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The Water quality Association estimates that 4 out of 10Americans use a home water treatment unit.  Even though ACWD delivers high quality drinking water that meets or exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards,many individuals in the service area use their own water treatment units at home.  One of the most commonly used home water treatment units is the point-of-use filter.  These filters are commonly utilized inside a water pitcher, installed under the sink, attached to a facet or on the water/ice line for the refrigerator.

In general, home water filters can be effective at improving the taste of water, and some will also reduce lead and other contaminants.  Home water filters are made by numerous manufacturers and use a variety of filter materials.  The most common material is activated carbon.  Activated carbon is extremely porous; the pores enable the carbon to bond with contaminants and trap them.  It is important to remember that activated carbon filters must be replaced periodically because the can become plugged; once the filters adsorptive capacity is used up, no further contaminant removal occurs.  Think of it as a parking lot: once all the spots are taken no one else can park there.

As with any water treatment unit, activated carbon cannot remove all possible drivking water contaminants.  Because activated carbon systems are limited in the types of compounds they can effectively remove, it is essential that you determine what you are trying to remove before purchasing such a system.  To help determine what contaminants a given water treatment unit will remove. look for a certification from the California  Department of Public health (CDPH).  CDPD certification means that the deivce has been tested to:

1. verify the manufacturer’s health-realted performance

2. ensure the materials used within the device do no add contaminants.

This information came from the Alameda County Water District news letter.

Each manufacturer may have a different label, but one that stands out is the Energy Star designation. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created the Energy Star logo as the symbol for energy efficiency because of the direct link between wasted energy and air pollution. Manufacturers and builders voluntarily display the logo on products and new homes that meet or exceed high energy efficiency guidelines. Some of these everyday products include heaters, air conditioning units, household appliances, residential light fixtures, and new homes. The Manufactured Housing industry is proud to display this designation on its quality homes.

By implementing these standards into the construction of today’s manufactured home, consumers and builders alike can reap the benefits of energy efficient housing solutions, further emphasizing a manufactured home is not any different when it comes to energy efficiency. Manufacturers who utilize energy efficient light fixtures and appliances show that they are doing their part to help preserve and protect our precious natural resources, while offering the consumer significant savings on their utility bills. Combined with an almost 30% savings on heating, cooling and hot water, manufacturers make it possible for the consumer to afford more home, due to the lower cost per square foot that is inherent to the factory construction process.