Water-saving shower heads: fun with real savings. Economic shower: how to save water, energy and money Saving water in the shower
Not all people value water equally. In the arid corners of the planet, it is considered liquid gold, which is used only in the most necessary cases. In other countries, there is so much water that taking a bath for pleasure and relaxation is considered the norm.
And yet, even with free access to water, the idea of conserving natural resources is becoming more and more popular. This implies not only a change of habits, but also the introduction of new technologies.
In Japan, where immersion in a deep tub is a national tradition, members of the same family take the same bath, not changing the water, but heating it. The Swedes went even further and suggested using one of NASA's technologies in the bathroom. So what are the ways to conserve water today? We've covered a few options below, from high-tech faucets to small household tricks. Choose any and join the movement for economical water consumption!
1. Warm up and use again
The Japanese are known for their fondness for lengthy water procedures, but relatives (or flatmates) pour water into the ablution container only once - and then use it again. Japanese woman Anne Shimamoto says: “First you need to wash yourself thoroughly, and only then plunge into a hot bath. The bath water should remain clean and without any traces of soap or shampoo for the next person to feel comfortable. Parents from childhood taught us to take a bath correctly, it was an obligatory part of education.Plus, many bathtubs in Japanese homes are equipped with an "oidaki" system, which makes it possible to heat the water. If the bath has cooled down, simply press the button, which turns on the boiler installed on the street or in the utility room. The water is heated, allowing family members to take the same bath several times and significantly save water.
2. Turn to the latest technology
Evelyn Strathmann, resource conservation specialist and marketing director of Hansgrohe France, offers an innovative approach to bringing water-saving devices to market. This approach is especially good where people are reluctant to give up the feeling of free flowing water for the sake of economy. “The French are thrifty and strive to save on everything, but at the same time they are not ready to sacrifice comfort and change everyday habits. Therefore, here, water-saving sanitary ware should be introduced gently, unobtrusively and give the same sensations during water procedures as conventional faucets and showers.”For Hansgrohe, the solution was the Rainmaker Select 460 3jetEcoSmart shower system, which has a secret weapon - the "Remember" button. By pressing this button, the water temperature is automatically stored in the system, so the user does not have to waste time and, accordingly, pour excess water when he turns on the shower again. “We believe that this innovation will help people break the habit of leaving the shower on during the entire washing process,” says Evelyn. “This is how we encourage people to lather when the shower is turned off, because then they can instantly get water at the right temperature, without wasting time adjusting and without experiencing the unpleasant sensations of ice water or boiling water pouring under great pressure.”
But even if these innovations turn out to be effective and help save a few liters of water, this will still not be enough to fully save. The fact is that the French are very fond of storm shower heads (they are also called rain), and in fact they are the real culprits of water overspending. “So, despite all the new smart systems, the first thing to change is still habits,” admits Evelyn.
Mikhail Chizhov, marketing director of Hansgrohe Russia, says that in Russia people are not particularly motivated to save water, as it is always available in any quantity - and at a low price. “Water consumption in a conventional basin faucet is about 13 l/min. With all our basin mixers, EcoSmart technology reduces water consumption by up to 60%, i.e. up to 5 l/min. How does this happen? Thanks to air mixing and a special water flow restrictor. The EcoSmart aerator, built into the faucet spout, enriches the water with air. The result is a rich, voluminous water jet.
As for shower heads, our range includes models with and without water saving function. The difference in price between the models is insignificant, but at the same time, 95% of watering cans sold in Russia do not have a water saving mode, ─ says Mikhail. ─ This is because water is cheap in Russia, and buyers do not yet have the motivation to save water and consciously reduce its consumption - it is much more pleasant to take a “full” shower under a powerful jet.”
The installation of water meters in Russia has become mandatory since January 2015. Natalya Stogova says: “We installed water meters several years ago and did not expect that we would save so much as a result! The actual amount of water we use turned out to be 2-3 times less than what was indicated in the bill for average consumption.”
