What you should know about toilets

Toilets account for almost 30% of residential indoor water use in the United States.

Toilets are also a major source of wasted water due to leaks and inefficiency. In a home that was built prior to 1993 it is most likely that the toilet uses 3.5 gallons or more for every single flush (in Dekalb County alone, approx. 165,000 homes were built prior to 1993 – there are approx. 1 Mio. Homes in the Greater Atlanta area that still have old, inefficient toilets in use). Experts say that the minimum needed to meet the basic human needs of drinking, cooking and hygiene is five gallons of clean water per person per day. It’s far from enough to ensure health and well-being-just enough to get by. Do we really need to flush down that much each time we go “Number One”?

In the beginning of modern toilets there was the seven-gallon flushing porcelain lavatory. Then there was the low-flush toilet. And by the time you’d flushed several times the bowl was “clear” and you had flushed more water than you did with the faithful lavatory.

Then there was the new and improved low-flush toilet, which was better but still not what always got the job done. And finally, the High-Efficiency toilet arrived; you now have your choice of flushing as little as .8 gallons with dual flush toilets. The best part is that they really work!

What Are High-Efficiency Toilets?

Under federal law, toilets must not exceed 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf). High-efficiency toilets (HETs) go beyond the standard and use less than 1.3 gpf. The WaterSense label will be used on HETs that are certified by independent laboratory testing to meet rigorous criteria for both performance and efficiency. Only HETs that complete the third-party certification process can earn the WaterSense label.

 Do High Efficiency Toilets Work?

Everyone is concerned about the performance of low-flow toilets. Do they clear the bowl and leave it clean? Do they stop up frequently? Unlike the first 1.6 gallon / flush toilets, WaterSense HETs combine high efficiency with high performance. Advances in toilet design permit WaterSense HETs to save water without loss of flushing power. In fact, many perform better than standard toilets in consumer testing. Want proof? Watch this amazing video of Eddie Wilcut, the Water Conservation Manager for the City of San Antonio, flushing a Russet potato down a Caroma toilet with the full flush (1.6 gallon) AND half flush (0.8 gallon), which is meant for liquid waste.

How Much Water and Money Do HETs Save?

High efficiency toilets save you money by reducing your water and wastewater costs. Over the course of a lifetime, an average person flushes the toilet nearly 140,000 times. If you install a WaterSense HET, you can save 4,000 gallons per year and your children can each save about a third of a million gallons during their lifetime. If a family of four replaces one 3.5 gpf toilet made between 1980 and 1994 with a WaterSense toilet, they can save $2,000 over the lifetime of the toilet. If the toilet being replaced was made before 1980, it uses 5 gallons per flush so the savings will be much greater. If you’d like to calculate how much water you can save try the water savings calculator on www.ecotransitions.com.

With these savings, new high-efficiency toilets can pay for themselves in only a few years. Even better, many local utilities offer substantial rebates for replacing old toilets with HETs. Detailed information on the rebates available in Georgia can be found here Rebates in Georgia. 

What are Dual Flush toilets?

Dual flush toilets offer a patented dual flush technology consisting of a 0.8 Gal flush for liquid waste and a 1.6 Gal flush for solids. They can save up to 40% (approx. 4600 gallons) compared to today’s standard 1.6-gallon single flush toilets. On an average of 4/1 uses a day,  Dual Flush toilets have the lowest water consumption of all – 0.96 Gallons per flush. Caroma, an Australian manufacturer that invented the Dual Flush technology manufactures award winning toilets that are both user friendly and, with a full 3.5″ trap way, virtually blockage-free!  Wouldn’t that be nice to be able to finally kiss the plunger good bye? Beware of some products reducing the amount of water flushed to use with your existing toilet. Existing bowls are not designed to perform with reduced amounts of water, so the likelihood of clogging your toilet while you are trying to flush paper and solid waste increases drastically.

 

Select a WaterSense Labeled High-Efficiency Toilet!

Whether you are remodeling a bathroom, beginning construction of a new house, or just want to replace an old, leaky toilet, a WaterSense labeled HET is your best bet. Look for the WaterSense label on any toilet you buy. If every home in the United States replaced just one old toilet with a new HET, we would save almost one trillion (spelled with a T)

gallons of water per year, equal to more than two weeks of the water flowing over Niagara Falls!

Note that some manufacturers offer high-efficiency and ordinary models with very similar names, so be sure and look for the WaterSense label. A list of WaterSense labeled High-Efficiency Toilets can be found here List of WaterSense labeled HET’s published by the EPA.

Where can I find a HET?

