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A caution on advice from those purporting to be expert about Dual Flush Toilet Conversion Devices

Posted on October 26, 2009 by DualFlushKit

During the past year, a small number of those claiming to be the only experts who know anything about water efficiency have been approaching governments and regulatory bodies to warn them about dual flush toilet mechanisms.  They have no experience in the testing or manufacturing of dual-flush mechanisms and so paying them heed is being questioned.

A number of intelligent, and environmentally aware people are converting their 1.6-gallon (6.0-litre), 3.5-gallon (13-litre), 5-gallon (19-litre) or more fixtures from a single-flush, tank-type gravity toilet to a dual-flush toilet and saving significant amounts of money simply by converting the mechanism within to dual-flush.  My own water bill is 80.00 a year less. The essence of a dual flush mechanism is that it offers 2 sizes of a toilet-flush, which can’t help but save us money. In many cases toilet makers oppose the sale of these devices, as they are the one thing that changes the essence of how a toilet operates.  Additionally, if they don’t sell more porcelain, they won’t make any money.  Since the vast majority of people have a toilet, that can absolutely be made to be more efficient, this is cause for doubt about the motivation of those pushing us to buy toilets

While the goal of reducing water use in the home is admirable, there are endless cases in which low flow toilets have been shown to clog, require more water to actually flush away solid waste, are not built in concert with proper engineering of the rest of the plumbing system, and are of questionable financial- and life-value.  Two primary reasons for this are…

(1) The removal and replacement of an older piece of equipment with a new low-flush toilet ignores the reality that the plumbing in every building was engineered to carry solid waste with a given volume of water.  A lack of that water leads to solid matter lying still in a pipe, which becomes a clog beyond the toilet. This is especially so in MURBs, (Multiple Unit Residential Buildings).  The finest experts will agree that 1.6-gallon and 1.28-gallon toilets have finely tuned hydraulic characteristics.  Such tuning helps allow a smaller amount of water to move waste through the toilet bowl.  The aging, less finely tuned pipes that the waste flows into have are an enormous problem. Failure to change the profile of the plumbing pipes will adversely affect flow performance, leading to total system clogging. In a perfect scenario, a new 6-liter toilet would be used with plumbing that is on a greater slope and which has a much smoother interior than almost all-existing sewage pipes in all buildings.

(2) Every toilet has a carbon footprint.  That footprint is a function of mining, drying, firing, glazing and transporting porcelain.  So, while some water is conserved through lower flushes, enormous amounts of Co2 are being emitted into the atmosphere which in turn causes global warming, and a decrease in the pH levels of the oceans (an increase in acidity) Most of the factories are based in China where the primary source of energy is low quality coal.  80% of all energy in China is generated with burning coal.  At this point few if any Chinese industrial cities have air that is clean enough to be able to meet the more relaxed Chinese air quality standards, which are far below those of other parts of the industrialized western world.  Many of the cities are so badly smog-ridden airplanes are regularly rerouted, as visibility is too poor to see to land.

Other factors to be considered by those installing, recommending, or subsidizing these low-flow toilet products are:
(1) Ethics of manufacturers that knowing sold the North American Population toilets that were not properly engineered.
(2) Redundant making of porcelain fixtures leads to equally un-necessary installation costs, transportation costs and income taxes.
 

In conclusion, the purchase, endorsement, or subsidy of these low-flow toilets should be
approached with much caution and eyes wide open. If an individual or agency wishes to proceed, however, they should: (1) insist upon full repayment of amount received for sales of 6 L toilets that were previous supplied and clogged from day one due to mismatched tanks and bowls; (2) require that the product be installed in properly engineered buildings only with plumbing that does the job of carrying solid waste through the entire plumbing system; and (3) insist that the manufacturer prove he has considered the necessary slope of the pipe, diameter, and materials, and the probable condition of the pipe materials after varying lengths of time in use beyond the individual toilet (e.g. cast iron, clay, plastic, and so on) and that the waste will actually move

Finally, it is our opinion that the water savings potential and cost-effectiveness is much greater with the use of toilet retrofit devices even if the toilets meet the above requirements, as the air pollution at stake is staggering. At such time that a toilet meets the standard, is independently tested, and demonstrates that it will not adversely affect the overall performance of plumbing or do harm to the environment, we will report that information

W. Golley

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A caution Against Low-Flow Toilets

Posted on October 23, 2009 by DualFlushKit

Low flush toilets are creating more problems than they are solving. The water that passes through them has been proven not to be large enough.  Making toilets generates massive volumes of unnecessary Co2. Old toilets need to be recycled.  Plumbing within buildings needs to be changed to work at astronomical cost. The taxes you pay are necessarily higher to pay for the subsidy they ultimately goes back to a morally- questionable, air-polluting,  toilet-maker.  The cost of a simple mechanism is less.

