Bathroom featuring the Toto Washlet bidet toilet

Go Green With High Efficiency Products

March 9, 2022

Sustainability is a key concept in the global need to go green. Some say it’s currently “on trend.” We say it’s much more than that. As the United Nations’ Brundtland Report stated in 1987, the path to sustainability meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. For most of us, that translates more simply into using—and wasting—less energy in our homes.

Thankfully, new high-efficiency home innovations are making it easier than ever to cut energy costs and limit energy waste. The focus is on ensuring every bit of energy that we use really counts. Every choice we make is an opportunity to do a little better. If you’re ready to go greener at home, check out these four products that maximize savings to get you started.

1. TOTO Washlet

Sanitary, efficient and tasteful, the TOTO Washlet bidet demonstrates what can be achieved when innovative engineering and attention to detail raise an everyday object to a whole new level of standards. Each feature of the Washlet begins with the concept of providing exactly what is needed or wanted when you want it so that you need less of everything—toilet paper, water and cleaning products.

The TOTO Washlet has made toilet performance a scientific process. The bowl pre-mists prior to use. Then, instead of toilet paper, at the touch of a button, a warm stream of water personalized to your temperature preference, force and pattern gently cleanses you—“using less than a half-pint of water.” Once you’re clean, a warm air dryer ensures you’re dry again. Meanwhile, the optimized flush takes it all away with just the right amount of water—as little as 0.8 or 1.28 gallons per flush. The Washlet even deodorizes and sanitizes itself post-use with TOTO EWATER+. And when you do give the Washlet that inevitable periodic cleaning, the smooth single-piece design makes it easy to keep the bowl spotless.

Sustainability Factors for the TOTO Washlet:

Eliminates the need for toilet paper
Efficiency flushes reduce water consumption
Self-cleaning features eliminate the need for harsh chemicals

2. Siemens VersiCharge AC Electric Vehicle Charger

Siemens has been developing and fine tuning chargers for electric vehicles—EVs—for nearly a decade now. With a focus on fast, safe and efficient home charging stations that meet consumers’ needs and expectations, the VersiCharge AC electric vehicle charger is in its third generation. It’s tailored to deliver everything you want in a home EV charger, and it makes owning an EV and keeping it road-ready easy and safe.

The VersiCharge delivers up to 11.5 kW of AC power, able to charge any standard electric vehicle within range of its slender 20-foot charging cable. The blend of sturdy design and sleek aesthetics means you can install it inside or outside of your home. All you need is a secure wall or post and access to a back-end power source. While residential units offer embedded energy metering accurate within one percent, commercial-grade units are also scalable and can even interface with building management systems to adjust with energy load demands.

The VersiCharge smart residential charger is safe, easy to use and secure. Integrated safety features include ground fault protection, over voltage protection and over current protection. LED indicators on the unit alert you to its connectivity status, whether the panel is locked and to remote control operation. Status LEDs signal system power, vehicle connection status, charging power and fault indications. User authentication is done via RFID. Meanwhile, the mobile app makes it easy to monitor, schedule or even activate everything from your phone.

Sustainability Factors for the Siemens VersiCharge Electric Vehicle Charger:

At-home charging makes the transition to EVs easier
Embedded metering lets you know exactly how much power is being used
The mobile app lets you schedule and customize charging
Scalability in commercial units lets you add subordinate charging units to serve a multi-EV household
The ability to interface with building management systems can balance energy loads during high-use timeframes

3. Moen Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff

Yes, you can monitor and even control the amount of water used in your home. That’s what the Moen Flo Smart Water security system is all about. In fact, you can know 24/7 everything that is happening in your home that is water-related—including leaks and overflows. Moen’s system uses two components to create a home water security system: its Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff and its easy-to-use mobile app.

The Moen Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff is a smart valve. Simply install the Moen Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff on your home’s main water supply line. Then, download the Moen Flo mobile app on your phone. You’ll be able to monitor the amount of water used as well as flow rates, pressure and temperature in real time. The app will alert you when anything exceeds normal parameters and give you the ability to shut the water off from wherever you are. If you’re not available, the smart shutoff is designed to operate independently to avoid catastrophic water damage and will shut off the water for you.

Meanwhile, for daily use, the dashboard app lets you see historical data and set goals for your home’s water consumption all while giving you the peace of mind that all is well and that an unexpected, outrageous water bill is not in your future.

Sustainability Factors for the Moen Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff:

- It’s one single smart water valve
- It records your home water use, allowing monitoring and review
- The emergency shutoff makes catastrophic water damage and leaks things of the past

4. Owens Corning Insulation

Air movement is the primary cause of energy loss in a home, and properly installed quality insulation is the primary strategy for stopping both air movement and energy loss. An industry leader in home insulation solutions, Owens Corning manufactures and distributes a wide range of fiberglass insulation, mineral wool insulation and rigid foam board insulation products as well as their companion specialty, accessory and installation products. From its Pink Next Gen FIBERGLAS line and the Thermafiber mineral wool to the FOAMULAR group of rigid and preformed specialty insulations, Owens Corning is determined to create and manufacture the new standard for every application.

Owens Corning even has a High Performance Pink Certified Home badge — confirmation that the home is built to go beyond basic energy efficiency requirements. High Performance Pink homes must be more efficient, meeting or exceeding R value benchmarks and window values. Building to High Performance Pink standards can result in average savings of 15 percent for heating and cooling costs and a reduction in noise transmission of up to 45 percent. Key components of High Performance Pink certification include wall and attic insulation, energy-efficient windows and doors, air sealing and continuous exterior insulation.

Sustainability Factors for Owens Corning Insulation:

A properly installed insulation envelope blocks air movement, keeping homes warm in winter and cool in summer
Insulation reduces the consumption of energy needed for HVAC systems
Since HVAC systems don’t have to work as hard in properly insulated homes, they often last longer

Make Sustainability a Lifestyle at Coburn’s

Manufacturers are more aware than ever of the need to produce home products you can feel good about choosing and using every day, and we enjoy helping you find them. If taking a greener approach to making your home more comfortable, beautiful and efficient appeals to you, Coburn’s Kitchen & Bath Showroom is a great place to start exploring. Check out our inventory online or stop by a Coburn’s Kitchen & Bath Showroom near you to find products that will make your home, wallet and the Earth happy.

SOURCES:

U.N. Definition

https://en.unesco.org/themes/education-sustainable-development/what-is-esd/sd#:~:text=The%20concept%20of%20sustainable%20development,to%20meet%20their%20own%20needs.%E2%80%9D

TOTO Washlet

https://washlet.totousa.com/

https://washlet.totousa.com/product/aquia-reg-iv-washlet-reg-c2-one-piece-toilet-1-28-gpf-0-8-gpf

https://washlet.totousa.com/benefits

https://www.totousa.com/about-toto/living-toto-library/sustainably-recycling-porcelain

https://www.totousa.com/about-toto/living-toto-library/made-americas-sold-americas

https://www.toto.com/en/washletplus/sustainability/index.htm

Siemens Versicharge Electric Vehicle Charger

https://new.siemens.com/us/en/products/energy/topics/transportation-electrification/versicharge-ac-series/versicharge-ac-series-residential.html