How to Upgrade Your Toilet and Save the Environment
Upgrading your toilet can save energy and money.
by Don Ames
If you want to have an understanding of the importance of conserving water, just ask the Columbia River. For years, the good thirsty folks of California have been trying to figure a way to get the Columbia River to run to Californa instead of the pacific Ocean. Good clean water is nearing the time when it has a bounty placed on it’s head, dead or alive to the highest bidder.
In Iraq this year, the people marched on the electrical power commission when they lacked enough power to run their air conditioners. A similar struggle for adequate water is not far behind. I expect the headline to read, Urban Resident Shoot When He Washes Car On No Car Wash Day.
Let’s see, one household with five people each flushing the toilet 5 times per day at 1.6 gallons per flush equals about 14,600 gallons per year.
How your flushing can save water, the environment, and money:
1. Adjust the float in your toilet holding tank so the reservoir does not fill so full. This can be done by turning a set screw on the stand pipe or by bending the metal rod that holds the float.
2. Install a dual flush toilet. Press one button or lever to use 0.8 gallons to flush liquid, press the other button or lever to use 1.6 gallons to flush solids.
3. Install a dual flush system in your current toilet. Your favorite hardware store or plumber has equipment that replaces the flush and fill mechanism in your toilet with a dual flush system.
4. Replace your toilet with a 1.0 gallon per flush, air assisted model. You have already run into air assisted toilets in commercial buildings. Now air assisted toilets are designed for homes.
5. Make flushing a scheduled event. Plan ahead. Ever little drop of liquid or scrap of paper does not deserve it’s own flush. Think of it as the buddy system for water preservation, Amen.
You know conservation is getting to be serious when it goes so far as to include your family throne. Thanks for stopping by, come back soon, but remember, I won’t be leaving the lights on for you… Don Ames, www.detectenergy.com