Over the last few years low-flow toilets have been popularized as have dual flush toilets.   Life is not as simple as we’d like, and the experience of the people has born that out.  Low flow toilets have proven to be more trouble than solution, and no matter how many independent studies prove that they use less water, that doesn’t change the reality that some other parts of the engineering of waste disposal plumbing is not designed for the job.

The first issue, now solved, was moving the solid waste out of the toilet bowls.   Use of 6 liter tanks on toilet bowls designed for 13 Liter tanks was the cause of the problem.  This meant the toilets were being flushed multiple times more than the old ones which turned out to consume more water, and those same toilets frequently clogged.   The responses were swift, an engineering firm was hired to say which toilets did work. Cartoon show makers made merciless fun of toilet making companies and governments involved.  Predictably the toilets that didn’t make it onto the list were modified or done away with.  Did the toilet makers pay back the innocent governments and consumers for their shoddy products?  Was that honest?

The second issue is the water flow in the pipes beyond the toilets within older buildings.  The pipes have a certain slope, and size that was engineered at the time the building was built.   In the very recent past, toilets held 13 liters in their tanks, and in the more distant past they held 20 and 28 liters.  The vast majority of plumbing is engineered around the assumption that those larger amounts of water would be used.   So what happens when a smaller amount of water is used?   The solid waste lies there in heap and clogs the pipe.  The cost of changing the slope of the plumbing in existing buildings is astronomical, which is why it is not taking place.  The cost of unclogging drains is equally astronomical but nobody’s talking about it…except me.

The third issue is the Greenhouse Gas emissions from making toilets.  Toilets are a form of pottery, made of clay and silica.  A quick search of the internet using the words “Air pollution pottery”  will bring up staggering images of people living in smoke so thick its deadly.  Airplanes can’t land in those areas because the visibility is less than ¼ ,mile due to the smoke.   Other horrendous truths like, asphalt and old tires are used as fuel by some pottery makers.  Finally there is the use of very poor quality coal is the primary contributor to air pollution.  Its all off-shore of course. So while you may have a new 6 liter toilet, which may save some water, the Co2 that has been made while  it is being dried, fired, glazed, and transported will poison the oceans, and do other unpredictable environmental damage.  This is the point that staggers us most: How do governments which officially say they want to do something about climate change remain so unaware?  Is the toilet making lobby really worth that much money?

If you have to have a toilet, and you want a lower water bill then the answer is a dual flush toilet mechanism.   The mechanism weighs about a pound.  It allows the full flush to carry the solid waste away like it always has, and reduces the amount of water used to create a rinse flush for liquids.  No un-necessary Co2 is created. No toilets need to be recycled.  No plumbing within buildings needs to be changed. The cost of the mechanisms is less.  The taxes you pay don’t need to be as high.  The toilets won’t clog.

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Think Green and Grow Rich

Posted on October 22, 2009 by DualFlushKit

One of the best things you can do on your way to prosperity is stop wasting. I personally have carried out an experiment: I have started to give more consideration to how I spend my time and money. I have decided to start thinking green and to cut down my expenses on various eco unfriendly things. I was amazed by my discoveries. I was literally wasting almost a third of my income on various unhealthy foods and I was basically flushing my money down the toilet.

I guess the biggest problem for us on the way both to thinking green and to growing rich is that we believe both processes are very boring ones. When you think green you have to deny yourself some “pleasures” and when you grow rich you believe, you have to work hard and sweat alot. But I have turned my green thinking into something more fun. I turned it  into a fun game. I started to think of ways I can avoid wasting both my money and the natural resources of the world around me.

Many times such games may require you to get creative; in fact, this is one of the essential qualities for growing rich so practice is good. At other times, you just need to keep yourself informed, like with dual flush toilets. I have discovered that instaling a dual flush toilet can provide a great and inexpensive solution to cutting down  my monthly water bill without having to cut down on my home comfort.

So, get yourself thinking and keep yourself informed on the many solutions, which can help you both have a green lifestyle and stop wasting your money.

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Making the wife happy is simple: follow the list!

Posted on October 19, 2009 by DualFlushKit

My wife’s honey do list made me wish of the wonderful historical times where the Ellen O’Haras of the world were capable of managing households with hundreds of people, still existed. The  modern wife, however, always seems to need more and more help  in to dealing with today’s sophisticated world. I am not sure if we are going forward or backward?

