Green Options

GreenTalk Radio host Sean Daily talks to Stephanie Thornton of the EPA about their WaterSense program. Much like the EnergyStar program, WaterSense seeks to help Americans to save water and protect the environment by creating product efficiency standards that manufacturers must meet in [...]

[image via Byron Wigfal]

Georgia’s governor announced the state’s fourth annual ENERGY STAR and WaterSense Sales Tax Holiday. The tax break covers energy efficient or water efficient products that cost $1,500 or less per item and runs until midnight this Sunday. This is the fourth annual ENERGY STAR Tax Holiday, but this year the governor added WaterSense labeled products to those available for savings.

I’m embarrassed to admit that I had never heard of the WaterSense label before! In a state that’s still suffering a severe drought, Georgians could make a huge difference with even small modifications to their water consumption. WaterSense products are approximately 20% more efficient than equivalent ones on the market. A 20% reduction in water use could go a really long way! According to the EPA:

Editor’s note: Green building and resource conservation doesn’t have to involve the latest technology or high prices. Our friends at GreenBuildingTalk take a look at one of the humblest of water-saving devices — the faucet aerator — and show how this low-tech option is a good bet for homeowners looking to conserve water… and lower their bills. This post was originally published on Sunday, June 1, 2008.

About a decade ago, water conserving faucets and low-flow showerheads were the bane of contractors and homeowners alike. But over time, trial and error has led to better product design, education and installation. If your kitchen or bathroom faucet is fairly new, it will probably have an aerator in it. New faucets today typically have 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm) aerators, whereas conventional faucets typically use 4 gpm. If your faucets are more than ten years old, odds are they’re water hogs. Aerators provide a low-tech solution that not only make the flow more forceful, but provide more effective wetting and rinsing. Consider installing an aerator with a lower flow, such as 1.5, 1.0, or the lowest option available to date: .5 gpm.