Showing posts with label save water. Show all posts
Showing posts with label save water. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Philippine Water Crisis - An Important Time to Consider Water Savings

Several important factors has to be further considered now that the water crisis that is being discussed has become even more critical. The lack of regulations in many plumbing issues has made households and buildings inefficient with their water consumption, that becomes a major contributor in the current water crisis. A regular household with better awareness on efficient water systems and usage can easily save up to 70% on their water consumption. If there is a good awareness campaign, this will create a larger volume of savings for the entire Metro Manila accordingly.

One of the largest water consumers in residential situations are shower heads. Current shower heads in the Philippines consume 4.5 Gallons Per Minute. Using water efficient (not low flow) shower heads give the same water volume as low flow but with good pressure, therefore not sacrificing comfort. This can cut down 40% of water usage.

Checking houses for water leaks is just as important. Leak is water that is being completely wasted by inefficient joints or faucets. Check all joints for leaks, check the toilet bowl for leaks (which happens in the flapper most of the time), and most importantly, the faucets as well.

For commercial establishments, it is even more important now to focus on waterless urinal solutions. It is best to choose waterless urinals that do not require replacing urinals. They then become more cost effective, and more environmental accordingly.

In the end, whatever we can do to help alleviate the water crisis will be to our own benefit as well.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Are Waterfree/Waterless Urinals in the Philippines Really Environmental?

One of the most serious topics being discussed is the importance of saving water to help the environment, but the larger and more important concern, of course, is the hygiene and environmental impact of waterless urinals.

Waterless urinals have been in the market for quite some time in USA and other countries, we have seen recent growth and development of this concept in the Philippines, with urinals being replaced to waterless. More importantly, there are several types of waterless urinals in the Philippines and options have to be considered.

Option 1: Oil trap cartridge
- Oil trap cartridge have become very popular in the Philippines as they have entered the market early. The concept is simple, a cartridge has an oil trap that keeps sewage gases from entering the premises, yet letting urine pass through.

Option 2: Bio Enzyme cartridge
- Bio enzyme cartridge utilizes organic enzymes that consumes urine contents from urine, leaving urine to become water. This system does not need urinals to be replaced anymore.

Points to Consider

In our previous articles, we have discussed carbon footprint as one of the most important tools in measuring environmentalism. Option 1 will require that old urinals will be replaced with a new one. A completely new urinal will entail a large amount of carbon to be emitted to the atmosphere. This and the disposal of old urinals will mean a major step backward for any company going green. Retrofitting an existing urinal is a more viable and environmental alternative, not to forget economical as well.

Another important factor is the post disposal of consumable products. The only two viable option is if the product is bio degradable or if the supplier has a recycling program for old cartridges. If there is none, then disposal of old cartridges are a big sin.

Lastly, urinals without water will mean urine will stick on the urine walls. Urinals will need an enzyme coating on the urinal walls to keep the toilet hygienic. Otherwise, urine on urinal walls will harbor bacteria when urea from urine breaks down.

Overall, what is most important is that all environmental concerns on going waterless has to be answered. Before buying a new waterless urinal, consider the above facts first.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Eco Calculator Widget now on Greener Philippines Page

A new widget called the Eco Calculator can be found on the right side of the blog, where paper usage can be monitored. There is also a Widget that updates on the current Carbon emissions on the atmosphere. Lastly, there is also a widget that can be used to calculate residential carbon footprints to help become aware on current household environmental impact.

Through this awareness we can strategize on what would be the best practice available to become more eco friendly.

10 Easy Steps to Greening Your Home

Everyone wants to do their part in greening their home, but investing in new equipment might not be an immediate answer, here are some pointers that can be done while saving up for your next Eco Showerheads or Energy Smart Meters.

1. Start recycling - Newspapers not brought to reclycling centers will not be recycled. By doing our share in giving all paper products for recycling, we are giving them a second life (or even more) by becoming something else. Do not just stop on Newspapers, look for old bottles and the likes.