3. Buy a smaller bath or ditch it in favor of a shower
Those who cannot imagine life without taking a bath can find themselves a small bowl with a volume of less than 270 liters. Others, like Danish user Jette Yde, are confident they can do without it altogether: “I decided to go against the grain and say no to baths. For children, this may be entertainment, but adults simply cannot find an excuse for such a reckless waste of natural resources. Water supplies are not endless, and I think that concern for the environment should also be expressed at the household level. Therefore, clean the baths and install showers. There will be more space in the bathroom, and this decision will benefit the environment and your wallet in any case.”
4. Look for inspiration in space
It has long been known that space is not just an endless space somewhere, but also a fertile field for experiments and technological innovations, which then return to earth as inventions tested in the most severe conditions. One of the latest developments in this area is the shower system from the Swedish company Orbital Systems, which saves 90% water and 80% energy compared to traditional showers.The invention is based on a joint scientific project developed in 2013 by NASA and Orbital Systems founder Merdad Majubi. At the time, Merdad was still a student and in his final year at Lund University in southern Sweden.
The idea was that the technology used to purify and reuse water on space stations could just as well be used in terrestrial conditions - both in ordinary bathrooms and in public places: gyms, schools, baths and hotels. . “It was an indescribable feeling,” says Merdad. ─ I have found something that can be developed and used equally on earth and in space.”
Savings come from the fact that the same water passes through the filters and enters the shower system again and again. The cost of the basic configuration of the "space" shower is $ 5995 for a free-standing shower. A thousand dollars cheaper will cost a shower tray that is built into the floor at the stage of construction or overhaul.
5. Collect what falls from the sky
In dry California, not only homeowners but also politicians are concerned about how to reduce the amount of water required to maintain private gardens. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, irrigation consumes about 30% of the water used per person per day.Previously, according to local regulations, no more than 33% of plants requiring frequent watering could be planted on plots over 230 square meters. In 2015, the California Water Commission approved new rules that limited the amount of lawns and other moisture-loving plants to 25% on new lots over 46 square meters and in renovation lots over 230 square meters. For old sites with an area of less than 230 square meters, a list of restrictions and necessary requirements was also introduced. “It is high time to revise the law, because this is a joint initiative of the residents and the administration. With the new rules, we are moving in the same direction,” says Vicki Lake, program manager at the California Department of Water Resources.
Homeowners in every state are paying attention to how their gardens use water and are looking for ways to save money. In May 2015, Houzz conducted a survey of Landscape & Garden Trends. The 1,600 users who completed a landscaping project in the past 12 months, were in the process of renovating their yard/garden, or planned to start in the next six months, noted that water reduction topped the list of priorities. 70% of Californians who took part in the study cited drought as a major problem with their landscape projects.
One in five homeowners who plan to renovate their garden plan to install a rainwater harvester on their property. 3% are considering installing a water treatment system to use household wastewater from bathrooms and laundries for irrigation. “Our last two projects have been all about solving the problem of saving water,” says San Francisco-based landscape designer Sara Warto.
Rainfall Shower Style Head High Efficiency Square Thin Water Saving Contemporary - $29.99
However, measures to reduce water consumption have affected not only Californian gardens, but also the houses themselves. Starting in July 2016, the only shower heads available in this state that can handle no more than 11 liters of water per minute (2 liters less than before) can be purchased in this state. This decision was approved by the California Energy Commission (Californian EnergyCommission). In 2018, the limit will drop even lower ─ to 8 liters per minute. According to preliminary forecasts, this will save 11 billion liters of water in the first year and 173 billion liters in the next ten years.
6. Use Simple But Proven Ways
French specialist from RAAB Architecture offers several solutions to help you start saving water in the bathroom today: “To start, just start using water in a different way: turn it off when you lather and brush your teeth. The most thrifty homeowners can put a bucket under the faucet to collect whatever cold water that flows at the beginning. It can then be used not only for watering plants, but also for cooking. It is also worth buying an ordinary aerator for mixers (sold in hardware and hardware stores). It restricts the flow and thus reduces the water consumption by almost half. By the way, all modern mixers are equipped with them.
Australian user Skyring architects suggests postponing long showers for the weekend: “If you like to stand in the shower longer, you should not deprive yourself of this pleasure. Just get into the habit of showering for four or five minutes on weekdays, and let yourself relax on the weekends.” In other words, before taking a shower next time, first go to the kitchen and grab a timer. Then, standing under the shower and listening to the inexorable ticking, you will begin to treat these minutes with all possible respect.
