particularly useful in communities where there is limited rainfall or where drought conditions are common. In these types of fixtures, urine flows down by gravity and through a somewhat dense sealing liquid, such as vegetable oil. Urine, being denser than the sealing liquid, flows through and sinks below the oil, then is drained away. The sealing liquid traps odors and prevents them from escaping back into the bathroom air. The lack of mechanical components means that waterless urinals are easier to maintain. They are also more hygienic than standard urinals since they have no handles to touch.
• Greywater systems: Greywater systems recycle some of the used water from your facility to perform functions that result in the water being sent into the sewer system. Specifically, a greywater system will recycle rainwater, water from laundry or kitchen functions, or water used for hand washing or cleaning. This recycled water is then used for purposes such as toilet flushing. In essence, greywater systems reuse relatively clean water that would otherwise be drained into the wastewater system, allowing the same volume of water to be applied to two different but essential functions.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about Plumbing, HVACR, Fire Protection, and Alarm Systems in Mechanical, Commercial, and Residential settings. For more information on water-efficient plumbing fixtures and how they can help your office conserve water and energy, and to view projects we’ve worked on, visit our website.

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