2. Start Segregating Waste - Segregate food and biodegradable products from those that can be recycled, and those that just can't. food can become compost and fertilize gardens, and money can be made from recyclable items (aluminum cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles, paper).


3. Go LED or CFL - If you have not done this yet, then it is not too late to go to the nearest hardware and change all incandescent to CFL or LED. they are cheap and pay themselves off in a few short months.


4. Clean your Aircon and Ref - Ensure that all coils of your air conditioner and back of the ref is well ventilated and clean. Excessive amounts of dust and dirt makes them inefficient in transferring heat to the outside, and keeping inside cool.


5. Better Clean than Mask - Rather than having the need to use aerosol air fresheners or the likes, clean the house well enough to remove such need. You will find yourself in a more pleasant state. If possible, use incense sticks or oil lamps over aerosols. They last longer and have a more refreshing scent. Just make sure not to keep them in a fire hazard area.


6. Use Alternative Cleaning Agents- Bleaches and other cleaners are not good for the environment, especially when later flushed down the sewer. If possible, look for eco friendly cleaning products that use Bio Enzymes and alternative cleaning materials (using vinegar and the likes).


7. Open lots of windows - Opening windows during the day is not only healthy, as air is circulated, but it also cools the house with the natural breeze. Just make sure you are not residing near a polluted area.


8. Let light in - Keeping windows open lets light in, reducing the need to use lamps or similar items indoors. Save lighting when there is natural daylight from outside.


9. Throw away old carpets - Dirty carpets are terrible things to keep at home. They invite mold and keep toxins. If possible, use hemp floor rags or natural wooden flooring (bamboo is best).


10. Turn the thermostat - Many find it a good idea to keep aircon thermostat at Max. when not necessary. The ideal room temperature (and healthy) is 24 to 26 degrees. Try to keep rooms at this temperature. Also try using water at 1 to 2 degrees colder than usual. It is not uncomfortable at all and yet saves a lot of money in the process.

Little changes in habit and minor adjustments to what we do can go a very long way.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

The Impact of Water Heaters to the Environment

One of the most deceiving equipments people least think about are residential water heaters. The Philippines typically use Electric Water Heaters in heating water for showers. But the question is, is there a big electricity cost in using electric water heaters? Is there a big impact in our Environment? Is there an environment concern in using electric water heaters that we do not know of?


Let us start off with the following computation for everyone's better understanding of how is energy computed for electric water heaters.

We first have to start off with how much BTU do we need to raise our water temperature to the desired level.

BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, it presents how much energy is required to raise 1 pound of water up by 1 degree Farenheit.

Remember that 1 Gallon of water is 8.337 pounds.

And an Electric Water Heater needs 4.9 Kilowatt hours to produce 16,600 BTU.

As an example, a typical shower head in the Philippines can consume 3.5 Gallons Per Minute to 5 Gallons Per Minute.

Gallons Per Minute is the amount of water a shower head uses in 1 minute.

With one of the clients I have worked with, their showerhead was consuming 4.8 Gallons per minute.

Their water before being heated is 20 degrees Celcius (68 Farenheit)

The optimal water temperature for a shower for my client was 38 degrees Celcius (100.4 Farenheit)

They needed to raise water temperature by 32.4 degrees Farenheit.

So, 32.4 degrees Farenheit, multiplied by 8.337 pounds per gallon, totals 270.119 BTU Per Gallon


Their showerhead at 4.8 GPM therefore needs 1,296.53 BTU Per Minute.


That is equivalent to an energy consumption of 0.38 kwh for heating water per minute




In monetary terms, at Php 9.5 per kwh, it costs Php 3.61 for hot water PER MINUTE.

An eco friendly showerhead using 1.2 GPM would cost Php 0.85 per minute of shower.

Therefore, Electric Water Heaters using conventional showerheads would actually cost Php 2.75 PER MINUTE more than eco friendly showerheads.