22.07.2017
You don't have to go to an expensive spa to feel great or relax with ease. You can take water procedures with special comfort at home, putting the shower on the function of massage, waterfall or tropical rain. At the same time, you can bask in the bath for a long time, relax or take contrast treatments without worrying about excessive water consumption. It will be minimal, thanks to a special economical shower head.
Usually, after installing such watering cans, consumers significantly reduce water consumption, they spend almost half as much on utility bills than before. For a family of three, this difference is especially noticeable, because over 10 thousand rubles can be saved in a year. The low price of watering cans allows you to recoup them after a few months of operation. Considering that you can use it for at least 3-5 years, savings on hot and cold water will be significant.
How it works
An important feature of the water-saving watering can is that the economical flow of water (only 6-9 liters per minute) is carried out at the usual level for you. When using the shower, you do not feel the difference in the power of the jet, which was turned on before. The restriction of the flow while maintaining its power is due to the aeration of water by air, which is added to it through an opening on the body of the watering can. Its nozzles spray water in a concentrated manner, creating small but voluminous droplets.
Each liter of water is saturated with three liters of air. As a result, the watering can gives a more gentle and voluminous "stream". You will feel how much more comfortable, more pleasant it became to take a shower. And by all means make this ritual an obligatory part of your secluded, comfortable rest.
Doubt whether to buy such a watering can or not, but want to experience real water savings in the shower? Get a water-saving nozzle to get started. It can be bought in our store and installed in one of the ways: between the faucet and the hose or between the hose and the shower head. As a result, it will be possible to switch from the usual water consumption (12-20 liters) to a more economical one (6-8 liters).
Which watering can to choose?
For those who prefer not only to wash in the shower, but also to relax, the best solution would be to buy a watering can with several modes of water supply: a tropical shower, massage, waterfall. In our online store you can purchase functional watering cans that will provide tremendous water savings, both in a private house and in a public pool, hotel, hotel or fitness center. Many of them have already been appreciated by our customers, and some models have even been considered in the TV program "Miracle of Technology" on NTV.
In the range of shower heads in our store, we have provided aesthetically attractive, ergonomic and diverse models made of high quality and durable materials. They are quickly connected to a hose that has a standard thread with a diameter of 16 mm and consume 6 to 9 liters of water per minute.
You can buy an inexpensive water-saving watering can, both with one mode of operation, and choose a watering can with three, five modes and a SPA effect.
Among them:
Reduces water consumption by up to 50%, delivers only 9 liters per minute.
Provides water supply in three modes:
- "massage" (streams have great strength and "range") to relax the body and accelerate skin regeneration,
- "standard shower" for comfortable acceptance of daily procedures,
- "blizzards" for soft relaxation and a delicate effect on the skin.
Watering can with spa effect with five modes
Limits the water flow to 9 l / min and supplies water in 5 modes:
- "rain"
- "waterfall"
- "massage"
- "tropical rain" (heavy), creating a feeling of airiness and lightness of the flow.
- "tropical rain" (moderate)
By installing a water-saving shower head on the shower hose, you can take a shower with pleasure several times a day, without thinking about water consumption at all. It will be minimal even when the mixer valve is turned on at full power. Save and relax as much as you like!
This small device will allow you to save from 30 to 70% of the water used while using the shower. At the same time, you save not only on payments for the water itself, but also for water disposal, that is, you get a double benefit.
The design of the water-saving shower head is such that it restricts the normal flow of tap water. Typically, the outflow of water from the water supply is 12-20 liters per minute, and with the installation of a nozzle, it will be 6-8 liters per minute. For our customers, we have selected nozzles with optimal water flow characteristics so that significant resource savings are achieved, but at the same time there is no big difference in water pressure.
The shower head is very easy to install by yourself, no need to call a master plumber. It has standard thread diameters and is suitable for most modern faucets, shower hoses and watering cans. There are two ways to install the nozzle:
- between faucet and shower hose;
- between the shower hose and the watering can.
In the following picture, you can see an example of installing a nozzle between a faucet and a shower hose.