To find WaterSense partners and resources in your area, please follow the link and click on your state below or choose from the list that follows. EPA – Where you live

For a watersavings calculator and more information on Dual Flush toilets please visit www.ecotransitions.com.

Water – our new most valuable resource

“Water – our new most valuable resource” on “Southeast Green” on BlogTalkRadio.  Steve Williams, LEED AP of Water Management discusses the ins and outs of water conservation and why it’s so important for businesses

Water – our new most valuable resource 01/04 by Southeast Green | Blog Talk Radio.

GREEN: Denver Water Will Pay You to Save Water — Really! – Our Colorado News: Industries:

via GREEN: Denver Water Will Pay You to Save Water — Really! – Our Colorado News: Industries:.

By Graham Russell | 0 comments

Cindy Moe is an industrial water conservation engineer with Denver Water (www.denverwater.org). Her mission is to encourage business and residential consumers to reduce their water consumption. She’s an expert in spotting opportunities for saving water and enjoys explaining how she can often tell how much water a toilet uses per flush by its color. “If you have a blue or pink toilet,” she says, “it’s time to get a new one!” In itself, that’s an interesting comment on the fickleness of our tastes.

Denver Water has recognized that it will face potentially serious water shortages in the coming decades as Colorado’s population grows, and conservation is part of a three-pronged approach to meet future demands; the other two approaches are recycling water and finding a new supply (I think our electric utilities might want to add a little more weight to their conservation efforts for the same reason).

With that in mind, Denver Water has residential and commercial programs that encourage water conservation. On the residential side, rebates are offered on clothes washers, toilets and certain outdoor water-saving devices. Toilet flushing is typically the largest consumer of water in most homes, and Denver Water will offer a rebate of $75 on up to three replacement high efficiency toilets (1.28 gallons per flush) per home. These things cost about $75 so if you’re a halfway handy do-it-yourselfer who can install them, you start saving money from the first flush. Infinite return on investment — not a bad deal, eh? Even if you have to pay a plumber to install the new toilets, payback is typically less than one year. Cindy Moe says this program has really taken off in recent years. Here’s where to learn about Denver Water’s residential rebate programs (www.denverwater.org/Conservation/Rebates/2011ResidentialRebates).

Similar rebates (www.denverwater.org/Conservation/Rebates/2011IndoorCommercialRebates) for low flush toilets, waterless urinals and other equipment apply to commercial organizations. In addition, Denver Water offers free audits (www.denverwater.org/Conservation/Audits) to all customers to help identify opportunities for reducing water consumption. As part of an incentive program, Denver Water will pay companies that make a long-term commitment to reduce consumption by means of process changes and installation of water-saving equipment (behavioral changes only do not qualify for these incentives).

The way it works is that Denver Water will establish a consumption baseline prior to the changes and will then monitor usage for a 12-month period after the changes have been completed, taking into account variations caused by changes in the production or activity level of the business. Denver Water will then pay the company $18.50 for each verified 1,000 gallons of water saved annually (minimum of 100,000 gallons must be saved) up to a maximum of 50 percent of the project cost or $40,000, whichever is lower. This payment, of course, adds to the financial benefit accruing to the company from the lower volume of water it now purchases from the utility, a double benefit. In fact, companies that invest in water conservation through this program will most likely see even further cost reductions from other sources — reduced chemical treatment costs and lower sewage charges for wastewater processing. Here’s an impressive example (www.water.denver.co.gov/Conservation/IncentivePrograms/IndoorCommercial/SmartWaterUse/Kaiser) from the most recent edition of Denver Water’s Smart Water newsletter.

Depending on the nature of the process and/or equipment changes required, Cindy says that a two-year payback is occasionally possible including the incentive payments, but it’s generally longer than this. Companies often say they’d rather invest available funds in their core business activities, to which this writer responds: “How often can you get a two-, or even three-, year payback in an investment in your core business? Heck, a three-year payback is a 26 percent IRR!”

We all take water as a God-given right. The reality, of course, is that it costs a great deal of money to provide clean, high-quality water. It’s a limited resource, yet it’s priced so low (much less than monthly internet or cell phone service) that we don’t have much incentive to use it as wisely as we should. This situation is likely to change in the coming decades as populations grow worldwide while the total amount of fresh water remains constant. Probably time to get ahead of the rising price curve and make some money by ditching that 25-year old primrose yellow water-guzzling toilet. You can reach Cindy Moe at cindy.moe@denverwater.org or at 303-628-6009.

Springfield, MO: City Utilities programs save power for the future

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20111226/NEWS01/112260337/City-Utilities-programs-save-power-future

City Utilities programs save power for the future

Conservation efforts, rebates prove to limit utility usage, costs.

