How Low Can You Flow? How to Create an Energy-Efficient Bathroom
(Page 2 of 3)
July/August 2003
By Carol Steinfeld
Waterless urinals are another easy water-saving solution. These feature seals that allow urine to drain without water or odors. Prices start at $350.
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Composting toilets, which biologically process excreta, are usually chosen by property owners with environmentally sensitive sites or limited water. Generally, there are two types. Self-contained units, in which the toilet seat and the composter are one unit, sit on the floor and are generally best for occasional use, such as in cottages or cabins. Under-floor or “central” units feature a toilet stool in the bathroom that drains to a large-capacity composter underneath. Composting toilets are used with one-pint-flush, foam-flush, urine-diverting toilets, as well as dry toilet stools. In many states, they allow owners to reduce the size of their septic drainfields. Prices range from $770 for a self-contained model to $4,500 for an under-floor model.
Showerheads and faucet aerators
Showerheads and faucet aerators pressurize tap water flow and mix it with air to produce a stream that quickly wets and rinses but uses about 70 percent less water. These attach to the tap end of faucets and can reduce flow to as little as 0.5 gallons per minute (gpm).
A showerhead rated at 1.8 gpm at 50 psi (nearly half the national standard) can give a satisfying water-saving shower. Choose one with a shut-off valve so you turn off the flow while soaping up. Try several at the same flow rate to find one you like, and return the rest.
A Rainshow’r chlorine-filtering low-flow showerhead ($49) will also protect skin from drying chlorine.
On-demand water heaters
Gallons of water run down the drain while we wait for hot water—often two to three gallons per shower. Multiply that by the number of people in your household, and that can add up to thousands of gallons per year.
Increasingly, builders are placing water heaters closer to where they’re needed so warm water is available immediately and heat is not lost along the way. Consider installing small five- to ten-gallon hot water heaters closer to bathrooms.
On-demand or “tankless” hot water heaters, commonly used in other countries, heat water when and where it’s needed for an endless supply. Prices for a small system start at $180.
Or, capture the heat of the hot water as it runs down the drain. Hot water recirculators ($1,000 installed) constantly circulate hot water through pipes from the heater to the farthest fixture, so the water is always hot, and no water is wasted waiting for the flow to warm up. (Be sure to insulate pipes and consider adding a timer, so circulation starts only during showers.)