Besides the economic cost, each Kilowatt of Energy used in the Philippines has carbon emissions of 0.59 kilos.

While this sounds small, a person taking a 10 minute shower a day would end up with 600 Kilos of CO2 a year in the atmosphere more than necessary. This is 600 kilos of carbon could have been saved by using an eco showerhead.


The above computation is designed to give everyone a bigger glimpse of what is the impact of electric water heaters.

But there is more.

Using centralized water heating means that water is being heated and reheated to keep a proposed optimal temperature. Ill designed pipings would mean that water keeps cooling, and therefore the heater needs to keep heating.

It is therefore vital that hot water pipes are well insulated to ensure water is always warm. Check the body of the centralized water heater for any loss of insulation and have it fixed.

The economic and environmental benefit of a well maintained water heater, paired with an efficient showerhead would create a big change that many have not even thought about. Try to rethink our use of resource and through better management we are thus taking positive steps to an environmental future

Saturday, April 10, 2010

How do you know if your toilet bowl water closet is leaking?

There is a strong need for people to be aware about how to save water. Water conservation in the Philippines has come to become ever more important not only due to increased price of water, but also with the exceptionally low water level found the dams.

During the energy water conservation seminar dubbed "The Greener Good" hosted by JCI with notable guests from Greenpeace, Manhattan Green Solutions, and Philcarbon, Greenpeace has emphasized just how bad is the current situation with the water reserve. The water level is actually lower than the measuring stick. It was a lot lower than the "critical level" sign on the measuring point. Water conservation is thus paramount in this situation.

One of the areas oftentimes found to be a major problem are toilet bowl leaks. Toilet water closets that use flappers have a terrible tendency to leak alarming amount of water without us realizing. Toilet water closets can leak up to 2 liters per minute. Some can go as high as 5 liters per minute.

How do we know if our toilet is leaking? The simplest and most cost effective idea is to put food coloring on the water (a few drops of red is good) in the water closet and not flush the toilet for 10 minutes. Come back after 10 minutes and check if the toilet bowl. If the color in the toilet bowl has changed, then there's a leak.

If a leak is found, check the flap. If it does not close well, try to clean the area around the flap, replace the flap, or increase string length for the toilet flush.

If possible, replace flapper to a siphon system.

What are sometimes not noticed can be a deadly source of leaks. Making minor changes can quantify to large savings. This is a good and positive start in going green

Friday, April 9, 2010

Manhattan Green Solutions Presents Oxygenics Eco friendly Water Saving Shower Head

Manhattan Green Solutions presents a water saving eco friendly showerhead from Oxygenics USA. Showers are one of the highest water consuming systems at home, presenting a good 30% to 50% of water being consumed.



Oxygenics Showerheads are the most water efficient in water conservation solutions. Regular Showerheads typically consume around 3.5 to 4.5 Gallons Per Minute (GPM). Oxygenics Showerheads consume 1.2 to 1.5 GPM, saving up to 70% in water consumption.


Advantages of Oxygenics


Water Saving And Self Pressurizing


Oxygenics showerheads work in a revolutionary, remarkable way. There is no other showerhead on the market that uses the patented Oxygenics® technology or is able to provide the same benefits. By using Oxygenics showerheads, customers and business will be positively impacted for many years.


The innovative technology behind Oxygenics® is based on the Venturi Principle. As water enters the base of the showerhead, it is propelled through an accelerator fin to increase the velocity of the water flow. It is then directed through a channel where oxygen is injected into water. The result? Phenomenal coverage and a continuous range of sensations - from a soft relaxing spray to a deep, therapeutic massage while maintaining a very high level of water efficiency.


How does this technology affect me?


Oxygenics is able to save water and energy without sacrificing the performance and shower experience we all expect every day. That means money in your pocket and smiles on the faces of your customers.






