Justin Wilson has been specifying ultra-low-flow showerheads for more than three years. But his biggest surprise when comparing water-efficient fixtures to typical builder-grade showerheads is that there is no surprise at all.
"Most people don't know the difference," says the president of Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Building Performance Solutions, a building science consulting firm. Perhaps the pattern of water is a little different or less water goes down the drain, but most homeowners think they're just getting the regular showerhead, he says. "It's a showerhead," he states. "It works."
That seemingly mundane statement reveals just how far water-efficient showerheads have come from the days when the low-flow experience felt more like a trickle than a refreshing, drenching flow. These days, manufacturers are providing a satisfying experience with a lower flow than the standard 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm), and some even offer styling options that match a variety of bath hardware.
Go Low
The move to ultra-low-flow shower fixtures is particularly imperative in areas like Colorado and the Southwest, where water conservation is critical, Wilson says. Not only is water there relatively scarce, many homes in those regions use solar hot water systems, which are most cost-effective when the homeowner uses less hot water. It's a growing necessity elsewhere, as well, as anyone living in northern Georgia, which declared a drought emergency last year, can attest.
What's more, water utility rates and energy costs to heat water are going up every year, points out Rob Zimmerman, senior staff engineer for water conservation initiatives at Kohler. "Water is going to get more expensive," he says. "People are looking for more options to use less water in their homes."
Despite water-supply issues, few locales mandate showerhead flow rates lower than the national standard of 2.5 gpm. But environmentally savvy builders and organizations are starting to take notice. The EPA's WaterSense program, which already labels high-efficiency toilets and bathroom sink faucets and which some manufacturers believe will become the industry standard, is developing a specification for high-efficiency showerheads that should be released this year. Manufacturers believe the standard could be anywhere from 1.3 to 2.0 gpm.
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED for Homes program allocates certification points for showerheads that operate at 2.0 gpm or less, and additional points for "very high efficiency" showerheads that operate at 1.5 gpm or less. The NAHB's Model Green Home Building Guidelines also provide points for low-flow shower fixtures.
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