Asheville NC Custom Builder talks about Water Conservation and Green Building

In 1992, congress reduced the maximum water consumption level of toilets from 3.5 gallons per flush to 1.6, and opponents were hopping mad. Plumbing contractors and consumers railed that the new toilets were ineffective and wasted water due to multiple flushes. The federal government warns that population growth and persistent drought will force at least 36 states into water shortages by 2013. Water conservation is now a national priority, which is why the EPA launched the voluntary Water Sense program to make it easy for consumers to identify and purchase water-efficient products. High-efficiency toilets were recently added to the program.

A high-efficiency toilet (HET) flushes with 20 percent less water than a standard unit. Such toilets may meet the criteria in one of two ways: A single-flush toilet must use no more than 1.28 gallons per flush, or a dual-flush unit must have a full flush using no more than 1.6 gallons and a reduced flush that uses no more than 1.1. With toilet flushing consuming about 30 percent of all domestic water use, ­manufacturers say they are committed to the water conservation movement. The question that looms, however, is whether or not that movement will make voluntary standards become law. With the eco-movement gaining steam, it very well could, so be prepared to install low flow heads, toilets, and gray water delivery systems. Advantage Development Co. is an award winning green builder in Asheville NC that understands what water conservation is all about. Call us today at 828-215-9064 or visit our website at http://www.advdevco.com/ for all of your green building needs.