High efficiency toilets, or HETs have been on the market now for years.  We wrote about them two years ago when we launched GetWithGreen.com.

Essentially high efficiency toilets conserve a lot of water.  Many older toilets use 3.5-5 gallons of water per flush, and newer high efficiency toilets from Kohler or Caroma use far less (0.8-1.6 gallons).

Having recently installed Kohler Revival HETs in my remodel, I am extremely pleased with the quality.  Even with two small kids cramming just a bit too much toilet paper, the toilets perform incredibly well.  Also, since so little water is used, the toilet does not run for five minutes afterwards!

Make sure you check with your manufacturer of choice, and your local water company for rebates after purchasing your new toilets.  There are many programs available to save money.  Here is an example of a special savings from Caroma that is offered in a drought affected portion of Texas:

City of Alamo Heights Launches Toilet Replacement Program
Caroma and Morrison Supply help save water and costs with dual flush high efficiency toilets

Caroma, the leader in dual flush toilets and stylish sinks, is partnering with the City of Alamo Heights and Morrison Supply Company in Texas on a toilet replacement program for Alamo Heights water customers. The new program started on June 10^th, 2009.

Due to drought conditions, Alamo Heights is experiencing Stage 1 water restrictions. This includes limiting landscape watering to one designated day per week at specific hours, no impervious outdoor ground washing (parking lot, driveway, etc.), restaurants serving water only when customers request, and several additional restrictions. As part of these ongoing efforts to conserve limited water supplies, the City of Alamo Heights has created the toilet voucher replacement program to help conserve water in the house.

Approximately 30% of water in the home is used to flush a toilet. Many older toilets use 3.5 or 5 gallons of water per flush. The voucher rebate program enables homeowners to purchase a water-efficient Caroma toilet at a reduced cost andqualify for a $50 water bill credit with original proof of purchase. Two vouchers and two credits are available per occupied unit.

Eligible High Efficiency Toilets (HETs) are toilets that utilize no more than 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf). All Caroma toilets are high efficiency and feature a two button dual flush system that averages just 0.9-0.96 gallons per flush. This allows the user to choose a full flush (1.28 – 1.6 gallons per flush depending on model) for solid waste or 0.8 gallons per flush for liquid and paper waste. Based on an average flush volume of 0.9-0.96 gpf, the average house will save 40-44% more water than a standard 1.6 gallon toilet (the national mandate) and up to 74% more water than a 3.5 gallon toilet, which are still commonly installed in homes today.

“Water conservation has become extremely important as our water resources are becoming scarcer,” states Shawn Eddy, Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works for the City of Alamo Heights. “By just replacing 3.5 to 5 gallon per flush toilets with high efficiency toilets, the city estimates a savings of 8,130 gallons of water per year. That is approximately 22 gallons of water per toilet per day.”

To find out more about the toilet replacement rebate program for City of Alamo Heights water customers and to obtain your rebate voucher, visit their website at www.alamoheightstx.gov. Toilets purchased through the Morrison Supply airport location are available for rebate, and the hours of operation are Monday – Friday from 7:30am – 5:00pm.

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Not too long ago I received a gift massage, from my husband, to our local wellness center: Balance.  I was immediately smitten by the look of their reception counter.  When I learned that it was created from Kirei Board, I was even more impressed.

Much like plywood, kirei is a composite material, though it is made from the reclaimed stocks of sorghum plant.  Sorghum are a species of grass that are widely used.  Some species of sorghum grasses are used to feed livestock.  Others are used in alcoholic beverages and bio fuel.  Many gluten-free eaters will recognize it as flour safe for their consumption.  Certain species of sorghum are considered a staple in Africa, South Asia, and Central America, as they are the fifth largest cereal crop grown throughout the world.

Sorghum is a drought tolerant plant and grown all over the world.  Instead of burning the stalks or disposing them in waterways and landfills, a new interior finishing material is created.  You’ll also be pleased to know that the Kirei is combined with non-formaldehyde adhesive.

The natural patterns and geometry are simply beautiful in various interior design projects such as furniture, flooring, cabinetry, table tops, wall covering and paneling.  Affordably found starting at around $7 a square foot.

