Looking for Low Flow Showerhead Research and Successful Programs

You might try searching the California Measurement Advisory Council (CALMAC.org) data base -- it doesn't have a lot of qualitative data (mostly quantitative) but you might find something useful.

Merrilee Harrigan

Director of Education
Alliance to Save Energy
1850 M St NW #600
Washington DC 20036
202-530-2215
Fax: 202-331-9588
[email protected] ase.org
 

Doug,

At Ecotech Water, we have experience with the actual barriers and benefits to either a commercial facility or a household installing low flow showerheads. I can tell you what we do to successfully encourage their installation. First of all, Ecotech manufactures very very efficient water saving plumbing fixtures. We sell direct to primarily commercial end users. With all our low flow fixtures, the number one barrier to installation is the perception that "low flow" means "no flow" or "slow flow." This perception is particularly heightened regarding our 1.0 GPM showerhead. A shower represents cleanliness, comfort, and a luxury to most people that they are not willing to skimp on. And the perception is that cutting back so drastically on the amount of water used per minute must mean a poor quality shower that lacks enough water to feel clean. We also have to deal with the additional perception (which in most cases is reality) of first generation 2.5 GPM low flow showerheads 15 years ago, and sadly still sold today, that perform miserably, and are the probable cause for your question.

We have successfully encouraged the installation of our showerheads by

1) substantially improving the performance and efficiency of our showerhead (and other low flow fixtures) through Air-Induction technology;

2) Doing live demonstrations for prospective customers (seeing is believing); and

3) showing the very short payback analysis on replacing an existing 2.5 GPM showerhead with our showerhead in any given commercial facility or household (i.e. annual water/sewer savings and water heating energy savings) and the ensuing thousands of dollars of water and hot water consumption related savings per year over the life of our showerhead.

I'm sorry that I can't provide you with official research, but I hope this helps you.

Steve Mecca

Ecotech Water
(401) 560-0050
www.ecotechwater.com

Doug,

One of our state water utilities called Sydney Water has a program for in home water saving including low flow shower heads that seems to be relatively successful: http://www.sydneywater.com.au/

Kind regards,
Paul Payten

EcoSTEPS - Sustainability Partner
[email protected]
www.ecosteps.com.au
Tel +61 (0)2 4787 5850

The City of Seattle is planning a showerhead distibution campaign for residential customers. I'm not sure what kind of pre-program planning research was conducted, but I do know they did a pilot last year. It must have been deemed "successful", since they'll be going regional with the program. They also did a lot of testing of different showerhead models to see which works the best. I suggest you contact Al Dietemann here at Seattle Public Utilities--he's the program manager.

Email me for contact info or check the City of Seattle directory at: http://www.seattle.gov/directory/ Allegra Abramo Seattle, WA

Hi Doug

Please check out the Australian Government's water efficiency labelling scheme at http://www.waterrating.gov.au/index.html. It includes shower equipment.

Bob Crawshaw

Maine Street Marketing
0401 063 387
www.mainestreet.com.au
Member of: Australian Marketing Institute
International Association of Business Communicators
Public Relations Institute of Australia
Public Relations Society of America

There is a study underway in England at the moment that you may want to contact (see below)

Peter Bailey
Social Policy Advisor
Environment Agency

Subject: Liverpool John Moores University / United Utilities research project:
Water Efficient Showers Study Outline

The objective of the study is to undertake a programme of market research and shower testing to define water efficient shower performance in terms of physical parameters (eg. flow-rate, temperature, spray pattern and skin pressure) and satisfactory customer comfort performance criteria. It is intended that the results will assist the Water Industry, shower manufacturers and the Market Transformation Programme in influencing future water use by showers. The current project is studying shower use in houses only. The main elements of the project are:- Market research, including three focus groups. Final report awaited from LJMU. Laboratory testing of showers and showerheads. Work in progress. Household evaluations of water efficiency tests. Planned for early autumn. Report to water industry to include information to assist future water efficiency strategies. Planned for late Autumn. It is noteworthy that the need for saving water in homes has taken on a much higher priority in recent months with the setting up of the Government's Water Savings Group and Water UK's waterwise organisation, the ODPM announcing the introduction of compulsory water efficiency standards in new homes, the continuing drought in south east England and the recent House of Lords report on water management. This project is therefore timely.