 Many of us men tend to think that our wives are nagging us or stealing us of our personal space with their gigantic honey do lists. But believe it or not, what the wives do in managing the household (whether you cared to appreciate it or not) is nothing compared to the little list of errands she wants you to run for her. My wife’s honey do list consisted of pulling out the weeds from the driveway, a list of items she wanted me to get from the store, fixing breakfast for the kids the following morning and bringing in the plumber to fix a leak. I was flabbergasted as this was by far the longest of my wife’s honey do lists and not-so-surprisingly protested by me.

But when she explained to me this was only a part of the preparation for the family bash we were to host that weekend I had to relent. And what did she do on par with my contributions? She cooked for six hours straight, she went shopping, cleaned the entire house, brought in the long-due new curtains to go with the carpet, helped the kids with homework, fixed their beds, went for a facial and hair style  the next morning and by the time she was back, she was ready to host a huge dinner party.  I am tired even writing this.

Would it all have been possible had I refused to fulfil my wife’s honey do list? The answer surprisingly is yes. She would have made it possible somehow. But she would have been distressed and flippant and the party wouldn’t have been half as much as a success without its boisterous host, my wife

We men also tend to question every move of our women after we relented to go with the list. ‘Oh, so you want to get yourself a relaxing facial when I give up my game and take the dog for a walk?’ What men don’t understand is that any activity that relaxes beautifies or socialises our women, is a part of the package. It is more important for women to stay tuned with her social circle and keep up appearances. Any stress at home or at work will not allow her to do that and that would make any woman vulnerable to mood swings (we all know where they are directed!). So do not question your wife’s activities.

Even if you do not want to believe, it is a fact that all your wife wants is for you to show support and be there while handling household issues and is not trying to dump her responsibilities on you. I always treat (or rather chant forcefully) my wife’s honey do list as an opportunity to shower my husbandly support which wouldn’t have been possible hadn’t she made a list!  

Oh and now she want me to install new Dual Flush Toilets to save water and money…The list will never end?  Just another way to show my love :)

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How to turn green in such a commonplace problem as toilet repair?

Posted on October 19, 2009 by DualFlushKit

At  first glance it may seem as if toilet repair has no relation whatsoever to living green and being eco friendly. But if you really think about it, you would understand that most of our conventional toilet systems are wasting both water and our money.  So, since you will have to deal with toilet repairs in the near future, why not start with doing it right,  being eco friendly and saving water at the same time?

If saving water is not yet your priority but you still need to  repair your toilet you may at the same time ‘repair’ the water waste too. Moreover, there are some very affordable and easy solutions for cutting down your water and money waste. There is, for example, a Dual Flush conversion kit, which installed on your toilet can help you to significantly cut down your money waste and start saving water for all of the future generations.

It takes only about half an hour and as little as $30 dollars to install a dual flush conversion kit.  This simple kit will help you start living green without reducing your home comfort and without your family having to change life habits, which can be a very tiresome task.

Thinking and living green can be easier, more affordable and even profitable, find good solutions and make the change.  Do that repair right this time and make the green choice,  you will be proud, I promise

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Green lifestyle. Fly back in time for a Greener World

Posted on October 16, 2009 by DualFlushKit

While lifestyle changes are hardly welcome in one’s life, many people today are realising the drastic effects of pollution and other ‘side affects’ of human civilization on the present world and are changing their previous uncaring ways to those that constitute a greener lifestyle so that the generations that to come can live in the same habitable world they have been provided with.

The ancient Chinese civilizations that preceded us by millenniums have realised the fact that humans as an entity are capable of destructing the wonderful equilibrium of nature that makes life possible. That is exactly the reason that they chose to live a life in perfect harmony with Mother Nature. Their lifestyle today is referred to as the feng-shui lifestyle that involved balancing the energy forms of trees, hills and rivers with the human constructions and farms.

You can adopt a green lifestyle too by bringing in simple feng-shui practises into your everyday life. You can contribute to a greener world by simply subduing or eliminating the effects you cause on your environment.

Start with de-cluttering your home. Over the years we tend to accumulate several things in our homes that we never use and keep buying new stuff though you do not need. Things that you do not need should be sent to be recycled. One of the basic principles of feng-shui to harmonise with the environment is to have as much space around you as possible. Your living quarters especially should not be cluttered with useless stuff that absorbs your energy from reaching the environment.

