Eco-Friendly Habits for Keeping a Home Green This St. Paddy's Day

Simple Changes for a Greener Home

This St. Patrick’s Day, with more and more people celebrating from home, many homeowners are showing off their “green” spirit with more than just their wardrobes. By using environmentally-friendly practices, these homeowners are doing their part for a better, greener planet - and saving some cash while they do it. Many think that they’re not in a position to help or that they would have to make extreme sacrifices to do it. 

But in truth, reducing waste, protecting the environment, and keeping the place clean doesn’t have to be difficult. Read on to learn a few easy changes anyone can implement to make a difference.

Cut Down on Water Usage

Water is one precious resource that most people in developed countries take for granted - unless they’ve ever been forced to go without it. Poor water usage habits account for a tremendous amount of wasted water each year. Much of this domestic water will be reclaimed, but not without losses. Unnecessary water usage also drives up utility costs and requires more energy and carbon output from water treatment facilities.

Fortunately, wasteful water habits are easy to change, and doing so can save hundreds if not thousands of gallons every year. A good place to start is turning off the faucet while shaving or brushing teeth. The same goes for washing dishes - only turn the water on for rinsing. Reducing the duration of showers to 5 minutes or less can have a massive impact, as can running the dishwasher or doing laundry only when there’s a full load. Watering gardens and lawns deeply and less frequently - not to mention using captured rainwater - also conserves water.

Monitor What Gets Flushed

Limiting what goes down the toilet is another way to reduce a home’s environmental impact. When toilets flush, everything inside goes down into the sewage or septic system and onto a sewage treatment plant, where it is processed to remove or neutralize pollutants. The treated water is then piped back into local waterways, rivers, and eventually the ocean.

These treatment plants do what they can to filter and remove objects and inorganic substances, but they are primarily designed to deal with organic materials. Things like chemicals, medicine, harsh cleaning agents, and automotive fluids can survive the processing and pollute natural bodies of water and the wildlife that depends on them. For this reason (and to avoid damaging or clogging the plumbing system), the only things that homeowners should ever flush are human waste and toilet paper.

Upgrade To Eco-Friendly Fixtures and Appliances

Perhaps the biggest thing homeowners can do to go green is to invest in water-saving fixtures and appliances. Even replacing old showerheads and faucets with eco-friendly models can save the average home upwards of 7,000 gallons per year.

Just about every appliance that uses water comes in multiple eco-friendly options. From tankless “on-demand” water heaters to high-efficiency dishwashers and washing machines that save both water and energy, there are plenty to choose from. These fixtures and appliances may require a higher initial investment, but they practically end up paying for themselves with the money they save on utilities. The world will also be a greener place for it.

About Plumb Perfect Plumbing

As a BBB A+ Rated company, Plumb Perfect Plumbing has over 20 years of experience serving Fredericksburg, VA. Their courteous expert technicians are available 7 days a week and are licensed, bonded, and insured so every customer can rest easy. Plumb Perfect proudly offers financing and flat-rate, no-surprise pricing. Call now for expert plumbing service!

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