Recycled for lasting value

This educational video was produced by Team Stainless (www.teamstainless.org), a network of associations in the stainless steel, chromium, nickel and molybdenum industries. This short video offers a brief synopsis on the value of stainless steel, including its beauty, durability and recyclability, which make it the ideal material for a wide variety of applications.

Sustainable Commercial Plumbing Solutions

ACORN ENGINEERING COMPANY manufactures products made from 80 percent recycled stainless steel; the material of choice from the company's beginning in 1954. Today, Acorn Engineering sculpts this material into products that address complex environmental issues such as water conservation and energy efficiency.

Picture a bathroom in a commercial setting containing a hand-washing basin manufactured from 80 percent recycled stainless steel, discreetly fitted with a tankless water heater and featuring the most efficient water-saving engineering possible. Add in low-flow toilets, in addition to waterless or pint-flow urinals. If the entire building employs vacuum plumbing, each fixture instead uses only 0.5 gallons per flush, and if the entire building's water use is regulated on a computer network, conservation can be specified right down to each point of use. All of these integrated, eco-friendly fixtures and systems are possible from Acorn Engineering. Whatever the vision for design, function, or environmental impact, Acorn Engineering can specify a project from start to finish.

Conserving our Liquid Assets

Acorn Engineering products contribute to LEED points in sections WE C3.1 awarded for 20 percent water use reduction, and section C3.2 awarded for 30 percent reduction.

AcornVac® provides a greener alternative to the conventional gravity plumbing system, and a remedy in situations where traditional plumbing begins to show its age or can't be readily accommodated. Vacuum plumbing is the next step in the evolution of modern plumbing. Not only is it water saving, AcornVac reduces annual water, sewage and maintenance costs, minimizes spread of bacteria, and maximizes flexibility in space planning and design.

The AcornVac Vacuum Plumbing System uses the combined energies of atmosphere and vacuum pressure to move waste through a small-diameter piping network. Using only 1/2 gallon of water per flush, the system effectively removes waste while reducing potable water consumption by as much as 68 percent. Unlike gravity drainage systems, AcornVac is installed above-ground, eliminating the risks involved when trenching and digging is risky or impossible. Plus, the system can be installed vertically or horizontally to provide flexibility in layout and architectural design, as well as a viable alternative to renovation in which a comprehensive "green" makeover may be too expensive.

Because the system works using differential air pressure, any damage to the system piping simply results in air leaking into the pipe, rather than waste leaking out, thus reducing health and safety risks. In addition, because differential air pressure is used to transport waste, there are fewer line blockages, which results in less maintenance costs and fewer disruptions. In a hospital or school setting, for instance, water-saving fixtures combined with technologies such as AcornVac create even safer environments by controlling vaporization of flush cycle and minimizing the spread of bacteria. At the same time, these integrated products and systems conserve resources and money.

Master-Trol® - Conservation Control

With the Master-Trol® system, each valve in every fixture can be controlled via a network of computers for calculated water savings. Master-Trol enables the user to set the number of flushes, for instance, or specify when and for how long a water faucet is to remain active. Just as a key in a hotel room can activate electricity for lights, Acorn valve-control systems activate water flow. Flooding and water waste is prevented, resulting in a safer, more water conscious plumbing system.

Water-Saving Toilets and Urinals

Acorn toilets are compatible with any possibility of flush valve, with no special tools or adaptation required. Whether a 1.28-gpf High Efficiency Toilet or used in conjunction with AcornVac for a 0.5-gallon flush, toilets from Acorn Engineering are easily integrated into a building's plans for water conservation. Additionally, many feature an In-Wall Cistern Style Flush System, which minimizes water use by allowing users to select either 1.6 or 0.8-gallons, for an average of 1.2 gallons per flush.

The Acorn High-Efficiency Urinal is similar to our other stainless steel bathroom fixtures, with its sleek industrial-chic simplicity and flexibility for water-savings. Featuring a 0.125 Pint Flow rate, this urinal features the lowest flush choice in the industry.

