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.
Enhancing the Experience
The challenge, manufacturers say, is to give consumers the experience they expect while using less water. "There are quite a lot of options to reduce the flow rate of the showerhead and still have the showerhead have a good flow and feel good," says Michelle Troconis, product director of shower systems for American Standard. At their most basic, the technologies fall into two categories: those that change the shape or pattern of the spray nozzles and water droplets, and those that aerate the spray.
Hansgrohe's 1.6-gpm EcoAir system, for example, uses air-injection technology to suck air into the showerhead, which "helps boost the volume of the droplets coming out of the shower, so it feels like you're getting more volume then you actually are," explains marketing communications director Jason McClain. "It's the size of the water droplets that make it feel like you get more water."
Introducing air into the stream can sometimes reduce the temperature of the spray, however, causing the user to turn up the temperature to compensate. So other manufacturers are manipulating the shape or pattern of the flow. Delta's H2Okinetic technology, for example, channels water so that each stream oscillates left and right, says Paul Patton, senior product development manager for Delta. "Now the whole area is filled with water, so you feel like you're getting blanketed with water."
Water Wary
While manufacturers say there is no need to sacrifice performance to save water, consumers who were dissatisfied with earlier low-flow technologies aren't rushing to try the newer products, says American Standard's Troconis. "They've already had some kind of experience with a low-flow showerhead, and it wasn't a good one," she explains.
Even plumbers who haven't had any problems can be wary because their customers aren't used to them. "It's not that they don't perform well," says Gary Kozan, co-owner of Ridgeway Plumbing in Boynton Beach, Fla., who has installed low-flow showerheads in multifamily units and a few single-family homes. "If the water flow is a little less than what they're used to, then they think something's wrong. It concerns me because I don't like getting callbacks." He says his builder clients often feel similarly: "They didn't want to hear the complaints."
Consumers also may be thrown off by the appearance of some low-flow showerheads, which can have as few as four holes in the face. "People are saying, 'Am I going to get enough water out of this?'" Patton says.
Meanwhile, some manufacturers haven't offered a broad range of designs, but that's set to change with a slate of new high-style choices coming out this year.
Kohler, for example, says it will offer high-efficiency fixtures similar in shape and style to its FortÉ showerhead, which has long, concave curves and a wider face, and its Stillness showerhead, which has a sharper, minimalist look. American Standard already offers low-flow fixtures in three styles and four finishes, but Troconis predicts a push to offer a variety of designs, just as the company does in its shower systems line.
As for cost, most manufacturers offer their more-efficient products at the same price or with a small premium to their 2.5-gpm fixtures, and utility companies in some water-conscious areas are giving away low-flow fixtures. It appears that saving water is one example of how it doesn't always cost more to go green. -- BUILDING PRODUCTS
Safety Valve
Switching to an ultra-low-flow showerhead seems like an easy way for a homeowner to go green and save money on water bills, but pros need to be aware of the plumbing behind the scenes, specifically the mixing valve. The valves, which usually include a regulator that minimizes any changes in temperature, are designed to work at a minimum flow rate, explains Kohler's Rob Zimmerman; if the showerhead is operating at a very low flow, the valve may not be able to handle changes in hot or cold water pressure, causing those bursts of scalding or freezing water that bathers detest.
The valve probably is not an issue for many 2.5-gpm showerheads, but at some point well below 2.0 gpm, temperature swings can be a problem. "We don't know what exactly that point is," Zimmerman says, adding that research is underway to find out. In the meantime, installers should play it safe. "They need to talk with the [manufacturer] and follow their recommended guidelines," Zimmerman says.
Resources
H2ouse: Calculate water budgets and investigate other water-saving opportunities.
www.h2ouse.org
LEED for Homes:
www.usgbc.org/leed/homes
NAHB's Model Green Home Building Guidelines:
www.nahb.org/gbg
WaterSense: Find labeled products and learn more about water-saving technologies.
www.epa.gov/watersense
