You have a lot to consider when choosing a toilet. You’re probably thinking about how it looks, how comfortable it is, and its quality of construction.  Those are important things to consider, but we’d like to bring up another: environmental impact.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “the average family can save 13,000 gallons of water and $130 in water costs per year by replacing all old, inefficient toilets”, 13,000 gallons of water is a lot, and a pretty heroic act to attach to your toilet purchase! Here’s everything you need to know to find an eco-friendly toilet that works for you.

Search for toilets that have the EPA’s WaterSense label

Older varieties of a toilet can use between three and seven gallons of water per flush. Modern varieties of eco-friendly toilets, meanwhile, get down to as little as a single gallon per flush. If a toilet uses this small amount, it will qualify for a WaterSense label from the EPA. To get this label, a toilet has to use 20 percent less water than the current federal standard, which is 1.6 gallons per flush. The WaterSense label will be your first sign that a toilet is worth its weight in water savings.

Know the difference between low-flow and dual-flush

A low-flow toilet is a toilet specifically designed to use as little water as possible for every single flush. According to national standards, they need to use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush. Dual-flush toilets take the idea of low-flow ones but refine it even further. They offer a flush with two button options – one for flushing liquid waste, which uses an incredibly low amount of water (0.8 gallons on average) and one for flushing solid waste, which uses the traditional, “low-flow” 1.6 gallons.

Look into eco-friendly toilet brands

There are a number of great – and stylish – low-flow and dual-flush eco-friendly toilet options available on the market today. There’s the sleek white, dual-flush Kohler Persuade Toilet, The American Standard Clean High-Efficiency Elongated Two-Piece Toilet that has the high marks from the EPA’s WaterSense program, or even the Duravit Starck Toilet with both jets and low-flow properties. We encourage you to do more research about the brand that best fits your needs.

When you decide to install an eco-friendly toilet in your home or business, don’t hesitate to call on the experts at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Dallas in Dallas, TX for the best in quick, easy installation.