Now that you have gotten yourself rid of all those plastic, wood and fibre items you never use, now reach into your cupboard and pull out all the clothes you do not wear. There are plenty of charitable organisations for you to donate your old and usable clothes.

Remember that following a green lifestyle means every tiny detail of your life must be environmental friendly. Most of the world’s junk is plastic that is used in packaging of almost any kind of product. Always remember you do not need more plastic in your life! Swear to yourself that if you see yourself using one more of those plastic bags you will give up ice cream or any such favourite item or habit! Always carry a bag when you go grocery shopping. Pack your lunch in reusable containers rather than disposable foil that is non bio degradable. Minimise the use of disposable containers unless it is for health purposes. Check out the latest eco friendly products available in the market be it a soap or a cleaning product and buy them!  

Remember that de-cluttering the space around you, gives you more positive energy and recycling so much stuff provides the environment with better energy as well. This is how a green lifestyle on the lines of ancient feng-shui principles works.

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What if I ask you to choose fun or save money: Don’t! Do both

Posted on October 15, 2009 by DualFlushKit

When the month is drawing to a close and you are finding your pockets empty and wondering, ‘where did all the money go?’ you might want to remember one catch word—fun. Young or old, male or female, regardless of the time and place and several other constraints, tend to lean back and let go of all other worries as long as they are having fun. If you are having a problem with overspending, then you should probably check into the expenditures of your fun nights!

To save money while the intention is to have fun would hold back a lot of people from enjoying the occasion properly and they also end up spending for no reason.  A few precautions before you join those friends out on the town and few reminders to self while going about your usual business of having a quality time with friends or partners will save you a lot of trouble later.

First thing you have to do to save money on a fun night is to leave your credit cards behind and take only cash with you. ‘I’ll have champagne. What’s the big deal? Credit cards in my pocket.’ This is one option you cannot give yourself.

We all do the same thing while waiting for our friends. No we do not take a stroll on the street and come back a few minutes later. We do not even check out the new exciting exhibit right on the top floor of the building. We go straight to the bar and order ourselves a drink. Avoid this. Communication is more perfect in these days. Use your cell phones to arrive at the same time as your friends!

Always remember the case where you might not get a ride home because the last bus is off by the time you’ve had enough of your night. So arrange your transport issues in advance rather than relying on getting home ‘somehow’, because that somehow is usually an expensive ride in a taxi.

To save money would be a true adventure, if you have a penchant for pub hopping, visit the cheaper nightclubs first. If you opt for a posh place, which is above your general budget, you will likely end up spending a bulk of your money on a single drink and zero fun. Start with your regular hangouts and then visit the more expensive places because then you will most likely spend less on fun-stuff because you already had a lot of it.

When you are with a big group you spend a lot on principle. But also remember that as a group you are valued customers to the restaurant and can demand group discounts. So keep a look out for offers on the menu as well and tune your eye to spot anything close to ‘discount’ in order to save money when you are out with your friends.

Save money at home with green products like Dual Flush Conversion Kits, Low Flow showerheads, eco friendly light bulbs and other green products

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Make Saving Water Your New Hobby!

Posted on October 14, 2009 by DualFlushKit

Although people in sparse areas might have the luxury to use water to their hearts’ content, in urban areas, it is a fact of life that water is scarce and bills are high. Household awareness to save water can help significantly improve the fresh water resources of the planet. Keeping in mind, one’s objective to save water, a few changes, additions or deletions to one’s lifestyle will significantly work towards one’s cause.

There are several bathroom appliances that significantly decrease the water flow from your taps, showers and toilets. Take the dual flush toilet for example which has two levers, one for liquid wastes releasing a smaller amount of water and the other for a full flush. Your first step to save water would be to install some of these water saving appliances in your bathroom.

Some people have a tendency to be extra clean or a simple habit of washing everything twice before use, etc. if you are one of those, remember that washing that dish in the sink twice is the same as washing it once. Also, all your clothes do not necessarily get dirty after a single use. You do not have to wash unsoiled clothes, it just shortens the life.   Realise yourself if you have the compulsory habit of washing every dress you wore as you can use it two or even three time before a wash. This will help your clothes stay fresher and newer for longer as well as helping you save water.

Every house has a roof and every time it rains the water is architecturally headed for the ground. Collect that rain water and store it in large containers. You can use this water to water your plants, fill the pool, wash your car and many other cool projects.

Another way to ensure that you are saving water as well as maintaining a healthy garden is for you to water your plants in the morning. When you water your plants in the afternoons or the evenings when the ground is hot, some of the water tends to evaporate before it is absorbed by the soil. Avoid this waste by being a morning person!