Written by

Wes Johnson

News-Leader

Want to learn more?

For more information about CU energy management and conservation programs, visit www.cuenergywise.com or call CU at 874-8200. That number goes directly to the Energy Management and Conservation department.

Expanded conservation programs offered by City Utilities are having a measurable impact on the utility’s future need for more electricity, gas and water.

Since 2007, electricity-conserving efforts such as commercial lighting rebates, removal of old refrigerators and rebates for Energy Star-rated appliances have cumulatively saved CU the equivalent power use of 4,562 average homes.

Rebates for high-efficiency HVAC units have helped reduce natural gas usage by the equivalent of 2,764 homes.

Water-conserving measures have cut use by the equivalent of 1,558 homes, according to CU.

“Any savings we make from conservation delays the need for additional capacity units into the future,” said Cara Shaefer, director of Energy Management and Conservation.

Shaefer notes those savings came from CU’s investment in energy management and conservation programs.

Over the past five years, CU has spent $5.6 million on a variety of programs. The amount includes program and administrative costs.

On the electricity-conservation side, Shaefer said CU’s commercial lighting rebate provided the most energy savings.

CU provided 146 commercial lighting rebates to companies that switched to more efficient lighting systems.

Rebates to improve heating and air conditioning units were the second most effective at conserving electricity and gas, Shaefer said.

More than 5,300 rebates were issued to upgrade HVAC systems to higher-efficiency units.

A recent program that gave CU customers a $35 credit on their electric bill to get rid of old refrigerators typically plugged in in garages proved successful.

That program took 1,549 refrigerators — usually older, less-efficient units — off CU’s system.

CU’s high-efficiency toilet rebate program resulted in more than 4,000 water-saving toilets being installed in Springfield.

“We’ve even seen a market transformation in Springfield because of this rebate,” Shaefer said. “When it began, there was only one or two retailers with them in stock. Today, you can’t go anywhere without them being available.”

City of Thornton, CO rebates for water conservation

http://www.thorntonwater.com/

Toilet rebates are offered for the replacement of pre-1994 toilets for residential and commercial properties.  Effective January 1, 2012 toilet rebates will be $75 per WaterSense toilet and residential clothes washer rebates will be $100 per qualifying washer.

The City of St.Cloud, FL Toilet Rebate Program

The Toilet Rebate Program offers up to $145.00 as an incentive for customers to replace existing high-flow toilets with WaterSense high-efficiency models.

The Toilet Rebate Program is open for qualifying purchases made beginning October 1, 2011 through July 1, 2012 while funding lasts. This program is only available to City of St. Cloud residential water customers who use City of St. Cloud businesses for the purchase and installation of a qualifying high efficiency toilet. One rebate per household.

To apply, download the application packet, then call 407-957-7264 to receive your confirmation code and to ensure funding is available.

To receive your rebate, return your completed application along with the receipt for the toilet and installation within 30 days. Your rebate will be applied to your next utility bill.

For Frequently Asked Questions: Learn More
For Application Packet: Learn More
To view a list of approved WaterSense High Efficiency toilets Log on the EPA’s website

St. Petersburg, FL Toilet Rebate Program Guidelines

http://www.stpete.org/water/docs/CONS_App__Guidelines_Phase_12_Toilet_Prog.pdf

City of Roseville, CA 2011 Commercial Programs & Rebates for water conservation

http://www.roseville.ca.us/eu/water_utility/water_efficiency/for_business/programs_n_rebates.asp

MARION COUNTY UTILITIES LAUNCHES TOILET REBATE PROGRAM

http://www.marioncountyfl.org/rssfeed/rsslinks/10%2024%2011%20Toilet%20Rebate%20Program.pdf

MARION COUNTY, Fla. (Oct. 24, 2011) – Marion County Utilities is offering a new incentive to help its customers increase their water efficiency practices and potentially lower their monthly water bills. Starting this month, utility customers who replace old toilets with new, water-efficient models could be eligible for toilet rebates. Qualifying customers who replace one toilet could receive up to $100 in rebates; those who replace a second toilet will be eligible for up to another $80 in reimbursements. The rebates will be issued as water bill credits. To qualify, an individual must: – Be a Marion County Utilities water customer in good standing. – Live in a home built prior to 1995. – Plan to replace a toilet of 3.5 or more gallons. – Call to verify eligibility and reserve the rebate at 1-800-964-2140. Customers are encouraged to reserve their rebate as soon as possible since only 1,400 rebates are available this year. Toilets installed prior to 1995 typically use 3.5 or more gallons of water with each flush. New models use only between 1.2 – 1.6 gallons per flush. Replacing just one high-flow toilet with an ultra low-flow toilet could save more than 1,000 gallons of water per month. Marion County Utilities funds the Toilet Rebate Program in cooperation with the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Withlacoochee River Basin Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District. #

