| If you're trying to go green, one of the best | | | | comparison, older and inefficient models use |
| places to begin is by looking at the daily ritual of | | | | upwards of 2.5 gpm, with those older than 15 |
| taking a shower. Have you ever wondered where | | | | years sometimes using 5 gpm or more! |
| that water comes from and how much of it is | | | | If you're unsure about whether you need a water |
| being used? | | | | saving showerhead, you may want to perform |
| The EPA estimates that showering amounts to | | | | the following test: place a bucket marked in |
| 17% of all residential water used indoors in the | | | | gallons under your showerhead and turn on the |
| US. That is equivalent to an amazing 3.3 billion | | | | water at its normal rate. Use a watch to calculate |
| gallons of water every single day, or 1.2 trillion | | | | how many seconds it takes to fill your bucket to |
| gallons of water per year. This ocean of water | | | | the one-gallon mark. If it takes 20 seconds or less |
| gets taken from delicate rivers and streams, | | | | then you definitely need a new showerhead |
| inflicting a terrible price on the environment. Some | | | | because you're using a lot more water than you |
| of this water returns to nature from water | | | | need for a satisfying shower. |
| treatment plants, but much of it does not--or | | | | Not only do you save water and the |
| does so while laden with the pollutants of modern | | | | environment, but you also save money. One of |
| living. It's no surprise, then, that lowering water | | | | these shower heads could run you as little as $15 |
| use is a top priority of any government or | | | | (somewhat more for a better model), but you |
| individual trying to make a difference for the | | | | would realize savings of $50-$75 a year on water |
| environment. | | | | bills and another $20-$50 a year in water heating |
| One of the best ways you can save water is by | | | | bills. As you can see, the fixture pays for itself in |
| installing a water-saving low flow shower head. | | | | no time and the rest of the savings goes right |
| These shower heads are made with technology | | | | back in your pocket. |
| that manipulates the flow of water to lower the | | | | Installing one is easy. You usually just have to |
| amount used without sacrificing the luxury or | | | | unscrew the old shower head, screw in the new |
| comfort we are accustomed to and expect in our | | | | one and you're ready to enjoy your new savings. |
| showering routines. The technology used varies | | | | If going green is important to you, you should |
| from creatively designing orifices to focus the | | | | seriously consider changing to a water saving |
| water stream and control the size and direction of | | | | shower head. There's not much else that is so |
| water droplets, to showerheads that draw air into | | | | easy to do and yet makes such a big difference |
| the water stream to increase the water blast. | | | | for the environment and your wallet without |
| Modern low flow showerheads typically use up no | | | | sacrificing your lifestyle. |
| more than 1.5 to 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm). By | | | | |