Did you know that your bathroom could be one of the largest sources of energy consumption in your home? Think about it. Every time a family member flushes the toilet, washes their hands, bathes, or turns the lights on and off, energy is consumed. Since your bathroom is a heavily frequented area, it consumes a lot of energy—particularly water.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans use an average of 100 gallons of water per day, most of which is used in the bathroom. Flushing the toilet can use up to 27 percent of your daily water usage, alone.

At Four Seasons Plumbing and Sewer, we offer a variety of green plumbing services to help homeowners reduce their water and energy usage in their bathrooms. With numerous energy-efficient plumbing products on the market, we’ve put together a few of the top ways to green your bathroom—and put some green back in your wallet at the same time.

Replace Your Toilet

If your home has an older toilet, you could be using as much as 6 gallons of water per flush. By replacing your old toilet with a low-flow model, you can reduce your water usage by 20 to 60 percent—or 13,000 gallons per year. Today’s modern low-flow toilets use less than 2 gallons per flush and provide ample flushing power.

Switch to a Low-Flow Showerhead

If you want to conserve even more water in your bathroom—without sacrificing comfort, quality, or style—a low-flow showerhead saves between 1 and 4 gallons per minute (GPM) of water over a conventional showerhead. Not only will a low-flow showerhead help you conserve water, but you’ll also save money on your water bill. Depending on the showerhead you choose, you’ll also enjoy increased water pressure, performance, and even luxury with models that offer adjustable turbo massage. In addition, a low-flow showerhead puts less strain on your water heater, which means you’ll save money on your annual energy costs, too!

Upgrade to Motion Sensor Faucets

While motion sensor faucets are commonplace in public restrooms, few homeowners have upgraded to these innovative faucets in their own homes. Rather than leaving the water running while you’re brushing your teeth or washing your hands, a motion sensor faucet tracks when you need the faucet to turn on. Additionally, your bathroom will be cleaner without the inevitable gunk build-up around the faucet handle—and reduce the potential spreading of germs.

Swap Out Your Old Water Heater

By changing out your old water heater for a tankless model, you’ll enjoy a range of benefits, including a continuous supply of hot water and a compact design that takes up less space. As far as energy efficiency, tankless water heaters use 30 to 50 percent less energy than a conventional water heater—so you will see immediate cost savings on your energy bills.

Repair Leaks

If you have a leaky faucet that drips at a rate of one drip per second, you could be wasting more than 3,000 gallons of water per year, according to the EPA. In addition to dripping faucets, worn toilet flappers are another common leak found in bathrooms, and making these simple repairs can save you up to 10 percent on your water bill.

Purchase WaterSense-Labeled Bath Products

When you talk with your bathroom contractor about replacing or upgrading your fixtures, ask if they can install products with the EPA’s WaterSense label. Products with this label will not only use less water, they’ll also save you money on your energy bills—as well as through potential rebates. For example, a WaterSense faucet uses a maximum of 1.5 GPM, compared to 2.2 GPM for a standard faucet.

If you’re interested in our green plumbing services, we’re happy to speak to you anytime! From faucets and showers to toilets and tubs, we have your energy-efficient plumbing options covered. Give Four Season Plumbing and Sewer a call today to learn more about our products and services, or fill out our brief online form now to request a fast, no-obligation estimate.