Living Green

My Top 5 Green Tips

By Jathy Garcia

There’s never been a better time to start implementing simple measures to ensure we are being safe & environmentally friendly in our homes. While we do this we can actually save some money and put it to better use rather than flush it down the toilet… no pun intended. Here are my top 5.

1. Minimize Water Down the Drain
   There is a trifecta of water-saving opportunities in the bathroom. By installing a low-flow showerhead, a low-flow faucet aerator, and a dual-flush toilet, you’ll save thousands of gallons of water each year. To really go for the gusto, and go for a water-free toilet, check in to composting toilets. Check out more info on Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composting_toilet
2. Flush the Toilet with Care
   When it comes to using the toilets themselves, be sure you’re reaching for toilet paper created from recycled sources—remember, rolling over is better than rolling under—and avoid using products made from virgin boreal forest trees. Ready for the next step? Install a dual-flush toilet or dual-flush retrofit on your current toilet. Most modern dual flush toilets use less than a gallon of water (3 liters, approximately) to flush liquid waste and around 1.6 gallons (6 liters) to flush solid waste. This is a big savings over old toilet styles that used five gallons (19 liters) or more for each and every flush.
3. Think About What Goes in Your Sink
   Once you have your low-flow faucet aerator installed, your behavior can also help keep water flow down. Be sure to turn off the water while you’re brushing your teeth—some dentists even recommend a dry toothbrush—and you’ll save six gallons of water each day (assuming you’re diligent about brushing twice a day). Boys: if you shave with a wet razor, put a stopper in the sink and don’t leave the water running. Half a sink-full of water will do the job.
4. Clear the Air with Green Cleaners
   Bathrooms are notoriously small and often poorly ventilated, so, of all the rooms in the house, this is the one that should be cleaned with green, non-toxic cleaners. Common household ingredients, like baking soda and vinegar, and a little elbow grease will do the job for most everything in the bathroom. Avoid chlorine and other nice smelling cleaners that really emit toxic chemicals to the air we breathe.
5. Shower Yourself with a Safe Curtain
   If your shower has a curtain, be sure to avoid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic—it’s pretty nasty stuff. The production of PVC often results in creating dioxins, a group of highly toxic compounds, and, once in your home, PVC releases chemical gases and odors. Once you’re done with it, it can’t be recycled and is known to leach chemicals that can eventually make their way back into our water system. So, be on the lookout for PVC-free plastic—even places like IKEA carry them now—or go for a more permanent solution, like hemp, which is naturally resistant to mold, as long as you keep your bathroom well-ventilated.

Maintain Your New Green Ways
Once you go green, you’ll want to keep it that way, so remember to do regular light maintenance—unclogging drains, fixing leaky faucets, etc.—with green in mind. Check out more advice on our plumber in a skirt blog https://www.hi-techplumbingandair.com/plumber-in-a-skirt-blog/

Hi-Tech Plumbing &  Air is considered the expert in green plumbing & HVAC solutions. They are a licensed and insured plumbing & Air conditioning service company that has been serving residential and commercial customers throughout Palm Beach County since March of 2000. They understand the needs of their customers and because of that, offer same day service, 24/7 emergency service with up front pricing and they guarantee your satisfaction. Hi-Tech Plumbing works hard to earn your business and goes the extra mile to keep it. They can be reached at 561-203-6215 or via email at service@hi-techplumbingandair.com