In addition, The Waterless Urinal has furthered Acorn's commitment to the environment by utilizing a well-known technology that does not require any water at all to flush or evacuate. Like so many other green offerings from Acorn, this system contributes to overall water conservation and points toward LEED certification. Not only does the unit save water, it also operates without the need for messy and expensive replacement liquid cartridges, therefore, no chemical cartridges are dumped into a landfill. This durable 16-gauge stainless steel product is wall mounted and can be installed to meet the American Disability Act's Standards for Accessible Design, and color powder-coated for a more custom look.

Water-Saving Basins

Acorn Meridian multiple-station basins as well as Wash-Ware® all-inclusive circular fountains offer a highly-customizable platform, for the optimal level of function, sustainability, and water savings. Units require only one plumbing connection to provide hand-washing stations in multiple basin configurations or wash stations. The result: lower installation and maintenance costs. Basins are optionally outfitted with push button metering valves, sensor-activated fixtures and a tankless water heater for quick, easy hand washing with minimal water use. Made from a recycled stainless steel material base, units provide years of trouble-free service, with an Acorn-engineered and manufactured valve design that has been in use for over 50 years.

Lead-Free, Bottle-Free Drinking Fountains

Plastic water bottles made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) can be recycled, yet only 25 percent of eligible containers ever make it to the recycling center – the rest end up in landfills. A portable source for clean drinking water is valuable in our on-the-go lifestyle, and Acorn Aqua® coolers, drinking fountains, and chillers ensure accessibility and reliability of that source. Today, a trip to the store or a walk in the park is met with the most in safety and convenience from Acorn Aqua; most products are ADA compliant, and all are litter free, since you don't even have to carry along a water bottle to get a cold drink of clean water.

Each drinking product is equipped with a 0.45 low–flow bubbler for water savings. While many other drinking fountains claim "greenspec" water–saving products as an up–sell, Acorn Aqua delivers this as standard. Best of all, water from an Acorn Aqua drinking fountain is considerably less expensive–bottled water costs about 2,900 times more than tap water. In addition, coolers and drinking fountains are made from 80 percent recycled stainless steel, for the highest level of value and durability required in high–traffic settings. Our entire line of drinking products is certified to the highest standards regarding lead levels, and our exclusive 100 percent lead free stainless steel bubbler option ensures the safest and most sustainable source for drinking water.

Chronomite® Tankless Electric Water Heaters

Chronomite® tankless electric water heaters are engineered with a specific intent in mind: to provide instant, on-demand hot water, offering eco-friendly, cost-saving gains. Chronomite was the first to patent a microprocessor technology which allows for a pre-set or controlled output temperature that delivers unlimited hot water–in two seconds as opposed to the six seconds required by other tankless water heaters.

More efficiency means less water and energy use, which is 50 percent more efficient than similar instantaneous water heaters, and 98 percent more energy efficient compared to conventional tank water heaters. The compact, easy-to install unit provides multiple hookups and endless solutions to projects with limited space and access. At only the size of a standard dictionary, Chronomite tankless water heaters are well hidden for aesthetic appeal, and easily placed within a specially designed compartment underneath hand washing systems and basins.

Material Conservation

From toilets and basins to whole bath suites, stainless steel has an industrialized modern appeal. With its clean, utilitarian form and strength, recyclable stainless steel will outlast other fixtures, and never go out of style.

Acorn Engineering Company uses 80 percent recycled stainless steel, which after use can be reclaimed and again recycled. Not only is stainless steel an ecologically responsible material, it is an economic solution: Acorn's products stand up to any building's challenge, and are less likely to need replacing. Porcelain and china are words typically associated with something fragile, breakable–not a preferred characteristic in popular settings with a lot of people. Our stainless steel products need only be installed once. This stainless steel "footprint" results in a net savings to the environment, as well as providing a long–term monetary savings for customers.

Still, functionality and durability doesn't have to look institutional. Products also come in a variety of options for an accented look to that of traditional stainless steel. Our Enviro–Glaze® powder coating option is an eco–friendly way to add a sophisticated hue to any design, and can be color–matched to a specific color. Stainless steel can also be chosen in a high–polish or satin finish, creating a wide range of looks for every discerning taste.

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