Water-Saving Appliances: How Low Can You Flow?

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Asko dishwashers conserve both water and electricity.
Asko dishwashers conserve both water and electricity.
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Conventional showerheads spout 4 to 5 gallons of water per minute; Kohler’s MasterShower Eco Showerhead uses less than half that amount.
Conventional showerheads spout 4 to 5 gallons of water per minute; Kohler’s MasterShower Eco Showerhead uses less than half that amount.
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Composting toilets, such as this one by Sun-Mar, turn human waste into compost and can reduce household water consumption by at least 25 percent.
Composting toilets, such as this one by Sun-Mar, turn human waste into compost and can reduce household water consumption by at least 25 percent.

Water Saving Appliances

Asko W6461 Washing Machine

Features:
• Front loading
• 2.04 cubic feet capacity
• Uses 9.3 gpl*
• Quick Wash feature uses 5.7 gpl
• Energy Star qualified

Average Water Savings:
• Up to 34.3 gpl compared with standard 40-gpl top-loading machines  

Price: $1,450 to $1,750

Find it: (800) 898-1879; AskoUSA.com

Bosch Nexxt 100 Series Washer

Features:
• Front loading
• 3.81 cubic feet capacity
• Can use as little as 10.6 gpl
• Energy Star qualified

Average Water Savings:
• Up to 29.4 gpl compared with standard 40-gpl, top-loading machines
• Up to 14.4 gpl compared with most Energy Star-qualified washers, which average 18 to 25 gpl 

Price: $800

Find it: (800) 921-9622; BoschAppliances.com

Asko D3112 Dishwasher

Features:
• Uses 5 gpl
• Energy Star qualified

Average Water Savings:
• Energy Star-qualified dishwashers save an average of 860 gallons per year. (Conventional models use 1,935 gallons per year.)

Price: $800 to $900

Find it: (800) 898-1879; AskoUSA.com

Bosch Evolution 300 Series Dishwasher

Features:
• Sensotronic technology adjusts water level to soil level
• Uses as little as 3.1 gpl
• Energy Star qualified

Average Water Savings:
• Energy Star-qualified dishwashers save an average of 860 gallons per year. (Conventional models use 1,935 gallons per year.)

Price: $8550 to $700

Find it: (800) 921-9622; BoschAppliances.com

Water Saving for Baths and Sinks

Earth Massage Showerhead

Features:
• Soak-and-soap valve reduces flow rate to 1 gpm
• Several spray settings

Average Water Savings:
• Up to 40 percent compared with standard 2.5 gpm low-flow showerhead

Price: $20

Find it: (800) 831-8383; NiagaraConservation.com

Five-Star Resort Spa Showerhead

Features:
• Air-intake ports oxygenate filtered shower water
• 2.0 and 2.5 gpm models available
• Available with or without low-flow restrictors

Average Water Savings:
• 30 to 70 percent compared with conventional shower heads, which average 4 to 5 gpm

Price: $60

Find it: (800) 344-3242; Oxygenics.com

Mastershower Eco Showerhead (Kohler)

Features:
• Rite-Temp Valve maintains comfortable temperature
• 2.0 gpm

Average Water Savings:
• Up to 20 percent compared with standard 2.5 gpm low-flow showerhead

Price: (handheld) $85 to (regular showerhead) $78

Find it: (800) 456-4537; Kohler.com

Kitchen Faucet Aerator (double jointed, extra reach, variable, dual spray)

Features:
• Dual spray
• Swivel action allows water to reach sink corners
• Uses between 1.5 to 2.0 gpm

Average Water Savings:
• Up to 32 percent compared with a 2.2 gpm aerator

Price: $7.50

Find it: (800) 831-8383; NiagaraConservation.com

Niagara Bathroom Faucet Aerator

Features:
• 1.0 gpm
• Tamper proof

Average Water Savings:
• Up to 55 percent compared with a 2.2 gpm bathroom faucet aerator

Price: $3.75

Find it: (800) 831-8383; NiagaraConservation.com

Caravelle 305 Toilet (Caroma)

Features:
• Pressure-assist dual flush
• 0.8 gpf/1.6 gpf
• 4-inch trapway

Average Water Savings:
• Up to 63 percent compared with 3.5 gpf models; up to 40 percent compared with 1.6 gpf models

Price: $375 to $399

Find it: (800) 605-4218; CaromalUSA.com

Cimarron Comfort Height Toilet (Kohler)

Features:
• 3.25-inch flush valve
• 1.28 gpf
• Height equal to a standard chair

Average Water Savings:
• Up to 63 percent compared with 3.5 gpf models; up to 20 percent compared with 1.6 gpf models

Price: $330

Find it: (800) 456-4537; Kohler.com

Eco-Drake Toilet (Toto)

Features:
• 3-inch flush valve
• 2.5-inch trapway
• 1.28 gpf

Average Water Savings:
• Up to 20 percent compared with 1.6 gpf models

Price: $550

Find it: (800) 350-8686; TotoUSA.com

Flowise High-Efficiency Toilet (American Standard)

Features:
• 3-inch flush valve
• 1.28 gpf

Average Water Savings:
• Up to 20 percent compared with 1.6 gpf models

Price: $395

Find it: (800) 899-2614; AmericanStandardUS.com

Flush and Save

Even with a low-flow toilet, precious clean water goes down the pipes every time you flush. Save even more water with the Toilet Lid Sink, inspired by inventor Carl Brown’s travels to Japan.

The lid sink reroutes incoming water from your home’s pipes directly through a hand-washing spigot. This water then flows into the toilet bowl and is used for the next flush. Water doesn’t run through any part of the toilet until after the clean-water spigot, so you can wash your hands with confidence. $89. (800) 919-2400.

  • Published on Aug 8, 2008
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