Green Building In The Carolinas – Water Efficiency

While you are building or renovating a home, the decisions are endless.  Or so it seems.  Add in the desire to make your home as Green as possible which merely means making it as efficient as possible can seem an overwhelming process.

Yes, it may cost a bit more than the traditional way however only you can make the final decision.  Only you know your level of commitment to living a green lifestyle and more importantly, your budget.

There will be time along the process that you decide you can only implement some of the standards.

The list below is intended as a guideline for all of us.  Again whether we are building a home, renovating or simply looking for ways to improve our homes efficiency and hopefully cut some of our bills.

Inside Your Home:

• Install low-flow shower heads in all your bathrooms, as well as aerators on the sinks, to ensure proper water flow.
• Purchase a dual flush toilet, which features two flush levels, depending on your needs.
  • Using a dual flush toilet toilets saves your water usage.
  • Go to www.caromausa.com.  They'll be the first to tell you that "Caroma toilets have saved an estimated 4,883,734,221 gallons of water in the US alone".
• Make sure you don’t have any leaky faucets in your home.
  • A dripping faucet can waste over 40 gallons of water per week.
  • Be sure to fix or replace any dripping faucet in your home and when you do, make sure it has a water flow protector.

Outside Your Home:

• Install a grey water system in your home.
  • This system will collect, clean and recycle the water you use in your sinks and showers
  • The water collected is for use in the toilets and gardening applications.
  • For more information on grey water systems, visit www.greywater.com.  It's a great site to get educated.

• You can also install a simple rainwater collection system.
  • visit www.woodlanddirect.com.  They have several options for a less expensive way of collecting rain water and using it.

With either a grey water system or rainwater collection system, you can water your lawn all summer without the slightest twinge of guilt.

I highly recommend visiting both of these sites to learn more about Water Efficiency.

www.waterwiser.org

www.h2ouse.org

A last note for those who like to wash their cars at home.

I know washing your car at home on a beautiful Saturday afternoon can be a great way to spend a few hours.  The sense of accomplishment, it can be kind of "Zen" and …your saving money!  STOP!!!

Did you know that washing your car at home can use up to 100 gallons of water!  And did you know that is also pollutes nearby water sources.  The chemicals either soak into the ground and into someone's well (perhaps your own) or it washes into the storm grates.

Please consider washing your car at professional car washes or at self-service car washes. These facilities use far less water, and have proper drainage systems which filter the water into treatment plants.

Water Efficiency is the goal.

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About Bob Bencivenga

Bob Bencivenga

Bob Bencivenga is a professional site locator and location analyst for major corporations. Bob researches the growth of NC and SC to find the Best Places to Retire or Relocate that are still affordable.

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