Homeowners conscientious about water usage can find touch-free faucets and showerheads with special jets, which join products made with sustainable materials for the bathroom.
Taking a shower accounts for nearly 17 percent of indoor water use for homes, resulting in the average family using nearly 40 gallons of water each day for showering, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA says the average family could save 2,900 gallons of water a year by using a showerhead bearing the EPA’s WaterSense label. Such showerheads use no more than 2 gallons of water per minute, versus standard showerheads that use 2.5 gallons per minute. Bathroom faucets that use a maximum of 1.5 gallons per minute (compared to the standard 2.2 gallons per minute) also can bear the WaterSense label.
Here are a few stylish water-saving projects for bathrooms.
Hansgrohe's Axor Starck Organic Collection: This new eco-conscious collection of nearly 30 products by French designer Philippe Starck offers minimalist design inspired by nature. The chrome faucets, for example, have a water flow rate as low as 0.9 gallon per minute (a boost setting has 1.3 gallons per minute). The handles are designed so that water volume and temperature can be controlled separately, according to Hansgrohe, which is based in Germany and has operations in Alpharetta. Washbasin faucets range from $520-$820, according to hansgrohe-usa.com.
Teak accessories: MTI Baths (mtibaths.com), based in Sugar Hill, offers environmentally friendly teak shower seats, bath mats and shower trays, which add a spa-like look to bathrooms. MTI uses 100 percent U.S.-certified legal, reclaimed and sustainable teak that can withstand moisture in the bathroom, said Michael Kornowa, director of marketing for MTI Baths. One of MTI's most popular products is a 24-inch-by-16-inch teak shower seat (retails for $1,986-$2,293), which can be mounted to a wall, inside or outside the shower, and fold up. "The nice thing about teak is it does add a nice design element to the bathroom," he said.
Flipside handshower: This Kohler handshower rotates on its axis to offer four spray functions — traditional flow (Koverage), soft downpour (Kotton), drenching spray (Komotion) and massage spray (Kurrent). The WaterSense-certified handshower reduces water consumption by 20 percent, according to Kohler. Comes in polished chrome, vibrant polished nickel and vibrant brushed nickel finishes; retails for $112-$147, according to Kohler.
Delta Touch2O Technology: Delta Faucet Co.'s bathroom faucets that can be turned on or off just by tapping the spout or handle. Its Talbott and Lahara lines of faucets have the Touch2O Technology, the Addison and Lahara lines offer Touch2O Technology xt, which have a sensor field that can detect when someone is approaching the faucet and automatically turn on and off. The faucets retail for $292-$340, according to deltafaucet.com.
Awaken showerheads and handshowers: Kohler's new Awaken collection meets WaterSense requirements, with 2 gallons per minute. They come in polished chrome and vibrant brushed nickel, with three spray settings (targeted spray, wide coverage and intense drenching). The price tag is budget-friendly — showerheads start at $34; handshowers start at $45.