Regards
Richard Critchley

Water Resources Planning Manager
United Utilities,
Thirlmere House,
Lingley Mere,
Great Sankey,
Warrington WA5 3LP
Tel: 01925 537050 (internal 77050),
Fax: 01925 464766 (internal 64766)
Email: [email protected]

Doug,

In Oregon, we have found that one of the most cost-effective ways to encourage uptake of low flow showerheads is a direct install approach. The Energy Trust of Oregon incorporates this into its weatherization program for single- and multifamily housing. It works like this: if a property takes advantage of the weatherization program for upgrades to windows and insulation, Energy Trust will install 1-2 low flow showerheads per unit or home (along with 2 faucet aerators and up to 8 CFLs) for free. It might not be "behavior change" in the truest sense of the word, but it certainly does encourage the use of low flow showerheads!

Andria Jacob

City of Portland
Office of Sustainable Development
721 NW 9th Ave, Suite 350
Portland, OR 97209
Tel. 503.823.7616
[email protected]

Hi Merrilee

You may also want to contact Andre Boerema from Sydney Water Corporation (Sydney, Australia) who is the Program Manager of the Residential Water Conservation Program as well as the Institute of Sustainable Future http://www.isf.uts.edu.au/ who have done some research in this area and customer satisfaction. Since you are interested in the Educational side of things would you be able to point me out to some Educational and User Awareness Water Conservation Programs.

Regards,
Sreten Novi

MANAGER,
WATER Energy & Water Conservation Systems
Suite 2, 16 Suakin St Pymble NSW 2073
Tel(02) 9983 1144
Fax(02) 9983 1441
Mob0437 773 619
Visit: www.ecsaustralia.com/wcs/wcs.html

Hi Doug/all:

You may also want to try contacting Clean Nova Scotia (902) 420-3474 http://www.clean.ns.ca/ . Over the last 8-10 years they have offered a number of programs that focused on water conservation for homeowners including a home audit program and "Flushless". The home audit included the installation of water conserving devices (shower heads and faucet aerators). Flushless may have as well. In the audit program I know they ran into a number of barriers w.r.t getting home owners to install the devices themselves and I believe they ended up having the auditors install the devices during the home visits. I doubt they can provide you with survey data but they can probably give you some interesting insights. In our own work in provincial offices and a very small residential program we ran into the following barriers: - preference for stronger shower streams & concerns that the low flows would not provide this - difficulties in installation (in the case of faucet aerators - not sure if this applies to shower heads) the end of the faucet is either male or female thread and the units we had were set up as female thread in their packaging. They could be converted to male thread if you removed a part, however, how to do that was not immediately obvious. - concerns about damaging the fixtures when installing the low flow heads (this from our students who were doing the replacements) I gather that some of the existing aerators were either tightened down well or corroded on. - homeowner concerns that low flow unit would create too much pressure in older plumbing (?)

Hope this helps out,
Lynda Rankin,

Environmental Analyst
Nova Scotia Department of the Environment and Labour
Box 697, Halifax Nova Scotia B3J 2T8
Tel: (902) 424-2578
email: [email protected]

Boats & the sea teach 'Sustainable behaviour'in fresh-water practice.
The most memorable "bath" I ever had was two litres in an ice-cream-bucket,warm fresh water, to sponge off the salty crust after days & nights of stormy splashing.
To reduce shower-water use,the simple & effective way is to have the outlet over your head in the middle of the cubicle; then you can turn it to a dribble:having a wall-mounted rose means a certain velocity/flow is needed to project the water: ie a minimum-flow rate to achieve that!
The object is to use the smallest quantity,not the shortest time! 5litres enough!
So I rigged a lever operated mixer,from a kitchen sink, with the braided-hose extension-handpiece in a bent-wire support hanging from an overhead beam [plastic-conduit]. Now the showerhead can move X-Y overhead, or be handheld.
The one I use has an airated foam,which is gentle,it flows from a dribble to a squirt, does the job as I gyrate my body,washing top to toe, with the dribble wetting only whats' needed + final rince/squirt!
Self-indulgence or intelligent restraint :: we here on this blog are the "converted",we know!
However hypocracy is rampant!
All us human-beins are having a ball,enjoying life in all it's delights.
Hot & abundent showers & deep baths are the luxuary.
How can you refrain?
Why? - Because we're worth it - [as the ad says]

