Fact Sheet»

Description

Although mandated by code, selection of a reliable low flow toilet is critical to continued affordability, by ensuring fewer costs due to repair. The impact of energy savings from low flow faucets and showers can not be overemphasized as a simple and inexpensive win-win, saving energy and water with an immediate payback. The following identifies and makes recommendations on the economic, energy, and environmental implications water fixtures.

Recommendations

The following recommendations are for water fixtures intend for indoor water use:

• Use low flow toilets. 1.5 gallons per flush (gpf)
• Use low-flow kitchen faucets. 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm)
• Use lavatory faucets with flow restrictors for a maximum rate of .5 gpm
• Use low-flow showerheads. 2.0 gpm

Water Consumption Comparison Charts

Criteria Summaries

Cost: The lack of performance of low-flow toilets since mandated by Congress has resulted in continued product scrutiny and enhanced performance at all price levels. To ensure good water conservation is a result of these requirements, high quality fixtures should be used. Model options utilizing vacuum assisted, pressure assisted, or gravity toilets are available with a minimal first cost increase of $50 to $75 per unit. They can dramatically reduce water use by eliminating double flushing and have a payback of five to ten years. Aerating and low-flow shower heads and faucets have minimal increase in first cost and are widely available.

Energy: A low flow rate on faucets and showers reduces energy consumption associated with water heating and have an almost immediate payback on the minimal additional cost of installing aerating heads. A low-flow shower head for example which reduces water flow from 2.5 gpm to 1.5 gpm saves 35% annually on energy and water consumption. A home with an electric water heater could save $60 annually or $600 over a ten year period. A natural gas water heater could save $30 annually or $300 dollars in ten years.

Water: Water consumption is dramatically effected by installation of low flow fixtures. Reducing faucet flow rates from 2.2 gpm to 1.5 gpm leads to a savings of over 5000 gallons of water annually under normal use. Similiarly, shower heads with reduced flow rates from 2.5 gpm to 1.5 gpm use 40% less water saving up to 7300 gallons a year.

Environmental Context

Building construction and operation draw heavily on water from the environment. Most of the earth's water is located in oceans and is too salty for residential, commercial or industrial use. Only about 0.003 percent of earth's water is readily available as fresh water for human use (Miller, 1992). Building material manufacturing, construction and operation consume 16 percent of available fresh water annually. This does not reflect the impact of the building industry on the quality of water. Growth in urban water use is lowering water tables and necessitating large projects that siphon supplies away from agriculture. Since the turn of century, the worldwide municipal use of water has grown 19 times and industrial use has grown 26 times. In contrast, agricultural use has increased only 5 times (Worldwatch Institute, 1999).