Suppliers of Kirei board:

Kirei USA - find a dealer throughout the US, nearest you.

Straws Sticks & Bricks – showrooms in NE & MO, with additional product lines available in 6 other locations, including CO, and will ship nationwide.

Bettencourt – in Brooklyn, NY

Ecohaus – corporate center in Seattle, but will ship throughout the US.

Green Building Supply – in Iowa, and will ship from Iowa or California, which ever is closest.

(This photo was taken at Balance Massage & Wellness Center, located just outside of Park City, UT. The Owner, Marty, made ‘green’ choices when renovating the old home.  Balance is a wonderful example of green remodeling.)

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We brought your attention to the eco-friendly Knoll Systems GSZ67 whole house distributed music amplifier-controller a few months back.   Well if you are looking to have music delivered throughout your home as part of your remodel, and stay eco-friendly by reducing power consumption in the process, then you need to check out the new and even more affordable GSZ44!

The all new GSZ44 controller-amplifier (with keypads included) is just what you need if you want four separate areas of your home to have speakers and music flowing throughout.  With the GSZ44, your master retreat and master bath can be tuned to an Elton John CD, while outside the kids are playing in the yard to the sounds of High School Musical 3.   All the music coming from your single home stereo!  So you decide you’d rather tune to XM satellite, well just press the Source button on the keypad on your bedroom/bathroom wall.   Guests at parties can hear the same music throughout your home as they mingle.

For $999, the complete GSZ44 package enables whole house audio distribution in four separate areas of your home, and includes four keypads that are placed like light switches on your wall.  The keypads allow you to change from CD to radio to satellite to cable audio (and more), and adjust volume in the room you are occupying.

So what is so ‘green’?  Each GSZ44 controller-amplifier features award winning Eco-System™ circuitry, which offers twice the power and a tenth the energy consumption of its competitors.  This patent pending circuit determines which speakers are in use and delivers power only to those channels needing it. The channels that are “off” are truly off, not in “standby” or “mute”.

According to Knoll Systems, a typical homeowner will enjoy a savings of hundred dollars or more per year in electrical costs and that can be multiplied when taking into account the increased costs of air conditioning to extract unwanted heat produced by a typical multi-channel amplifier. A comparable amplifier without the Eco-System™ circuit  uses about 14 times (40 watts) as much power while idling in standby. By comparison the GSZ44 with Eco-System™ uses under 2 watts while idling!

We still haven’t seen a product like this for home audio at GetWithGreen.com.  If you are going to be including “distributed audio” or music in your home and want to get a bit more eco-friendly in the process then we think you should check out the GSZ44 at a Knoll Systems distributor!

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California Paints is now offering Elements, a new line of paints that are zero VOC, GreenWise Certified, and follow LEED guidelines.

Considered to last longer than ordinary zero VOC paints, Elements paint, is made with Microban Technology.  California Paints explains that this eco-friendly technology “contains a unique anti-bacterial additive that creates an internal germ-proof barrier within the paint formulation.”  Other anti-bacterial additives release harmful gasses or odors.  Microban protects gasses or odors from leaching into the paint over time.  Several of California Paint Products have Microban technology.  Click here to read more about these products.

California Paints is part of the California Products Corporation, committed to preserving the environment through waste management.  Products are created on site and evaluated by employees that have been trained in environmental issues.  California Paints is conscious of the production, shipping, manufacturing and storing of their products.  They recycle or reuse any waste created during production.

The California Paints website offers useful tools.  Among them are paint calculators, painting tips, and a color blog.  The Scheming Center page lets you explore paint colors, combinations, and even apply them to different virtual projects.  Click here to find a Dealer near you.  You’re sure to find paint that you will love and feel comfortable using.

Additional zero VOC paint companies:

Milk Paint – “The safest paints available,” organic, nonpolluting, and bio-degradable, as well as long lasting, quality paint.  Known for creating period-style furniture and home decorating.  Online purchasing available, as well as through dealers found within the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Ireland, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Netherlands, and Thailand.

American Pride Paints – Green Seal Certified, interior and exterior paint for your home.  Dealers found within the US.  If you are not near a dealer, you can buy online from the nearest dealer.

