If you have an older toilet in your home, now is a good time to consider replacing it. Older toilets tend to waste water, which results in higher utility costs. There are many new toilets models that feature innovative technology that can help you conserve water and lower your monthly utility bill.
“New toilets use much less water without sacrificing function or flow,” said Bill Gouty, ServiceOne founder and president. “If an older toilet is giving you trouble, it may be time to replace it with a more efficient model that will save you money.”
Toilets flush away about 30 percent of all residential water in homes in this country. A 1995 U.S. Department of Energy requirement limits new toilets to 1.6 gallons per flush, down from the 4 to 5 gallons or more per flush for older toilets. A toilet that has received the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense designation uses only 1.28 gallons or less per flush.
That difference in water usage adds up to considerable savings for homeowners. According to the EPA, the average family can reduce water used by 20 to 60 percent with WaterSense toilets, or nearly 13,000 gallons of water savings every year. That could translate into saving more than $110 per year in water costs, and $2,200 over the lifetime of the toilets.
For residents of Longwood, Fla., there’s a new opportunity available to save on replacing your old toilet with a new WaterSense toilet. The City of Longwood has expanded its Raising Energy Efficiency Program (REEP) to now include the Water Conservation Rebate Program.
This WaterSense toilet rebate program allows Longwood residents and businesses to receive financial incentives available through the Community Development Services Department to install energy and water saving improvements, including replacing existing 3.5 to 7-gallon per flush toilets with WaterSense toilets. Qualifying toilet replacements are eligible for a $100 rebate.
When installing a new toilet in an older house, be sure to have a plumbing professional confirm that your plumbing can successfully handle the reduced flow.
“If you’re looking for a relatively simple, cost effective upgrade to your home, a new, water conserving toilet is a smart choice,” said Gouty. “A new toilet doesn’t have to be expensive to be efficient.”