Billerica, MA Toilet and Clothes Washer Rebate Program

http://billericatownienews.com/town-of-billerica-toilet-and-clothes-washer-rebate-program-p3098-260.htm

Town of Billerica Toilet and Clothes Washer Rebate Program

Billerica Townie News – Joan Parcewski • Fri, Oct 14, 2011

The Billerica DPW recently announced the launch of a Rebate program for the replacement of toilets, urinals and clothes washers that have water conserving fixtures. The “Water Conservation Fund” was established to help mitigate the Town water supply and will allow the DPW to offer these rebates.

In order to quality, the water customer must be in good standing and own the property where the fixtures will be changed out. Tenants may participate with written permission from the property owner.

In order to qualify the toilets, urinals and clothes washers must be specific models. Contact the DPW office at Town Hall for a list of these models. Qualifying toilet rebates are $100 – urinal rebates $25 – and clothes washer $225. All rebates will be applied as a credit on your water bill.

Applications may be picked up at the DPW Town Hall office ot at the Water Treatment Facility at 270 Treble Cove Rd. All applications must be submitted to the DPW Town Hall office within 90 days of purchase.

— WWW.Billerica Townie News

St. George, UT Toilets Rebates

http://www1.wattzon.com/rebates/84790/category/toilets/75-low-flow-toilet-rebate-2/

$75 Low-flow Toilet Rebate

City of St. George Energy Services Department

Program: Energy Utility

Requirements:
Must be an eligible WaterSense model.

City of St. George Toilet Rebate Program

---

More Info:
Incentive Details Online
435-627-4000

“Just Don’t Flush It”

This year’s winning short films were announced Sept. 20 at the Intelligent Use of Water™ Film Competition screening in Beverly Hills, CA. The 2011 Audience Choice Award went to

“Just Don’t Flush It” by Brian McAndrew, North Bend, Oregon – check it out!

40 Important Ways that Colleges Are Conserving Water

http://www.bestcollegesonline.com/blog/2011/09/06/40-important-ways-that-colleges-are-conserving-water/

Water is a precious resource, and although it flows freely from the tap, it’s not infinite. Green campus lawns, clean cafeteria plates, and even air conditioned dorms don’t happen without using lots of water. As major institutions, colleges are serious users of water, and although some don’t yet recognize the need to conserve water, many of them do. In fact, college campuses are home to some of the most innovative ideas for water conservation, implementing water management technology, smart conservation policies, and more. Read on to find out about 40 great ways colleges are putting great minds to work on water conservation.

1. Cal State-LA technology

   Using a wireless water management service, Cal State-LA was able to lower their water bills and reduce water usage by about 27 million gallons in 18 months. The system also saves valuable staff time and adjusts to weather changes, turning off water before it rains.

2. A new low flow standard

   The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education reports that low flow showerheads and faucets, as well as low water volume toilets and urinals are standard practice for US colleges.

3. Dual flush toilets

   In addition to low flow toilets, colleges like Harvard are also using dual flush toilets, which allow toilets to use less water unless deemed necessary by their users.

4. Recycling rooftop rainwater

   Drexel University turns rainwater into a resource rather than waste. Instead of sending it down the pipes to treatment plants, Drexel collects rainwater for non-potable uses, including toilet flushing, landscaping, and gardening.

5. Cutting back on car washing

   Colleges make use of many vehicles on and off campus, and those vehicles need to be washed, but not frequently. Schools like the University of Washington have cut back on car washing in their motor pools to save water.

6. Using campus resources

   Large campuses may have access to creeks and wells on their land. At Stanford University, almost 75% of water used for irrigation comes from water sourced on Stanford’s own land.

7. Going trayless

   Many colleges are ditching trays in their cafeterias, cutting food waste, conserving water, and even keeping the “freshman 15″ off new students. At Williams College alone, the college is saving 14,000 gallons of water each year by eliminating trays at one of four campus dining halls.

8. Landscaping with drought-tolerant plants

   At Saint Mary’s College, drought-tolerant plants have been put in place, including oleander, lavender, and nadina, with drought-tolerant plants making up about 95% of campus plants.

9. Installing water misers

   Schools like Stanford have made use of water misers on autoclaves in the Medical School and research buildings. Instead of having water running 24 hours a day on the devices, misers sense when the water is needed and when it is not. This measure alone has helped to reduce water usage in these buildings by over 50%.