Green Planet Paints - Minimal additives, renewable, and non-toxic materials hand-crafted within the US.  Instead of petroleum-based acrylics, they use soy-based resins, and mineral pigments, mostly from clay.  Dealers are currently in the US and Canada.

Yolo Colorhouse – A low odor, premium interior and exterior paint.  little Yolo is a separate line designed especially for little ones.  Purchase online or at a dealer within the US and Canada.

Freshaire – Can be bought at the Home Depot, GreenGaurd Indoor Air Quality Certified, zero VOCs in paint and pigment.

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The eco-friendly view from Marvin Windows & Doors.

I was twelve when I ordered my first Marvin Window & Door brochure. I know, starting a bit early right? At the time I was obsessed with designing floor plans and loved to pour over my mother’s Better Homes & Gardens magazines. It’s been a while, but I believe they still have the pull-out tabs where you can request product information. So, for a long time, I would spec out my designs to include the Marvin Windows & Doors that I liked best. Almost 20 years later, Marvin products are still desirable, ever growing, and amazingly eco-friendly. Maybe all that childhood research will someday bring about a beautiful home of my own with Marvin Windows & Doors…till then, here are some green reasons to use Marvin:

Thinking Green: The Marvin green thought, “Always striving for improvement, Marvin Windows and Doors has introduced initiatives that rethink our value chain, improve resource productivity while lowering environmental costs, and implement green practices that make producing beautiful windows an environmentally-friendlier process.”

Good design and careful decisions make a difference in our environment. Marvin has one of the lowest percentages of wood-waste in the industry.

Energy Efficient: Marvin fulfills Energy Star requirements and standards. Click here to read more about Marvin Products and the Environment.

Reduce: The Marvin team is always looking for ways to reduce waste from their production process.

Reuse: Marvin Windows & Doors are built to last and be reused. If still in good condition and working correctly, feel free to reuse it.

Recycle: After your Marvin products arrive, recycle the packaging. Though not meant to be taken apart, if this should happen, the main pieces are made from materials that can be recycled (wood, glass, & aluminum). The windows are made from recycled material (15%-33% crushed scrap glass, aluminum is over 98% recycled, and wood is recycled by finger jointing and edge-gluing smaller pieces).

Forest Management: With properly managed forests, Marvin has found that not only do they have a continual supply of wood, but an excess in wood production. They are committed to supporting the conservation of natural resources.

LEED Certification: By using Marvin products, home owners can receive credits for LEED Certification.

Click here to see a list of green building organizations that Marvin Windows & Doors participate in and support.

For those of you looking to remodel your windows and doors, check out Marvin’s Remodel & Replace page. It has useful information as well as links to additional articles and answers to frequently asked questions.

Marvin Windows & Doors are eco-friendly, sustainable and beautiful. What kinds of experience do our GetWithGreen readers have with Marvin? Willing to share?

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We have talked a lot about Watersense here on GetWithGreen.com.  The first WaterSense Partners of the Year are being recognized for encouraging Americans to tap into their water resources wisely over the last year.

“EPA commends these partners for being blue ribbon winners in water efficiency,” said Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA’s assistant administrator for water. “These water stars are helping WaterSense transform the way Americans view and value our most precious liquid asset and, as a result, we are saving more and wasting less for future generations.”

While EPA’s WaterSense program depends on the efforts of more than 1,000 partners, these four exceptional partners earned this special distinction from EPA:

Promotional Partner of the Year: The Saving Water Partnership

Manufacturer Partner of the Year: Kohler Co.

Retailer and Distributor Partner of the Year: Ferguson

Irrigation Partner of the Year: Timothy Malooly of Shorewood, Minn.

These organizations and individual represent the best of WaterSense’s four partner categories. The Saving Water Partnership is a collaboration between Seattle Public Utilities and 17 participating local water utilities. Kohler Co. is a leading bathroom and kitchen product manufacturer. Ferguson is one of the country’s largest wholesale distributors of plumbing supplies. Timothy Malooly is a WaterSense irrigation partner and president of two Minnesota-based irrigation firms: Irrigation Consultants & Control and Irrigation By Design.

