|
 |
"Our Quality Work Today is Our Reputation Tomorrow" — O'Grady Family |
Green Efficiency Products
Installing the correct high efficiency (HE) products often pay for themselves within the first 2 years. Rebates, tax credits and rising energy costs have made these upgrades easy decisions. Added value in usability, money savings, and the right aesthetic are the most important variables to address in making a decision. Saving water around your home is easy. A typical home that has no water savings devices uses 72 gallons more water per day than one that does not. That is an additional 35 units (748 gallons= 1 unit) of water to pay for each year. Toilets Toilet usage accounts for 30% of domestic water consumption. In commercial office environments, toilets contribute to 92% of water consumption. In most toilet improvements: restaurants, assembly venues, work places with 3 or more people per toilet, and homes with higher occupancy will see the complete cost back in water savings in the first year. Other homes and uses will see different savings. Calculating the expected savings in changing your toilet to an high efficiency (HE) toilet is easy to determine as long as you know the frequency of usage and the cost of water per unit. See attached spreadsheet to calculate your own savings. By 2014, all toilets sold in California must be high efficiency (HE) toilets (1.28 gallons or less per flush). By 2017 this will be federal law. There are rebates available that range from $75-$200 per toilet, in most Bay Area cities and towns. The SFPUC offers a $125.00 rebate for gravity toilet upgrades, and a $200.00 rebate for flushometer toilets that are approved. There is also a list on the SFPUC site that rates these toilets for their performance in testing. Each city/ town has a different program, with a different list of approved toilets and rebates. Most flushometer type toilets that are approved perform well. Gravity style toilets can be difficult to choose from with more options. Single flush gravity HE toilets use 1.28 gpf every time. Dual flush toilets use less water per flush, and will usually have a better flush than single flush high efficiency (HE) toilets. The large flush on a dual flush is 1.6 gpf, while the small flush is usually less than 1 gallon. The large flush on a dual flush is 1.6 gpf, while the small flush is usually less than 1 gallon. When you average out 1 large flush to 4 smaller flushes, the end result is always less than 1.1 gpf for dual flush toilets making them high efficiency (HE) toilets that qualify for rebates. The Caroma, Sydney style toilet has the best performance of any gravity high efficiency (HE) toilet (1000 grams p/f) and the lowest water consumption (.89 gpf) out of any toilet on the market. Qualifying toilets with flushing capacities of 800 grams or more do not clog from their intended usage; due to their larger discharge throat and higher water velocity. For business owners, managers, homeowners and property managers tired of dealing with repairs and clogs of first generation 1.6 gpf toilets, and big bills from old water hogs; high efficiency (HE) toilets pay for themselves with very little difficulty. Now is a great time to take advantage of the financial incentives and ongoing savings by upgrading to high efficiency (HE) toilets. Water Heaters
Other high efficiency hot water heating systems with 30% rebates include: geo-thermal, and solar hot water. High efficiency hot water storage tanks and tankless water heaters recieve $300.00 tax credits. O'Grady Plumbing is trained and knowledgeable in the use of all of these applications, and their advantages in different living environments, bringing you the best options for qualifying high efficiency products when one of our knowledgeable service professionals enters your home. We use top quality tankless water heaters Takagi, Rannai, Noritz, Bosch, Rheem, and Nivea. For storage tanks we use high efficiency and FVR (flame vapor resistant) units with LO-NOx burners, Rheem, A O Smith and Bradford White.
Water heater sizing and installations can be difficult; particularly, when it comes to converting over to tankless and getting the realized benefit you expect vs. getting it done wrong (in many cases having to do it all over!!). We check all connections and local codes for safety and reliability, offering comfort and avoiding costly unexpected repairs in the future with a code compliant quality installation using quality products. Faucets Residential faucets have not changed much; nor will they require less usage than what is the current standard: kitchen faucets and shower heads (2.5 gpm), lavatory faucets (2.0 gpm). Many shower heads and faucets have their flow restrictors and aerators removed to deliver more water, not knowing how to clean rust from the restrictors, or the faucet is the original fixture, use much more water than is currently allowed. Proper restrictor use is something that should be checked and corrected in an effort to save money and conserve water. There are many quality products that are compliant and work. Commercial establishments should take advantage of sensor/ metered faucets to optimize savings and conservation. By 2014 it will be required that all public use hand sink faucets use 1.0 gpm or less. Washing Machines/Dryers/HVAC There are many different savings and rebates that can be taken advantage of by changing over to Energystar High Efficency (HE) rated products. Local professionals can help you choose which products will fit your needs best and save you money. Reclaimed Water/Gray Water Systems There are a lot of new water reclamation products on the market. If you plan on doing any improvisation of a water reclamations system, you should consult with your local plumber / buildings department to determine what criteria they have set for approving and allowing these products. If the product does not qualify to meet these requirements, you will not be allowed to install; and required to remove any installed unapproved water reclamation products. |
 |
|
 Site Map |
Contact us : info@ogradyplumbing.com |
|
California is the first state to adopt a statewide 
Advances in water heating technology and 
O'Grady Plumbing pays $25 for your old water heater and matches the manufacturers warranty for single family homes only. A little known fact: conventional water heater manufactures do not honor the labor on their warranty; just the replacement of the part or unit. O'Grady Plumbing extends their labor warranty as a way of picking up the slack; and making sure our clients do not get a bad deal.