10. Educating students

    At UC-Santa Cruz, students arriving on campus will learn about water conservation in their orientation meetings, and the campus offers dorm room usage audits as well.

11. Removing bottled water

    Instead of allowing bottled water as an option at campus events and at dining facilities, colleges like Harvey Mudd College are selling or providing refillable water bottles to faculty, staff, and students.

12. Recirculating systems

    Coolers and other equipment using once-through water cooling systems are being replaced with ones that reuse cooled water, saving not only water, but electricity and gas as well.

13. Water Wise House Call

    At Stanford University, they have recognized that university water usage doesn’t end off campus. Faculty and staff have their impact in private homes as well. With the Water Wise House Call program, the university has been able to manage water usage off campus by providing information and resources to faculty and staff.

14. The Living Machine

    At Oberlin College, students get involved in wastewater cleaning with The Living Machine. The machine processes wastewater into reusable greywater by relying on natural cleaning methods in wetlands, including plants and bacteria.

15. Green campus grounds with reclaimed water

    At the University of California Santa Barbara, 90% of campus grounds are kept green using reclaimed water. This water is also used to flush toilets in some buildings. Reclaimed water is wastewater that has undergone a treatment process, but does not meet standards for drinking.

16. Recycling carpet

    Carpet doesn’t sound like a big water waster, but at Oberlin College, they’ve calculated their savings from recycling carpet. By recycling 177,057 square feet of used carpet, they’ve saved 112,136.1 gallons of water, in addition to 1,227,418,143 BTUs of energy.

17. Natural thawing

    Some schools previously thawed food using running water. Instead, colleges like Evergreen State have implemented better planning, and are able to thaw all food products naturally without the use of running water.

18. Leak detection technology

    Some schools employ water conservation technology that includes leak detection, allowing them to identify and correct leaks that exist on campus.

19. Updated laundry rooms

    Colleges are upgrading to high efficiency front loading washers, and becoming even more energy efficient by using technology that allows them to monitor the status of the machines. At Canisius College, 755,638 gallons of water have been saved since 2006.

20. I Heart Tap Water

    UC-Berkeley’s I Heart Tap Water campaign promoted tap water as the beverage of choice for the campus. The university credits the campaign’s success to the testing of more than 450 water fountains on campus to ensure water quality. The program has reduced campus usage of plastic water bottles on campus by at least 25%.

21. Using cisterns

    Colleges are using cisterns to harvest rainwater. At Harford Community College, they capture rooftop runoff in an 80,000 gallon cistern to use in an evaporative cooling tower.

22. Leak reporting

    Dripping faucets can waste more than 600 gallons a year, and running toilets waste more than 131,000 gallons. On many college campuses, students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to report any leaks that they see. Doing so can alert the maintenance staff to undiscovered sources of water waste that can be resolved easily.

23. Hand sanitizer installation

    Duke University and many others have cut down on water used for sanitation purposes by installing hand sanitizers in bathrooms and other common areas. For quick sanitation purposes, a full hand wash using water is not needed, and alcohol-based sanitizer can be used instead.

24. Smart flushing

    In addition to low flow and dual flush toilets, schools are updating with automatic eye flushers. These toilets flush according to the length of time a person is sitting on it, with a 1.1 gallon flush for less than 65 seconds, and 1.6 for 65 seconds or more.

25. Laundry education

    Tufts reminds students to practice sustainable laundry techniques. Using a flyer, students are educated on using cold water options for washing clothing.

26. Increased irrigation ponds

    At Duke University, they are taking advantage of more natural water storage by increasing the size of irrigation ponds on their golf course. This water can be used for toilets, landscaping, and more.

27. Water free urinals

    Many colleges, including Vanderbilt University, are installing water-free urinals, which do not flush. Instead, the urinals use liquid chemicals and gravity, saving up to 40,000 gallons of water each year.

28. Water use monitoring

    Enhancing awareness of water usage can help conservation efforts, making those who consume water more careful in their usage. Several colleges, including UC-Santa Cruz, have shared water use data publicly and within their community to spotlight conservation of water.

29. Watering at night

    At lots of schools, watering was completed manually during the daytime, but more recently, colleges have implemented smart irrigation systems that water during the evening or early morning hours, saving evaporation, as well as overspray.

30. Native plants

    Colleges like Centralia are switching to native plants, which need less water and maintenance due to their indigenous status.

