Page 53 - November 2015 Green Builder Magazine

Exteriors / Roofing / Structure / Insulation / IAQ / Windows / Heating / Lighting / Appliances / Faucets & Fixtures / Finishes / Cabinets & Tops / Alternative Energy

MGS Spin D Faucet Glossary of Terms 51

The sleek and durable Spin D faucet features Know the Lingo
a narrow handle and dual-spray faucet with
extendable pull-out spout. A stainless steel slide ■■ Low-Flow Toilet: Also known as a low-consumption
button allows the user to switch from aerated toilets, these fixtures typically using a maximum of 1.6
stream to shower stream. Every MGS faucet is gallons per flush.
comprised of thick, commercial-grade solid
stainless steel, including stainless steel braided ■■ Ultra-Low Flush: Another term to describe low-flow
hoses, nuts and screws. fixtures, this may also refer to a single- or dual-flush model
www.mgstaps.com/kitchen that uses as little as .8 gpf.

FAUCET FINISHES ■■ Aerator: Small screened device that fits inside a faucet
New Durability nozzle, mixing air into water so less is required to do the
Ever heard of physical vapor deposition finish? It’s just one of same chore.
the high-tech finishes being used on faucets. With these advanced
surface treatments, alternatives to chrome (one of the longest ■■ Widespread Lavatory Faucet: Refers to the style of faucet,
lasting finishes) make more sense. In some cases, metals such as typically one with two separate handles, 8” apart.
bronze and brushed nickel are simply protected with a polymer
coating. In others—Delta’s “Brilliance” finish comes to mind—the ■■ Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD): High-tech finishing
coating emulates a metal such as brass. technique that allows for faucets with many different looks,
including “metal on metal” surfaces that are extremely
The green angle? Durability. When faucets corrode, people throw corrosion and wear resistant.
them away, whether or not the mechanics still perform properly.
Tossing functional hardware in the landfill is not a green choice. ■■ PEX Tubing: Crosslinked polyethylene plastic pipe.
Increasingly popular as a replacement for PVC or
PLUMBING copper plumbing.
Think Flexible
Flexible PEX (crosslinked polyethylene) plumbing has become ■■ Cartridge Faucet: Most modern faucets contain ceramic
cartridges that allow water to flow, whereas older faucets
continued on page 52 used compression—squeezing a rubber o-ring that would
eventually wear out.

Daily Residential Indoor Water Use (Before Conservation Measures) www.greenbuildermag.com 11.2015

Other
5.3%

Leaks Toilet If all U.S. households installed
13.7% 26.7% water-saving features, water use would
decrease by 30 percent. This would save
Clothes Shower an estimated 5.4 billion gallons of water
Washer 16.8% per day, resulting in daily dollar-volume
savings of $11.3 million, or more than $4
21.7% billion per year.

The largest daily user of water in
the home is the toilet. By replacing this
one product with a high-efficiency toilet
(HET) you can greatly reduce a home’s
total water use.

The next step would be to install a
bidet, which would cut overall residential
water use by hundreds of gallons a day
(what it takes to make toilet paper).

Faucet SOURCE: AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION RESEARCH FOUNDATION,
15.7% “RESIDENTIAL END USES OF WATER”