Property owners, maintenance supervisors, or places with hard water and high calcium levels know how troublesome it can be to have to maintain shower fixtures. The single orifice design of Oxygenics® showerheads coupled with internal components made of non-stick Delrin® are no match against common "shower cloggers." There isn't a calcium deposit or sediment that will stand in the way.


What is Delrin® and how does it work?


Delrin® is one of the secret weapons of Oxygenics® success. The chemical make-up of this innovative material doesn't allow lime and calcium deposits to bond to it. Using the average showerhead, you probably spend time and money dipping your investment in CLR or vinegar and find yourself frequently replacing clogged fixtures. Switching to Oxygenics® products will have a high efficiency shower fixture that will last for years without having to touch it. Eliminate problems of clogged showers and constant cleaning. Oxygenics® is virtually maintenance free.








As the human body  ages, levels of oxygen start to diminish, especially in the skin, breaking down collagen and elastin. Oxygenics® showerheads are designed to rejuvenate your skin.


Oxygen is good for us. It is the second largest component of the earth's atmosphere. Humans and animals rely on it for survival. Without it, life as we know it would cease. But oxygen is not just for breathing.


Oxygen is a critical and sometimes overlooked component in water. Health and beauty experts praise this showerhead for its health-enhancing ability to revitalize the skin and rejuvenate skin cells.


What can oxygen do for me?


The Oxygenics system uses patented technology to continually introduce air into the shower water creating a powerful oxygenated spray. In fact, Oxygenics can increase oxygen content in the water up to 10 times. The skin is the largest organ in the body. It breathes and when oxygen is introduced to the skin, the skin will absorb the necessary oxygen it desires. So, not only are you saving money while using Oxygenics, but you're also providing a healthy product to your customers.










Flow restrictors have been placed in the bases of showerheads by manufacturers as a way to keep the water flow at 2.5GPM ever since it was federally mandated by the U.S. Government. This method of water restriction significantly decreased water pressure and left people with wimpy unsatisfactory shower performance. It didn’t take long for shower users to figure out a solution – pull out the restrictor and continue wasting large amounts of water.

To this day, virtually every showerhead manufacturer employs the use of a removable flow restrictor to continually supply 2.5 gallons per minute regardless of the water pressure. Oxygenics showerheads do the opposite and contain no removable restrictors. The patented self-pressurizing technology built within each showerhead has the ability to adapt to the incoming water pressure, and use only what is necessary to give an extremely enjoyable shower.

Our 2.5GPM models have a flow of 1.75 gallons per minute at 60PSI, offering a 70% water savings from the industry-standard 4.5 gallons per minute showerheads in the Philippines.  Not only is this savings significant in reducing water consumption, but it also reduces energy costs as less hot water is used.

For more Information, please visit http://mgs.jw-world.com


Feed Shark

Manhattan Green Solutions Presents Bioball Waterless Urinal Cartridges - Go Waterless without replacing your Urinal


The need to save water in the Philippines has become even more evident with the popularity of waterless urinals.


BIOBALL waterless urinal cartridges are an ideal way of converting urinals to become waterless. These cartridges do not need any new waterless urinals. Existing urinals can be used, saving a large amount of initial capital.


BIOBALL waterless urinal cartridges work by containing special bio-enzymes that consume uric salt and other components of urine, leaving only water down the drain. This system also emits a minty fresh odor, removing any need of deodorizers for toilets, thus, another valuable cost saving. These bio-enzymes also go through the pipes and eat up any clogs, they are 100% environmental and safe.


These waterless urinal cartridges also carry the best value for money by lasting up to 1 month before replacing. They are the most cost effective per use compared to any leading waterless urinal systems currently available, and have the fastest ROI compared to any product in the market.


BIOBALL waterless urinal cartridge goes a step further by being the only waterless urinal solution to be 100% biodegradable. The entire plastic is made out of starch polymer, which can dissolve over time on any landfill or compost.


BIOBALL waterless urinal cartridge does not contain any hazardous or toxic chemical whatsoever, making this completely environmental.


For more information, visit http://mgs.jw-world.com