31. Rooftop vegetation

    To reduce the passage of rainwater into the sewer system, colleges are installing green roofs, which feature vegetation that consumes a large amount of water before running off. These systems also help to keep the top floor of buildings cooler during hot months, and insulated from cold temperatures and icy winds in the winter.

32. Reduced power washing

    Everyone likes to see a sparkly clean college, but many schools are recognizing that they don’t need to power wash as often as they have in the past. At the University of Washington, power washing has been reduced to the removal of graffiti and slippery materials only.

33. Simple reminders

    Using stickers, signs, and other awareness tools, schools are placing simple reminders in high water usage areas, such as busy restrooms. These reminders can help students be mindful about their water usage.

34. Purchasing Energy Star equipment

    Dishwashers, washing machines, and other water-consuming appliances can make a big difference in water usage, especially on a college sized scale. Schools like Boston College are replacing their old equipment with new, more energy efficient machines, cutting water consumption by 50%.

35. Updated facilities equipment

    Water cooled compressors, single pass chillers, cooling towers, and more often use water, and not always efficiently. Schools like the University of Washington have identified water wasting equipment and updated them, such as replacing water cooled compressors with air cooled ones.

36. Drought-tolerant grass

    Schools are adopting the use of grass that doesn’t need to be watered or mowed often. At UC-Davis and UC-Riverside, a new strain of grass, UC-Verde, was created. This grass needs only 25% the amount of water used for typical turf grasses.

37. On-demand hot water heaters

    Residential buildings may have their hot water heaters upgraded to tankless on demand models. At Dartmouth, these heaters are used to save water while students wait for the water to heat up.

38. Removing lawn areas

    Maintaining lawn areas typically means keeping up with watering, but at Scripps College, they may not have to deal with it as much. The college is considering removing lawn areas where appropriate, reducing the amount of water needed to maintain campus lawns.

39. Water coolers and taps

    With the use of water coolers, students, faculty, and staff can fill up reusable containers instead of buying bottled water. Schools like Dartmouth have employed the use of Brita pitchers and point of service units that dispense filtered (and sometimes even flavored) water.

40. Water recycling washing machines

    At Middlebury College, soiled aprons and chef jackets go through to wash and rinse cycles, which ordinarily would be wasteful. But using a water recycler, the college is able to capture the rinse water for the next wash cycle.

Manatee water customers eligible for $100 rebate under toilet replacement program

http://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/county-administration/news-release/toilet_rebates.html

 

 

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (Sept. 1, 2011) – The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Manatee County are again offering Manatee County residents a financial incentive to save water by replacing high-volume toilets with low volume models.

 

Zoom

Manatee County water customers can apply for a rebate of up to $100 per replaced toilet for every high-volume toilet that is replaced with a low-volume model. There is a limit of two toilets per dwelling unit – residential, commercial or industrial.
New low-volume toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush or less, while older models may use up to 5 gallons per flush. The program is estimated to conserve as much as 10,900 gallons of water per day. The total cost of the program is being shared between the SWFWMD and Manatee County.
The rebate application must be approved prior to purchasing and installing the new low-volume toilet in order to receive a rebate. Single-family, multi-family, industrial and commercial customers may apply by calling (800) 964-2140 or by e-mailing the program administrator at MCRebate77@yahoo.com.
Educational material on toilet flapper replacement and other water conservation techniques are also available to all program participants.
For more information on the toilet rebate program, call Manatee County Utilities Office Specialist Marcia Brown at (941) 792-8811, ext. 5327. For more information on Manatee County Government, visit online at www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501.

 

 

 

Cost of Dual Flush Toilets – Material pricing and labor cost calculator

Source: http://www.homewyse.com/costs/cost_of_dual_flush_toilets.html#.TkZXouxq_mQ.facebook

July 2011

Do you need to know the range of average installed costs for Dual Flush Toilets in your zip code? Do you need an independent, 2011 cost breakdown of Dual Flush Toilet material and installation costs?

The Homewyse Dual Flush Toilet cost estimator provides up to date pricing information for your neighborhood. Enter your zip code, the size of your project below and click “Update”. The table below summarizes the average 2011 cost to install Dual Flush Toilets in your area for good, better and custom quality work.

