Water Efficient Bathroom Fixtures
Stepping Up to the Energy Plate
Energy efficiency, especially as it relates to water conservation, is at the forefront of energy and cost-saving measures undertaken by the federal government. The 2006 WaterSense program initiated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aims to make water-efficient products available for consumers at home and to reduce national water consumption.
With the earth's supply of fresh water being consumed at faster rates than it can be naturally replenished, the bath industry is stepping up to the plate. Developing entire lines of water-efficient fixtures - i.e. toilets, urinals, showers, and faucets - these modern bathroom utilities are also packed with performance and add a splash of style to your bathroom décor.
Water-Conserving Bathroom Products
Look for the following high-efficiency innovations from the bathroom fixture industry:
•- Low-Flow Toilets that flush as little as 1.28 gallons of water per flush or that meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) water conservation requirements of 1.6 gallons per flush. Many of these products are also non-plunge, non-clog toilets with bulk removal capacities of 1,000g
•- Low-Water and Ultra-Low Water Urinals, which boast 1.5 gallons per flush (GPF), as well as Zero Water Urinals, which are part of the future generation of water-conserving bathroom products
•- High-tech showerheads that don't exceed American National Standards Institute codes (ANSI codes) of 2.5 gallons GPM but that are able to deliver a mere 1.5 GPM. Attaching to any standard shower arm, you can now control water flow while shampooing or shaving your legs, and reduce water flow to a mere trickle while your bath/shower water warms up.
•- Bathroom faucets that use 40% less water than conventional faucets, providing you water cost savings of 25%-60%. There are now several options that allow you to control the amount of pressure and water coming out of the faucet. Some common bathroom water-efficient bathroom faucets include:
•1) Metered Valve Faucets, which shut off automatically once a designated amount of water is dispensed from the tap once the flow meter says enough water was used.
•2) Self-Closing Faucets, which automatically shut off after a preset amount of time
•3) Infra-Red Faucets, or hand-free faucets which turn on/off when they sense the presence/non-presence of a hand or object
•4) Low-Flow Aerator Faucets, which mix water and air to increase water flow pressure.
Balancing Substance and Style
Being highly functional doesn't mean modern bathroom fixtures aren't equally high in fashion. Today's bathroom fixtures are sleek, sophisticated, and bursting with style. Not only are they built to last, but contemporary toilets, urinals, showers, and faucets are practically maintenance free and look beautiful too. Featuring minimalist designs, chrome finishes, bold lines, and ergonomic curves, and seamless styles, modern bathrooms have never before been so appealing to the eye.
Moreover, most energy-efficient products come with a three to 10-year warranty, placing a gold stamp guarantee on function and finish.