The 2008 Partners of the Year helped advance the WaterSense mission through a range of activities demonstrating creativity and collaboration, and promoting water efficiency from New York City’s Times Square to the Minnesota Zoological Garden. Three of the winning organizations have also worked together to educate plumbers and consumers on the benefits of WaterSense labeled products.

In 2007, WaterSense partners were responsible for labeling, selling and promoting more than 193,400 WaterSense labeled products, saving the United States more than 277 million gallons of water annually.

WaterSense, a partnership program launched in 2006 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, seeks to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water.

The first WaterSense Partner of the Year awards are being presented at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas, Nev., the first national water-efficiency conference for an interdisciplinary audience.

WaterSense Partner of the Year awards: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/awards.htm

Information on the WaterSense program: http://www.epa.gov/watersense

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One of the newest trends in home renovation, restoration and building isn?t actually new.  Just an old idea whose time has come back around. 

The salvage and junk yards of our grandparents have become slicker and hipper for the eco conscious and the thrifty alike.  Reclaimed building supply and deconstruction companies now use words like architectural, sustainable, reclaimed and even reincarnation to describe the junkyards of yesteryear.

You can find reclaimed building supply companies in every state and almost every larger city.  Some specialize in period antiques, others in just bathroom fixtures, some carry everything including kitchen sinks.  All it took was a two minute internet search for me to find my nearest reclaimed building supply store.  Who knew one of these gems was hiding in the next town over?

The ReCONNstruction Center of New Britain, Connecticut is different from the rest of the pack.  It is a non-profit group whose mission includes not only salvaging building materials in the name of mother earth, but it also aims to support the local area by providing reasonable prices for the residents and providing a livable wage for it?s employees. 

Driving into the parking lot of the ReCONNstruction Center I spied a neighbor.  Coincidence or a sign of a real tend?  This neighbor has been slowly renovating his 1885 Victorian home with mostly reclaimed fixtures.  My unnamed neighbor allegedly plays hookey from work every couple of weeks to check out what is new in the store.  And it is always changing.

On the day I visited the store, an antique door from the 1700?s ($300) was prominently displayed alongside a new and modern glass sink ($350).   Antique fireplace tiles (25 cents) caught my eye and made me wish for a fireplace of my own.  Full paint cans stacked to the ceiling and priced for pennies almost made me want to repaint the house.  Kerry Ann Kowar, The ReCONNstruction Center?s friendly volunteer coordinator with the displaying skills of one of the Barker?s Beauties in jeans, eloquently described the store?s endless tile samples, bathroom vanities, doorknobs, kitchen cabinets, windows, doors and bins of hardware.

Kerry Ann explained that all of their materials are donated by homeowners, builders and companies going out of business.  Since The ReCONNstruction Center is a non-profit, each donation is completely tax-deductable.

When deciding to make a purchase at a home restoration store, there are a few dangers to consider.  For example, the paint on those beautiful wooden pieces made prior to 1978 can contain lead.  Light fixtures should also to be purchased with caution.  Old wiring may not be up to code and can pose a dangerous fire risk.  Unless you are an electrical whiz, factor in the price of an electrician to bring your new find up to code. 

Whether you are looking to save a few dollars, want to find period fixtures or are looking to save building materials from the landfill, a field trip to your local building materials salvage store is a worthwhile trip.

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Living ‘green’ definitely has it’s benefits. Not only is it good for our environment and health, but purchasing certain products will actually avoid carcinogens found in chemicals. Most cabinets these days are made of particle board that is full of formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.

Sure, it seems that these days, there are carcinogens everywhere, so why are formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) so harmful? Unfortunately, kitchen cabinets are the main source of formaldehyde emissions in the home. This of course is alarming to me because the kitchen is the room my kiddos and I spend the majority of our day. One problem with formaldehyde is that it can actually make you more sensitive to other chemicals. To ensure avoiding this sensitizer when remodeling your home and kitchen, make sure and install eco-friendly cabinets.

When searching for ‘green’ cabinets, ask questions about:

• glues – make sure they are VOC free and water based
• veneers, plywood and laminates – are they held together with formaldehyde?
• toxic finishes – look for water based or natural finishes (those that use natural oil and wax such as linseed oil and beeswax).
• paint – look for water based and low to no VOC
• particle board/plywood substitutes – such as Purebond and Medite

Make sure that you understand and feel comfortable about your decision and the product you are buying/installing.

