You have a lot to consider when choosing a toilet. You’re probably thinking about how it looks, how comfortable it is, and its quality of construction. Those are important things to consider, but we’d like to bring up another: environmental impact.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “the average family can save 13,000 gallons of water and $130 in water costs per year by replacing all old, inefficient toilets”, 13,000 gallons of water is a lot, and a pretty heroic act to attach to your toilet purchase! Here’s everything you need to know to find an eco-friendly toilet that works for you.
Search for toilets that have the EPA’s WaterSense label
Older varieties of toilet can use between three and seven gallons of water per flush. Modern varieties of eco-friendly toilets, meanwhile, get down to as little as a single gallon per flush. If a toilet uses this small an amount, it will qualify for a WaterSense label from the EPA. To get this label, a toilet has to use 20 percent less water than the current federal standard, which is 1.6 gallons per flush. The WaterSense label will be your first sign that a toilet is worth its weight in water savings.
Know the difference between low-flow and dual-flush
A low-flow toilet is a toilet specifically designed to use as little water as possible for every single flush. According to national standards, they need to use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush. Dual-flush toilets take the idea of low-flow ones, but refine it even further. They offer a flush with two button options – one for flushing liquid waste, which uses an incredibly low amount of water (0.8 gallons on average) and one for flushing solid waste, which uses the traditional, “low-flow” 1.6 gallons.
Look into eco-friendly toilet brands
There are a number of great – and stylish – low-flow and dual-flush eco-friendly toilet options available on the market today. There’s the sleek white, dual-flush Kohler Persuade Toilet, The American Standard Clean High-Efficiency Elongated Two-Piece Toilet that has the high marks from the EPA’s WaterSense program, or even the Duravit Starck Toilet with both jets and low-flow properties. We encourage you to do more research about the brand that best fits your needs.
When you decide to install an eco-friendly toilet in your home or business, don’t hesitate to call on the experts at Ben Franklin Plumbing in Dallas, TX for the best in quick, easy installation.