Such a nozzle is an assistant, imperceptible to the user, but noticeable to the owner - the payer for utilities. If you are the owner or manager of a hotel, hostel, sports and fitness center, baths, saunas, etc., if you have a large family or simply have lovers of splashing in the shower, we recommend that you install water-saving nozzles in showers.
Thousands of our customers have already successfully used a water-saving shower head, thereby saving not only their money, but also natural resources.
P.S. By the way, our water-saving nozzles took part in the filming of the program "Miracle of Technology" on NTV. .
Nebia Shower is a redesigned shower head that saves both water and heat without sacrificing comfort. According to the developers, such a shower consumes only 2-3 liters of water per minute, while a conventional nozzle is about 9-10.
Once the famous designer and architect Richard Fuller suggested using 90% compressed air in the shower and only 10% water in the form of sprayed drops. Thus, he claimed that only 1 liter of water per hour would be used. 50 years have passed, but we still use the same and all its developments remained on paper. 
So in 2015, young Nebia set out to create a revolutionary shower that uses similar technology, albeit without a compressed air component, to drastically save water in the shower. 
There is no compressed air bottle, it's much easier, the Nebia nozzle sprays water into tiny droplets that cover "10 times more area" than water drops from a regular nozzle, which allows you to wash more efficiently, since more water comes into contact with body. As well as heating the air around the drops is more efficient. They call it a "warm and cozy mist" that not only purifies your body, but is far superior to taking a classic shower in general. Watch the video:
Such a shower consumes only 2-3 liters of water per minute, while a conventional nozzle is about 9-10. If you calculate this for 4 people, you can save about 80,000 liters of water per year, and if you also calculate the heating savings, then a very interesting amount comes out.
Especially these economical showerheads are a good investment for institutions and businesses that use a lot of water in their showers, allowing them to conserve water and save money on both water and heating costs. No wonder this one was such a hit on Kickstarter.
Although you can not wait until such a high-tech nozzle appears on the market, but use a more economical nozzle, for example, from a garden sprayer. Which can be placed in the shower. This will save up to 20% water.
Not so long ago, the world groaned and groaned at the sight of Bill Gates, who sips from a glass of water obtained after filtering human waste products. The sight is creepy and uncomfortable, but it is it that makes clear the true price of drinking water.
And more recently, it became known that the head of Apple was also seriously puzzled by the global problem and made a personal financial contribution to the development of Nebia, a prototype of an economical shower for the home. Other well-known investors did the same, as did thousands of people on the Kickstarter crowdfunding site. As a result, the startup received more than 2 million dollars, although only 100 thousand were required.
We can safely assume that not all future Nebia owners are concerned about saving water itself. Rather, they care about utility bills. And for good reason, because the payback period for a shower is less than two years at a "shop" price of $ 399. According to the calculations of the developers, the savings for the average family in the United States will be about $ 230 per year. And if you pre-order, the benefit will be even a little closer.
Where do these numbers come from? Unlike a traditional shower, Nebia sprays into millions of tiny droplets using 70% less water. Moreover, the area of the covered surface is increased by 10 times.
Plumbing is made of high quality durable materials. Nebia was created with visual beauty, convenience and functionality in mind. Striving for the ideal, engineers and designers have created hundreds of prototypes and seem to have found the best option.
The benefits of an advanced shower don't end there. It is impossible not to mention that the device promises a completely different level of comfort and satisfaction from the daily water treatment.
A warm and cozy mist envelops the skin, providing enough water to leave you feeling clean and refreshed. The Nebia feeling stays with you long after you leave the bathroom. Your skin is fragrant, your hair is shiny and your muscles are relaxed. There is no better way to start the day.
Nebia
Some foreign bloggers have tried Nebia on themselves and, firstly, agreed that the shower looks very modern and stylish. Secondly, they considered it potentially breakthrough. Thirdly, everyone noted unusual (or rather unusual) sensations that they nevertheless liked. Some of the testers remained completely indescribable delight. It seems that the words of the creators here did not differ from the case.
Of course, with our water tariffs, even such significant savings will be fought back for a long time. Therefore, Nebia is likely to be of interest to fans of unusual gizmos and / or unusual experiences, as well as business owners whose customers or employees consume large amounts of water. For example, this has already been done by Google.
Are you willing to pay four hundred dollars for a shower?