Green materials for your eco-friendly cabinetry:

• Solid Hardwood. Make sure the wood has been responsibly harvested (milled and seasoned without chemicals, pesticides, and colorants).
• Metal Cabinets.
• Salvage. Salvage companies are a good place to look for old cabinets that have been made with solid hardwood. You’ll avoid the unwanted chemicals and give a would-be garbage item a new life.
• Are they Green Guard or Green Seal Certified?

Try to get your green cabinets locally. If they are shipped a great distance, your ‘greeness’ you were seeking is reduced. Here are some ‘green’ cabinet companies that might be near you:

Bradco Kitchens & Bath in Los Angeles

Healthy Cabinet Makers in northern Arkansas

Koch & Company in Kansas
a Koch supplier shipping all over the Midwest from Chicago: Kitchen Village

Breathe Easy Cabinetry in New York

Executive Kitchens in South Carolina

Taylor Made Cabinetsin Massachusetts

Neil Kelly Cabinets (51 dealers) in AZ, Northern & Southern CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NC, OR, VA, WA

Humabuilt in Oregon

For a list of ESP Certified Manufacturers, click here

Best wishes on your ‘green’ cabinet projects. Send us some photos when you’re finished.

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We had the pleasure of meeting with Sarah Graves from modwalls at the West Coast Green show this week.  Modwalls is a a manufacturer of recycled glass tile, located in Scott’s Valley, CA.

modwalls just announced the availability of their Viridian recycled glass mosaic tile modwall glass tile.  The Viridian line is SCS Certified for a minimum of 98% pre-consumer recycled content.  Contents include old windows and windshields.  The Viridian recycled glass tile series comes in two lines: Viridian Pearl & Viridian Industrial.

Viridian Pearl Viridian Pearl Series recycled glass tile consists of 1″ tiles that carry an iridescent sheen.  The display at the show was beautiful.  The tiles are attached to mesh, and carry a price tag of $25.95 sq. ft retail.  The finish on the Pearl line appears to be targeted for walls and backsplashes.  There are eight different colors available today.  It seemed a bit slick for a bathroom floor.  That is where the Industrial line comes in!

Veridian Industrial Like the Pearl Series, the Industrial Series recycled glass tile is made of 1″ tiles attached in a square foot mesh.  These tiles carry the same $25.95 retail price tag.  The difference is that Industrial line have a non-slip matte finish that will work nicely on your remodeled bathroom floor.   The Industrial line also has eight different colors.

For a lot more on recycled glass tile, see our list of 6 other recycled glass tile providers on GetWithGreen.com

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If you haven’t replaced your old toilet you must.  The old toilets waste incredible amounts of water each time your family pulls the handle, and your toilet runs for a minimal time with each flush.  The new high efficiency toilets on the market work amazingly well. 

Earlier this month Caroma announced its newest high efficiency dual flush toilet (HET): the Sydney Low Profile.  The Low Profile is ideal for installations that require a shorter toilet due to space restrictions, such as under a counter or where a grab bar is located above the tank. It is a high efficiency toilet that uses 1.6/0.8 gallons per flush (full/half flush).  The toilet is 26 1/2″ tall. 

Two configurations of the Sydney Low Profile have already been WaterSense-approved, taking Caroma to 36, more than any other manufacturer on the market — according to Caroma!

The two button dual flush toilets give the user a choice: half flush for liquid or full flush for solids. Compared with an older 3.5 gallon toilet, a family of four could save nearly 18,000 gallons of water per year by switching to a Caroma dual flush toilet. A city of 10,000 people could save more than five million gallons of water per year with dual flush toilets.

The Sydney Low Profile is available in six bowl configurations including two Round Front Plus options, two elongated options, an Easy Height Round Front Plus, and an Easy Height Elongated.  All Caroma dual flush toilets feature wash down flushing, a large trapway (nearly double the industry average) to virtually eliminate clogging, and a 12? rough-in or 10-12? adjustable rough-in.

The new Low Profile is now available in white and biscuit (special order).  Prices on the web are about $349.

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