Energy-Efficient Plumbing Fixtures: Healthy for Environment and Wallet
By Jeff Baldwin
As environmental concerns and energy costs continue to rise, so does the need for water and energy conservation among businesses, governments and households. The federal government has and will continue to create legislation to promote energy-efficient products, including plumbing fixtures and fittings. Two major energy initiatives existing today are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005).
LEED and EPAct 2005
LEED is a nationally recognized benchmark developed by the U.S. Green Building Council for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. Although plumbing fixtures and fittings cannot be LEED certified, they can contribute to the credits needed to receive the esteemed building certification. A variety of plumbing products available from manufacturers can help contribute to two of the five categories of performance under the LEED rating system — Water Efficiency and Materials and Resources.
Widely supported by several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) was signed into law to promote energy-efficiency by offering consumers and businesses federal tax credits for purchasing energy efficient products and appliances.
The EPA Energy Star program states, “About $4 billion is spent annually for energy costs to run drinking water and wastewater utilities. If the sector could reduce energy use by just 10% through cost-effective investments in energy efficiency, collectively it would save about $400 million annually.”
Simply put, wasted water equals wasted energy. Because of rising energy costs, environmental conserva- tion and sustainability have become more important than ever for the building and renovation industry. To save money and improve plumbing energy-efficiency, the easiest thing to do is reduce the amount of water used. This results in lower energy cost, because less water needs to be heated. Lower energy consumption equals greater cost savings for the user and a smaller carbon footprint on the earth.
A variety of water/energy conserving products
There are thousands of plumbing fixtures and fittings that can help save water, energy, and money, i.e., aerators, metering and electronic faucets and pre-rinse spray valves. When selecting energy efficient equipment, it is important to find quality products that meet conservation requirements without compromising performance. The product should deliver the consistent flow required, while maintaining the water and energy savings the industry demands.
- Low flow pre-rinse spray valves. Used widely as a foodservice application in grocery stores, hotels, restau- rants, schools, hospitals and institutions, efficient pre-rinse spray valves are used for the rinsing of cooking utensils, pots, pans, soaking dishes and cleaning. They are designed with automatic shut-off valves integral to the unit to supply water only when needed. Efficient models supply from 1.2 gpm to 1.6 gpm at 60 psi. These types of sprayers are designed to meet the rigorous demands of foodservice operations, where continuous use and periodic abuse is the norm rather than the exception.
- Electronic faucets. The electronic faucet is an easy way to save energy. Although it is more costly than a traditional faucet, this product will pay for itself in water and energy savings in a short amount of time. The sensor feature prevents the faucet from being left on and from excess dripping. According to EnergyStar.gov, “hot water leaking at a rate of one drip per second from a single faucet can waste up to 1,661 gallons of water over the course of a year, and up to $35 in electricity or $35 in natural gas.” Consider a larger facility, such as a school or hospital, and a leaky faucet can add up fast.
An electronic faucet should come equipped with several standard features, including the choice of electric plugin (AC) and battery (DC) battery power options. For example,
- Metering faucets and aerators: Manual metering faucets have been around much longer than electronic faucets, but they remain popular because of their savings capability. Less expensive than electronic faucets, metering faucets can deliver similar energy-saving results. The manual push feature prevents faucets from being left on after use and prevents unnecessary waste while scrubbing hands. The typical metering faucet's cycle time can be adjusted to deliver the desired amount of water per minute.
Aerators, one of the most common faucet accessories, add air into the water stream to increase the feeling of flow. Capable of controlling the flow to less than 1.5 gpm, aerators are a simple and inexpensive low flow/energy solution. They come in a variety of models to provide the exact flow that complies with your local plumbing codes.
Test results prove water and energy conservation
Several tests have been run by government agencies and companies to show that water and energy-efficient products can save big.
Low flow spray valves, electronic and metering faucets and aerators are just some of the plumbing products that can contribute to energy and water savings. As energy concerns grow and new initiatives are signed into law, plumbing manufacturers must be committed to providing the industry with innovative, quality products that save money and the environment.
Product Application
Spray valves
More than 20 years ago, T&S Brass introduced the energy efficient B-0107-C low-flow spray valve, a first in the industry. Since then, thousands of product models that contribute to water and energy conservation have been manufactured.
Electronic faucets
The T&S Brass ChekPoint electronic faucet provides various adjustment features, including sensor range, auto time-out and water shutoff delay. Each electronic faucet also comes equipped with a temperature control mixing valve, low battery indicator light and power saving mode. These features all add up to energy savings and are critical when selecting an electronic faucet.
Test results
At T&S Brass, extensive tests were performed to prove that our products would, in fact, save customers money. When testing the B-0107-C spray valve, the results showed savings of between $297 to $586 a year, depending on the heat source (assuming the inlet is at 65 degrees and the outlet is at 140 degrees).