Dual Flush Toilet Costs	zip code	units
	Basic	Better	Best
Dual Flush Toilet Prices (Material Only)	$195 – $260	$251 – $326	$317 – $382
Dual Flush Toilet Installation Cost	$45 – $72	$67 – $95	$89 – $124
Dual Flush Toilet – Total	$239 – $333	$318 – $421	$406 – $506
Dual Flush Toilet Average Cost per unit	$286.05	$369.50	$455.91

• In most situations, you will want to have Dual Flush Toilet installation completed by a Plumber. Use the free Homewyse checklist for effective, objective advice in finding, hiring and managing a capable and trustworthyPlumber. Avoid common problems and get quality work at a fair price.
• You may want to consider having the Dual Flush Toilet installation completed by a Plumbing Contractor. But – do your homework to minimize common risks. Make sure that your Plumbing Contractor has relevant Dual Flush Toilet experience, that you verify past work, and that you follow the homewyse checklist to find and hire a capable service professional.
• Avoid costly warranty and maintenance problems for your Dual Flush Toilet – insist that all work to be performed with proper installation techniques and materials. Use the homewyse Toilet Installation checklists to make sure important functional and aesthetic details are completed properly.

Dual Flush Toilets – Pricing and Installation Cost Notes

• The homewyse cost estimates includes all typical costs for toilet, wax ring, toilet seat and plumbing supply connection.
• The homewyse installation cost estimate does not include costs for repair or modification of existing subfloor, or location of drain or water connections.
• Higher priced Dual Flush Toilets may include features such as designer styles, wider range of colors and advanced flushing capabilities.
• Dual Flush Toilet installation costs are commonly quoted from a standard rate and can be estimated by the service professional with inspecting the job site.
• Save money on the total project by having multiple vendors bid on the same, complete description of Dual Flush Toilet work for your project.
• Save money on installation costs by being flexible on project scheduling and be willing to complete your work during slow periods for the service provider.
• Save money by shopping online or by choosing discountinued, odd lot, remnant or incorrectly ordered items from your retailer.

Dual Flush Toilet Costs – 2011 Dual Flush Toilets Prices and Installation Costs for Your Area – Homewyse.com

Dual Flush Toilet Costs – 2011 Dual Flush Toilets Prices and Installation Costs for Your Area – Homewyse.com.

With the $100 rebate that is offered in most Metro Atlanta areas and the reduced water bill, you may recover the cost of a new toilet in a year or two!

City Seeking Applicants For High Efficiency Toilet Program | Corpus Christi, TX | KZTV10.com |

City Seeking Applicants For High Efficiency Toilet Program | Corpus Christi, TX | KZTV10.com |.

CORPUS CHRISTI – The City of Corpus Christi is looking for residents who want a new toilet, at no cost to them, but are willing to cover the costs of installation.

The High Efficiency Toilet (HET) program will use federal stimulus funds to provide 2,000 new toilets to qualified applicants. The fixtures use 1.28 gallons per flush, rather than the high volume 3.5 gallon toilets used by most residents.

The funds come from a $2,757,500 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant awarded to the city from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Residents selected will receive a voucher in the mail during the first week of September that is good for one HET and all associated installation hardware. The voucher will also identify the date, time, and location for pick-up of the HET which is scheduled for early fall. Residents are responsible for all costs associated with having the fixtures installed.

The toilets replaced by residents will be picked up by the City’s Solid Waste Operations Department. The city says the porcelain fixtures will be crushed and used to restore oyster reefs in local bays in partnership with Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi and Haas Materials.

To participate, homeowners can complete an application form athttp://www.CorpusChristiHET.com or by calling toll free 1-855-242-5214. Spanish speaking operators are available.

Mail-in applications are also available at the Corpus Christi Water Department located at 2726 Holly Road, at the Utility Business Office at City Hall, 1201 Leopard Street, or at any of the City’s public libraries.

To take a look at the types of toilets offered in the program, check out www.caromausa.com.

Coachella Valley, CA High-Efficiency Toilet Rebate Program

http://www.cvwd.org/conservation/indoor.php

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go Green & Stay Clean with Low Flow Shower Heads | Greener Ideal

Go Green & Stay Clean with Low Flow Shower Heads | Greener Ideal.

Go Green & Stay Clean with Low Flow Shower Heads

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Posted by Ian Andrew on 2011-06-05 01:26:33

For quite a long time, this is what I thought of when I heard about low flow shower heads:

That is, that they don’t give you enough pressure to even wash shampoo out of your hair. As funny as the running joke was through this Seinfeld episode, low flow shower head technology has evolved to a point where they can provide you with plenty of pressure, while still cutting down on your water consumption, and helping you save money and go green in the process.

How much water you can save

It may seem crazy, but up to 25% of your household’s total energy consumption can come just from hot water usage, with showers being the biggest contributor to that amount (approximately 15% of a household’s total energy consumption). While the efficiency of low flow shower heads can range, you can expect to save anywhere from 25% to 50% of the amount of water you’re using for every shower. For a 10 minute shower, that means saving anywhere from 10 gallons to 20 gallons. Depending on the type of energy you use to heat your water, this could save you up to $100 on energy costs every year.

