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New low-water, dual flush toilets save on money, environment
By Lynn Welch
The Capital Times
March 22, 2007
What's the newest wave in water conservation?
High-efficiency toilets, saving 20 percent to 70 percent in
water per flush over conventional models using 1.6 gallons of
water per use.
Enter the era of the eco throne.
Part of the growing green building movement, water-saving
fixtures have recently gained new attention in the marketplace.
U.S. manufacturers have started making and marketing
high-efficiency commodes, where these fixtures were previously
produced primarily by European and Asian companies. The Kohler
Co. in Kohler is promoting several models aimed at meeting water
conservation goals set in the western U.S.
"There is a lot of excitement about the new Kohler models being
introduced," said Robin Pharo, director of the Wisconsin Green
Built Home Program, and owner of the Healthy Home Reports
consulting firm. "It's really bringing them to the mainstream
level."
More than 10 years have come and gone since the first-generation
of low-flow toilets some of which did not perform as expected
and people are ready for this product, Pharo said. Newer
domestic models also have a lower price point at around $350,
half the cost of some of the imports.
Jake and Katherine Hoeksema chose a dual flush toilet for their
new condominium on Troy Drive. It's one of many options
available in the green-built Troy Gardens Home project. The
Mansfield EcoQuantum looks like an ordinary commode with a
handle that pulls up for a full flush using 1.6 gallons and down
for a partial flush using 1 gallon. It cost the homeowners an
additional $50.
Jake Hoeksema said it was an easy decision to opt for the dual
flush.
"I think they should be standard on all new construction," he
said. "They offer tremendous water savings and it's a minimal
price to upgrade."
Roger Reynolds and Ernie Michael researched water-saving toilets
extensively for a new house they're building this spring in
Dodgeville. They have decided to buy a dual flush model by Toto,
a Japanese manufacturer.
"Some are quiet, some are noisier," Michael said. "This one is
supposed to be really efficient, but quiet.
"But many homes still have older fixtures. Some consumers, like
Linda Snell of Madison, haven't upgraded.
"If you looked at how much water you're saving, you might
switch," she said.
The Australian-made Caroma dual flush toilet was featured at the
Green Pavillion of the Madison Area Builders Association Home
Products Show. This model, which garnered a lot of attention,
features two buttons, instead of a handle mechanism.
Joe Davis, a senior designer at Drexel Interiors in Madison,
said he has seen an uptick in consumer demand for
water-conserving toilets.
"People are more open to it and understand the long-term
ramifications of water usage and being a steward of what we
have," Davis said.
Kohler's newer high-efficiency toilets have been introduced to
consumers in the last four years. They were developed as a
response to water conservation efforts in markets including Los
Angeles and
Phoenix.
The Wisconsin company has introduced several models using 20
percent less water, or 1.28 gallons per flush, in addition to a
waterless urinal. They can amount to an annual water savings of
between 2,000 and 5,000 gallons, according to Kohler.
"What Kohler is trying to do is offer a broad range of choices
to consumers depending on what kind of product they want," said
Kohler senior staff engineer Rob Zimmerman.
Zimmerman said that even in California, eco-friendly commodes
are still used in just a small fraction of homes. He said people
still think that "you're going to give up something in terms of
performance for using less water."
"Consumers have the perception that less is less," he said.
But independent data on high-efficiency toilets tells a
different story.
Testing on popular toilet models conducted for the Canadian
Water and Wastewater Association and the California Urban Water
Conservation Council shows that all tested models meet minimum
standards set by the American National Standards
Institute/American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the
Canadian Standards Association. But some did not meet minimum
testing criteria, recommended by the independent lab. Find the
entire study here.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently instituted a
conservation program called Water Sense. Products certified in
the program will carry the Water Sense label, much like Energy
Star-marked appliances.
Water Sense released its requirements for certifying
high-efficiency toilets in January. Kohler is in the process of
having its fixtures certified, Zimmerman said.
According to the EPA, the WaterSense label will help consumers
identify high performing, water efficient products. WaterSense-labeled
plumbing fixtures will help consumers protect the water supply
and their wallets.
Indoor plumbing accounts for about 60 percent of a home's water
use, according to the American Water Works Association. The EPA
estimates that consumers can save 10 percent on water bills, and
900 billion gallons of water yearly by using high-efficiency
toilets.
"We're not immune to these situations in Wisconsin," Zimmerman
said of dwindling water resources.
Pharo thinks it will take another 10 years for water issues to
become a serious concern in Dane County. But by taking measures
now to conserve resources, including water, any potential impact
can be reduced.
"This is a really good example of the small things people can do
that make a really big difference for their own personal cost
and for the environment," Pharo said.
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