Building Green Homes
Dual
Flush
Toilets
Low
Flush
Toilets
Low flush toilets use 1.6 or less gallons per flush. 1.6 gallons is the federal maximum allowed for all new toilets manufactured. According to the EPA, switching out older model toilets from before 1992 for new low flush toilets can save US families around $90 a year.
Consumers are often hesitant to buy low flush toilets because many believe that low flush toilets require more than one flush to get rid of solid waste, which negates the purpose using a low flush toilet. This may be true for many of the earlier models of the low flush toilet that had a generally poor design. Low flush toilets do not mean low-pressure toilets. New designs and technologies have improved the performance of these toilets. Pressure-assisted handles and bowl contours are some advancements that have been made to address this issue.[1]
Dual flush toilets have two buttons or handles that flush with different levels of water. These types of toilets allow people to deal with liquid and solid waste differently utilizing an intuitive flushing method. One button allows for half a flush for liquid waste, around 3 liters of water, and another button allows for a full flush for solid waste, the standard of 1.6 gallons of water. Dual flush toilets also use a larger diameter hole at the bottom of the bowl than standard toilets, which prevents them from clogging as often.
There are some disadvantages for dual flush toilets. One is that they are more expensive than standard toilets. Also because dual flush toilets only retain a small amount of water in the bowl, occasional streaking may occur when getting rid of solid waste.[1]
So homeowners will use the plunger less but toilet brush more.
[1] Sara Elliot, "How Dual Flush Toilets Work", 11 Nov. 2008
Raw water flush systems use non-purified water to flush. Sea water is a common type of water that is used for this system. There are only a few places in the world that actually use salt water for toilet flushing, but one of them is right here in the U.S. In Avalon, California plumbing codes require all structure with toilets to be dual plumbed with pipes that can be hooked up to the city’s saltwater supply system. This salt water is used for toilet flushing rather than purified water. Although this may seem like an ingenious idea, the saltwater is having a corrosive effect on the city’s piping system. Other parts of the nation are looking to use reclaimed water or greywater for toilet flushing.[1]
[1] Alex Wilson, "Alternative Water Sources: Supply-Side Solutions for Green Buildings", 29 April 2008
Composting toilets use the natural processes of decomposition and evaporation to dispose of human waste. The majority of waste that enters the system is water, which can be evaporated, and the rest of the waste is simply converted to fertilizing soil by decomposition. These types of toilets are typically used in areas where access to water is minimal but are becoming more popular. These toilets use a balance between heat, oxygen, moisture, and organic material to provide the ideal environment for aerobic bacteria to thrive and these bacteria turn waste into fertilizing soil. This proper balance allows for odor-free and complete decomposition of human waste. Composting toilets leave consumers with safe compost that is easy to handle.[1]
The huge question surrounding composting toilets is whether they smell or not. Small all-in-one units tend to smell and have to be emptied frequently. Larger composting systems, if installed properly, do not smell because when the lid on the toilet is opened air from the bathroom gets pulled into the tank.[2]
Basic advantages of composting toilets are they use less water and energy, they eliminate the need to transport waste to a treatment facility, and they produce a nutrient rich end product that can be utilized.
Basic disadvantages of composting toilets are maintenance of the system requires commitment, improperly installed systems can cause health hazards or odors, and in some units excrement may be in the site of homeowners.[3]
[1] LetsGoGreen.com, “How Composting Toilets Work”, Accessed 1 Nov. 2014
[2] Allison A. Bailes III, “Does a Composting Toilet Stink Up Your House?”, 22 May 2013
[3] Green Man, “Advantages and Disadvantages of Composting Toilets”, 25 Jan. 2010
Raw Water
Flush
Systems
Composting
Toilets
Toilets
Toilets are known to be the biggest use of household water consumption, consuming around 30% of residential water usage. In 1992 the Energy Policy Act was passed to reduce foreign dependence on oil and improve air quality by concentrating all aspects of energy supply and demand.[1] This act impacted the generation of new energy efficient products and resulted in the mandate of low flush toilets and banning the installation of toilets that use more than 1.6 gallons per flush.[2] Older toilets made before 1992 use up 3.5 gallons per flush. Replacing these toilets could save 2 billion gallons of water everyday in America as well as save families money. Low flush, dual flush, and composting toilets are types of toilets that can be used to save water. Raw water flush systems can also be a great asset to reducing water by using non-purified water or ocean water instead of treated water to flush.
[1] US DOE, “Key Federal Legislation”, Accessed 28 Oct. 2014
[1] Wikipedia, “Energy Policy Act of 1992”, Accessed 26 Oct. 2014
This graph compares individual and family use of green vs. old toilets in terms of gallons of water used per day and per year.