The Pressure Question

Just like in the Seinfeld clip above, despite the amount of water saved, some may think a low flow showerhead simply doesn’t have enough pressure to justify making the switch. However, if you install a showerhead with multiple pressure settings like the new Flow showerhead made by Caroma, you can select whether you want more coverage, or stronger pressure in a narrower stream. Rest assured, you won’t have to worry about getting shampoo out of your hair.

Going green at home is easy

Thanks to great innovations, it has never been easier to make environmental choices at home that help you and your family go green, and still help your bottom line. This summer, take the initiative to make a few small changes to live a greener lifestyle – and why not start with a low flow showerhead? Most models are under $20 at your local hardware store, and can be installed on standard shower arms in under 5 minutes.

If you’ve had great success with saving energy with a low flow showerhead, recommend the product to us in the replies.

Population growth stirs worries about stress on region’s water supply | ajc.com

 

By Leon Stafford

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

When Colin Cavill began planning the 325-unit Enso Atlanta apartments near Grant Park three years ago, water was at the top of his mind.

Enlarge photo

Phil Skinner, AJC Colin Cavill focused on water conservation when he developed the Enso Atlanta apartments in Grant Park, which, among other things, has a saltwater pool and a cistern for rainwater harvesting that holds over 76,000 gallons.

 

Related

• Drought continues in most of Ga.
• Memo blasts proposed Lanier study 

Simply put: The metro’s area’s supply is limited, and he didn’t want to make matters worse.

So Cavill — who says his company, Capital 33, wanted to “help reduce our footprint” — developed the complex as a green project. Toilets and faucets are low-flow, shower heads are water-efficient, and a cistern collects water for the landscaping.

Cavill’s efforts may need to be become the norm as the state struggles with its limited water supply, experts say.

Metro Atlanta grew by 1 million people over the past decade, according to the U.S. census, and water — or lack thereof — could decide its continued strength as a region, the experts said.

“Growth goes where the water is and not vice versa,” said Gil Rogers, senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center.

Larry Neal, a senior principal for Mactec Engineering and Consulting, which has worked with the state on drinking water assessments, said a solution is critical for job growth. If water supply is stretched thin, it could be more expensive for business to tap. That could dissuade prospects from considering locating in metro Atlanta.

“If there is uncertainty,” he said, “it can cause a business to steer away. … You don’t want water to become the limiting factor in any given area.”

The state recognizes the risks. It has authorized the construction of reservoirs, created a Water Supply Task Force and adopted some conservation measures. Many cities and counties in the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, which includes metro Atlanta, are offering rebates to homeowners who replace older toilets with low-flow models.

One of the biggest challenges remains the state’s dispute with Alabama and Florida over access to Lake Lanier. U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson ruled in 2009 that it was illegal for the Army Corps of Engineers to draw water from the lake to meet the needs of 3 million metro residents. Magnuson set a July 2012 deadline for the states to resolve the dispute. Otherwise, metro Atlanta would be limited to the same amount of water it received in the mid-1970s, when the population was less than one-third its current size. Georgia is appealing the ruling.

“Some of our issues are the litigation and uncertainty about the future,” said Pat Stevens, chief of environmental planning at the Atlanta Regional Commission.

Stevens said that despite the population growth, water use in metro Atlanta is down. She said the population in the North Georgia water district grew 28 percent between 2000 and 2009. Usage, however, was down to 512 million gallons of water a day in 2009, compared with a high in 2006 of 602 million gallons.

A number of factors led to the reduction, including conservation, severe water restrictions during several years of drought and the economic downturn, which may have forced residents to curtail tapping water they could not afford.

Also, 2009 was a rainy year, lessening the need to water yards and gardens.

“It really rained a lot that year. Actually the last year that was more close to our norm was in 2006,” Stevens said. The metro area’s rainfall was 69.4 inches in 2009 and 48.5 inches in 2006.

Alan Wexler, president of Databank Atlanta, a r, said if water were to become less abundant, it could lead to restrictions that would put commercial and residential real estate projects on hold. That happened in the years of drought in 2007 and 2008.

Solving the issue is critical because the economy has stymied real estate growth the past few years. When the recovery comes, no one wants to be sidelined because of water, he said.

“You have so many factors that are fluid right now,” he said.

Population growth stirs worries about stress on region’s water supply  | ajc.com.

Medford, OR toilet rebate information and application

http://www.medfordwater.org/Files/Toilet%20Rebate%20Application%20Final%204.5.11.pdf