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GOING Â GREEN Â WITHOUT Â GOING Â BROKE ECO- AND WALLET-FRIENDLY KITCHEN & BATH UPGRADES BY JEREMY SMITH
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ncorporating eco-friendly upgrades into your home, especially in the kitchen and bathroom, is now more affordable than ever. Demand for sustainable products is at an all-time high, and with advanced technology, prices have significantly gone down and quality has gone up, allowing more options for homeowners within all price ranges. You don’t have to radically change your lifestyle or your budget to incorporate eco-friendly upgrades into your kitchen and bathrooms. A few simple changes done in conjunction with one another will not only have a significant impact on your wallet, but also increase your comfort, reduce waste and pollution, and help save natural resources. When “going green� results in cost savings and return on investment, it’s a no-brainer. 1  LOW-FLOW  SHOWERHEADS  (Starting at $45.00) Top brands like Brizo and Delta are leading the way for innovative low-flow showerheads. This new technology changes the water’s shape, velocity and thermal dynamics, filling the water with air and creating larger droplets, which allows for a more luxurious shower experience while using less water. 2  NIAGARA  CONSERVATION  STEALTH  0.8  GPF  TOILET (Starting at $200.00) The government standard for an average toilet is 1.6 gallons per flush, but this ultra-high efficiency toilet goes a step beyond all other toilets on the market by using only 0.8 gallons of water per flush. The stylish design works with any space, while lowering water usage and utility bills.
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3 Â TOUCH-FAUCET Â TECHNOLOGY (Starting at $320.00) Bathroom and kitchen faucets that are equipped with touchfaucet technology allow you to run a faucet by simply tapping your hand on the faucet, quickly turning it on and off. This quick response time uses less water as it does not allow the faucet to continue to run when not in use, which saves on the water bill. 4 Â HYBRID Â ELECTRIC Â HEAT Â PUMP Â WATER Â HEATER (Starting at $1,200.00) This expert water heater is ultraefficient and the most cost-effective option available to consumers, especially those in warmer states like 4 Arizona. The water heater takes the hot air from its location, mainly the garage, and uses it to heat water. That same air, which is then cooled, is blown back into the garage, lowering the temperature in the room. Additionally, the Hybrid Electric heat pump can reduce water heating costs up to 66 percent and pay for itself in two to three years. 5 Â TOTO Â WASHLET Â (Starting at $450.00) Get all the benefits of an expensive high-tech toilet cleverly disguised as a seat that fits nearly any standard toilet. The TOTO Washlet offers motion-detected auto flush, remotecontrolled flush, automatic open/close, gentle and aerated warm-water cleansing, massage features, warm-air drying with three temperature settings, an air purifier, and more. You can even eliminate the need for toilet paper with the bidet function. Jeremy Smith is the owner of Central Arizona Supply Company, a fourth generation family business founded in Mesa in 1968, and the leading plumbing supply company for residential and commercial projects in Arizona. For more LQIRUPDWLRQ FDOOÂŤ RUÂŤYLVLW FHQWUDOD]VXSSO\ FRP Find more interior design articles at greenlivingaz.com/interior
20 greenliving | February 2016
greenlivingaz.com