Many simple things like giving a bath to your pets in used bathwater rather than filling a whole new tub, rising equally pretty, but less water demanding desert plants, reusing the  water you used for washing (not the soapy water of course) to water your plants, avoiding baths in a tub and sticking to quick showers, getting organic mulch for your garden so that your soil will stay moist and would not need as much watering, etc. are simple and healthy ways for you to ensure that you consistently save water.

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How urgent the draught problem and its solutions are to you?

Posted on October 10, 2009 by DualFlushKit

Even though to most of us draught may seem like something out of our place and time, because we have plenty of fresh water for all our daily needs, the fact is that 38 States of America presently are coping with draught problems! Moreover, many ecology experts believe that the biggest future deficit would not be oil and gas shortage, but rather fresh water deficiency.

 

So, draught problem may already be, figuratively speaking, standing at your door step and providing yourself with timely and effective draught solutions might be the best thing to do. In this respect any means used for preventing water waste can present excellent draught problem solutions.

 

And, it is quite unquestionable that Dual Flush toilet conversion kit represents one of such efficient and simple draught solutions. Dual Flush Kit can be easily and quickly installed on most of the old type toilets, which allows saving much of the wasted water you use up for your home sanitary needs.  

 

Installing Dual Flush conversion kit can help your family to be eco friendly and environmentally responsible, without having to change your life habits, without spending a fortune on new technologies or equipment and what is more, it even helps you to cut down significantly your water expenses.

 

Thus, as you may see, such simple technologies as Dual Flush can help you to be prepared for coping with draught problem and for turning it out of “your doors” before it really becomes an urgent issue for you.

 

2. How to turn green such a commonplace problem as toilet repair?

 

At the first glance it may seem as if toilet repair has no relation whatsoever to living green and being eco friendly. But if you really think about it, you would understand that most of our conventional toilet flush systems are greatly over wasting both water and our money, paid for it. So, since you anyhow will have to deal with toilet repairs, why not start being eco friendly and saving water at the same time?

 

If saving water is not yet your priority, repairing your toilet you may at the same time ‘repair’ this problem, too. Moreover, that there are some very affordable and easy solutions for cutting down your water and money waste. There is, for example, a Dual Flush conversion kit, which being installed on your toilet can help you to significantly cut down your money waste and start saving flush water for you.

 

It takes only about half an hour and as much as up to $30 dollars to install it, but it will help you start living green without reducing your home comfort or without you and your family having to change your life habits, which can be a very tiresome task.

 

Thinking and living green can be easier, more affordable and even profitable, if you can find good solutions for it.

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Drought,No Clean Cars in Sight

Posted on October 9, 2009 by DualFlushKit

Dried out lawns and unwashed cars are now a reality for people living in metropolitan cities, thanks to the water shortage crisis that is now a part of their everyday lives. With no signs of things getting better and people paying for every gsllon of water they consume, it is now a smart idea to save water and more importantly harvest rainwater in order to have more water at hand to expend luxuriously.
While most of us just give in and adapt to a lifestyle that has many restrictions or pay a hefty sum of money to indulge in the comfort of using water unreservedly, there are some who with a little effort save the rain water and in turn even money. Our ancestors probably collected all the rain water pelting down their roofs and used it for everyday needs. Man evolved and discovered plumbing which put this out method to rest. We are now just going back to our roots, only not in such a crude fashion. We now have sophisticated technologies to help us battle the drought.
The over expenditure of clean water by man has led to this new-age drought. Except for drinking, cooking and a few other essentials, pure and portable water shouldn’t be used. Less than 40 percent of the water we daily consume requires being clean water. The rest 60 percent could be water acquired through indigenous methods such as rain water harvesting. This would be lower water bills every month.
Drought in the life of a metropolitan citizen can be paralyzing. Water being released by the municipality at a certain time of the day only can cause inconvenience and upset the entire day. Having water at our disposal can lessen the strain and help us combat the urban chaos. This method of harvesting the rain water is actually environment-friendly as it helps prevent soil erosion and also stops other pollutants and toxic by-products from our homes from entering the public water table.
There are some other ways of battling drought such as desalination of sea water in which the sea water is treated to lose its salty nature which could be used later for consumption or irrigation. Another method is the recycling of sewage water, which after being treated or purified can be used for irrigation’s purpose. Drought monitoring and adding a few reasonable water restrictions are also sensible steps not only to avoid drought, but also because humanity is soon realizing that pure, potable water is an exhaustible resource and hence very dear to man!

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