Three Ways to Green the Latrine

It’s estimated that the average daily household water use is nearly 350 gallons, making water conservation one of the biggest green issues out there. Moreover, out of any household item or activity that requires water usage, the toilet surprisingly uses the most: approximately 26% of the total daily use. Thus, one very specific and effective way to green your home is to conserve water otherwise being wasted by the toilet. Here are four ways to improve the most common toilet inefficiencies that will help keep perfectly good water from slipping away unnoticed.

Water Leaks
Water leaks in your toilet that waste water don’t necessarily have to be obvious; in fact, if the tank ball is worn of the toilet has a defective valve, the water leak will likely be overlooked. To see if there’s a water leak in the tank, put food coloring or dye tablets in it and if the color appears in the bowl of the toilet, you know there’s a leak.

Worn Parts
Replacing worn or damaged parts on your toilet will keep it working efficiently for decades to come. For example, the tank stopper (or flapper valve) should be replaced every three to five years to keep it working properly and prevent wasteful water usage.

Go Low-Flow
When it’s time to replace the old toilet (whether because of a remodel or the old one has simply gone kaput), considering going with a low-flow, high-efficiency model (toto toilets offer a wide range of green toilets). You may spend more initially but your long-term savings will be much more significant than with a standard toilet.