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Earth Friendly Plumbing |
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"We care about your home like you care about your body" Advances in plumbing technology help builders add L.E.E.D. pointsReprinted from the San Antonio Business JournalWhether you call it smart plumbing, green plumbing or plumbing biospherics, the concept is the same: the reduction of water use through resourceful landscaping, wastewater technology and high-efficiency plumbing design. If you are applying for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for your building, such environmentally friendly plumbing could help you meet requirements in several point categories, including materials and resources, energy and atmosphere, water efficiency, sustainability and innovation in design. Even if you aren't seeking LEED certification, here are six ideas that are worth considering because they go a long way in protecting our natural resources. 1. Water efficiencyThe goal of water efficient plumbing is to reduce potable water use, thereby putting less of a pull on the Edwards Aquifer system. The current LEED reference guide allows points for a 20 percent reduction in time of each use for automatic motion-control or metering sensors on lavatory and sink faucets. A second point is allowed for a 30 percent reduction. At the very least, fit all sink and lavatory faucets and showers with water restricting aerators. Go one step further by replacing your plumbing fixtures with low flow and ultra-low flow versions. Most low-flow faucets limit flow to 1.8 gallons per minute, meeting the base design requirements for LEED (2.5 gallons per minute). Others use sensors to limit the amount of time the water runs, resulting in tremendous water savings up to 70 percent less than manual faucets. By shutting off during the lather cycle of 20 seconds (according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recommended hand-washing procedures), sensor-operated faucets can save as much as a gallon of water each use. You can also increase water efficiency by looking at how you irrigate. Using drip hoses or sprinkler systems that are automatically timed and programmed to turn on or off based on ground soil moisture also contribute to a reduction in water use. 2. Waste removalNobody really wants to talk about it, but how we get rid of waste is a big -- well -- water waster. Instead, use a low-flow (using 1.2 gallons per flush) and ultra-low flow (0.8 gallons per flush) toilet. Or choose a dual-flush toilet that has two levers -- one for urine (one gallon per flush) and one for solid waste (1.6 gallons). If you're feeling really brave, try a waterless system such as a non-water urinal. Such systems are gaining in popularity around the world -- from California elementary schools and football facilities to the Taj Mahal and South Pole. Just this year, two such systems won the 2006 Award for Design Excellence with their sleek, efficient design. A water-free urinal uses a cartridge that eliminates odor and the need for water. Inside the cartridge, the chamber retains a small amount of liquid waste while the rest drains down the sewer. A lighter-than-water sealant floats on top of the trapped waste, creating an airtight barrier and keeping odor from escaping. When urine is added, it passes through the sealant, displacing the waste already there. The sealant then emulsifies to recreate the barrier. There is no flushing. Last March, Randy Goble, director of marketing communications at Falcon WaterFree Technologies of Grand Rapids, Mich., told Wired magazine that if just 10 percent of flush urinals were converted, some 200 billion gallons of water would be saved each year. 3. Water collectionStorm water capture, storage and use systems collect rainwater and reuse it in the building's non-potable water fixtures, such as landscape, toilets and fire suppression storage. However, because the system requires two plumbing systems, it is best suited for new construction in areas where rainfall is substantial. 4. Water heating systemsTexas' sunny, dry climate is good news, however, for solar water heating. Nationwide, heating water uses up approximately 18 percent of energy used in homes and 4 percent in commercial buildings. An alternative is a solar water heating system, which uses the sun's energy rather than electricity or gas to heat water. Such systems have been shown to provide up to 80 percent of the hot water needs. Newer systems are being developed that use bio-diesel fuels and wind. On demand systems can also help meet requirements for reduction in water use through the installation of hot water recirculation systems that reduce the amount of water wasted down the drain while you are waiting for hot water to reach the fixture. 5. Sustainable systemsBuilding sustainability and indoor environmental quality equate to 45 percent of LEED credits. Epoxy pipelining may well qualify as the case can be made that its technology adds life (as much as 50 years) to an existing pipe system, reduces landfill debris, increases the sustainability of the building and improves water quality. Based on research developed by the U.S. Department of Defense after several Naval facilities had to be closed because of poor water quality, epoxy pipelining entered the mainstream. Using an advanced mixture of polymers (or large molecules) that form a product that is harder than most metal when combined, epoxy adheres to surfaces and bonds in such a way that it keeps contaminants from building up and breaking through the protective barrier it forms. As such, pipe leaks are fixed and future corrosion stopped. 6. Conserving other energiesThere are ways plumbing can contribute to the overall efficiency of green buildings by using water to conserve energy in other areas. The most common is designing a plumbing system for green roofs. In Texas, such irrigation systems are critical in the early stages of growth or if you aren't going to use drought-resistant plants. Design options help keep water on the roof through restricted drain systems or utilize grey water or purple pipe systems for irrigation, as a couple of examples. In turn, green roofs help conserve energy as well as reduce storm water runoff and the urban heat island effect. ---------------------------------------------------- We consume some $4 billion a year in energy costs associated with pumping, treating, delivering, collecting and cleaning water. Doesn't it make sense to slow down our use? Widespread adoption may mean that next year we can continue to water our lawns through the summer. But more important than green grass is the ability to design "whole building" plumbing systems that preserve, protect and respect our environment.
-E.F. Plumbing
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Welcome to Earth Friendly Plumbing We are proud to be the first in the plumbing trade to always use our best efforts to keep the planet green and safe. ---------------------------------- We care for your home's plumbing using only the most natural and environmentally safe methods available. We carry all natural drain cleaning and enzomatic cleaning solutions for smelly drains, septic systems and boat/RV Septic Tanks We also offer complete plumbing services for all of Southern California We're always trying to find new ways to keep the Earth Safe, so be sure to check back often for our latest conservation tips!
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