Page 55 - Green Builder Homeowner's Handbook 2016

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

MGS Spin D Faucet Glossary of Terms

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 toilets,
button allows the user to switch from aerated these fixtures typically using a maximum of 1.6 gallons per
stream to shower stream. Every MGS faucet is flush.
comprised of thick, commercial-grade solid
stainless steel, including stainless steel braided ¦¦ Ultra-Low Flush: Another term to describe low-flow fixtures,
hoses, nuts and screws. this may also refer to a single- or dual-flush model that uses
www.mgstaps.com/kitchen as little as .8 gpf.

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

Daily Residential Indoor Water Use (Before Conservation Measures)

Other
5.3%

Leaks Toilet If all U.S. households installed water-
13.7% 26.7% 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”

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