With environmental concerns becoming a major issue in this country, many people wish to "do their part" in water conservation and other "green" issues. But does installing water saving devices really have an effect on the environment? Advertisers are constantly telling consumers that not only do water saving devices help conserve water, they will also save the consumer money by lowering their energy bills. But is that really true? Here is a breakdown of some common water saving devices and whether or not they live up to their advertised expectations.
Low flow showerheads are commonly touted as the first step towards a water conserving house. In the past a low flow head simply meant that the water was constricted and therefore trickled out. Manufacturers have improved the current designs however and many now combine air with the water to keep the pressure higher and make it seem as though you are getting your typical amount of water. The standard showerhead uses an average of five to eight gallons per minute. A shower head that just meets Federal requirements for conservation drops that average to two and a half gallons per minute. That means for a normal ten minute shower you are saving fifty-five gallons with a low flow showerhead. Clearly a "green" shower head does conserve water, but does it save you money? The annual water cost for a regular shower head averages from $50 to over $100 depending on how much your water rate is. The annual savings from a low flow shower head? $20 to $60. Low flow showerheads come in many different price ranges, but you can find good models in the $25 range. Clearly water conserving showerheads are not only good for conserving water, but also for saving you money.
A typical toilet uses around four gallons of water every time you flush compared with a low flow model which uses only 1.6 gallons. So how much water does that mean you'll save? Since toilets use an estimated 27% of household water you'll save an average of 76 gallons a day with the lower flow toilet. So you'll conserve a lot of water. But what about the cost? Are low flow toilets really worth it? The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average homeowner will save $90 a year on water costs by switching to a low flow toilet. Some localities encourage homeowners to make the switch by providing tax breaks, vouchers, or rebates as well. "The city of Austin, Texas, for example, gives residents up to three HETs for free, though there is a modest fee for certain design features, such as an elongated bowl or a seat that meets the ADA-required height of 17 inches." Because they use such a high percentage of a family's overall shower Timer Products for Sale USA, water conserving toilets are the way to go green.
