Green is more than the color of our brand.
| Fact 1 |
At Symmons, our shower valve bodies are constructed from a casting made of bronze alloy material. The main component of bronze is copper, and the casting foundry uses copper scrap. One of the sources for this material is in the form of radiators from scrapped cars, as feed stock. The energy impact to recycle material is significantly less than the energy required to mine and process the new material from the earth. The use of recycled bronze greatly reduces our carbon footprint and the need to mine new material. With Symmons, you are choosing a valve that has less of an impact on the environment. |
| Fact 2 |
For over 15 years, Symmons has been recycling 100% of all of the metal chips used in the production of its valves. After machining the shower valve, Symmons collects the brass, bronze and stainless steel chips and re-melts them back into their respective bar stock for further processing into various component parts for our showers and faucets. This decreases our dependence on virgin material, thus lessening our impact on the environment. |
| Fact 3 |
At current federally mandated maximum flow rates a standard showerhead flows 2.5GPM, and a standard lavatory faucet is 2.2GPM. Symmons can reduce this amount to as low as 1.5GPM for showers and .5GPM for lavatory faucets. These flow rates can contribute to the achievement of the maximum LEED Water Efficiency credits. Symmons can offer energy and water saving flow restrictors to meet any of your design needs. |
| Fact 4 |
At Symmons, all water that goes out of our plant is free of contaminants. 100% of the factory water flowing out to waste water treatment has been specially treated so as to exceed state and local requirements for discharge. |
| Fact 5 |
In the plating room, Symmons switched from a cyanide strike to an acid strike for lower EPA footprint. This more eco-friendly chroming process reduces the dependence on hazardous processing materials without compromising on the quality of the end product. |
| Fact 6 |
Each of the half million valves Symmons ships annually comes with a plaster shield that’s readily recyclable. |
| Fact 7 |
All of our packaging is made from 50% recycled content, and we recycle 100% of all cardboard that comes into our company. Symmons has partnered with the packaging manufacturer to recycle all cardboard material from incoming shipments. All cardboard is baled in Symmons’ facilities and then sent to our packaging manufacturer for processing. During the past three month Symmons has removed 31.5 tons of corrugated material from the waste stream returning the material directly into the recycling process. |
| Fact 8 |
Starting in May 2007, Symmons’ energy saving project reduced the energy consumption by 380,000 kWh in its main manufacturing facility and by 76,873 kWh in its corporate headquarter. This included converting all factory lighting and office lighting from sodium halide to high efficiency fluorescent. Overall, the project helped to decrease air pollution and environmental damage by the following amount each year: 1,087,728 pounds of Carbon Dioxide, 4,035 pounds of Sulfur Dioxide and 8,749 pounds of nitrogen oxides. |
| Fact 9 |
Symmons is working with Direct Demand to reduce power consumption when the consumer demand of energy is at the highest. Symmons will reduce the energy consumption by 400 kW when called upon. We are also investigating renewable resources that can further drive down our power and gas consumption. |
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