Tony Nelson
Captain
onetonpump
-
onetonpump.com

Having lived in India for many years I learned a simple method - the "pour bath". I filled warm water into a bucket, sat on a stool or stood over a drain and, using a large tin mug I dipped water from the bucket and pour it all over myself. Then I soaped myself and shampooed my hair too, unless I am in a hurry. Then I poured mugs of warm water all over myself until the suds were rinsed off. I still use this method in Canada, sitting on a stool in my bath tub. My hips and back are too arthritic for me to get down into the tub. Using this simple "pour bath" method quickly I am clean and refreshed. In India all the used water ran through a drain in the wall to the garden to water a papaya tree. In Australia I used a water heater called a geyser which only heated water while the shower tap was on. That conserved heat. Our North American water heaters keep a 30 gallon tank of water warm at all times. What a waste of heat! This is how we got warm water whenever we wanted it a jungle home in India: We had a huge wicker basket and lid made and upholstered inside, with cotton padding. We had a large container and lid made of galvanized metal, and set it inside the basket. Our cook poured very hot water into the tin once a day. This provided enough warm water for up to four baths in 24 hours. Myrtle Macdonald

Myrtle Macdonald
Consulktant
retired
Canada

The fundamental is to have the SHOWER HEAD <> OVER HEAD : then thou / me / him / her can reduce the flow & still have water flowing over the part being wetted to soar or rinsed off: means gyrations // bending // stretching // toe-touching ~~~~ all good for the body,[quietly-in-private]{{or have a good YELL}} The main thing is the quantity can be reduced this way::reducing consumption::saving water::more for later :: maybe the dam won't dry out?
Priority is enough to drink & cook ~ survival fundamentals.
The simpelest way to save lots is to SINK THE FLOAT in the CISTERN ,a pin may do it, small drill, hot wire,anything to make a little hole under the WATERLINE : then it will be "FLUSH ON DEMAND" or when the button is pushed the flush flows.
Oh but this is challenging for "MODERN MAN", very inconvenient when in a hurry to go :: however we'll learn to "WORK FOR WATER" ; means keep pushing that button,a bit longer, a lot of unnecessary effort ~ or is it a way to make a statement [no arguments at the time ~ but complaints later] Certainly water will be economised , to save time/effort of the 'flusher'.

Tony Nelson
Captain
onetonpump
-
onetonpump.com

One of the "customs" of the "ORDINARY PRACTICE of BEHAVING SUSTAINABLY" is 'knitting a cozy' for your hot water storage tank. So far I've wrapped a sheet of foam-insulation around the cylinder; tied it eith string:: a couple of discs on top & standing on a 'non-conductive' base of plastic#######matrix 4 cm thick.
More layers are planned [when I get around to it]
The way it is, if Igo away leaving it hot,switched off;2days later it's cold, indicates heat-loss.
The eternal struggle of 'cheaper-to-buy'= lower spec = cost more to run = fails sooner :: VS :: expensive + quality + cheaper to operate + lasts longer.
Our "STANDARD o LIVING" is a measure of this 'quality'; huge techno-progress has happened & developement continues, so more of us have acess to hot-water-showers, most consider it a necessity & a "RIGHT". Others are not so fortunate!
That's why I'm blogging here & there about "trickle showers". Save-Water.
The "unconverted"who could take this onboard are 'movie-makers' & 'advertisment-makers' who always show massive-flow-drenshing showers as the norm, .
This is where we get our cultural expectations,which govern our behaviour~SUSTAINABLE <~> or <~> OTHERWISE.
Would YOU volantarily LOWER your "SOL"?


Tony Nelson
Captain
onetonpump
-
onetonpump.com

Hi all,
I'm wondering if anyone has any updates to the question originally posed by Doug regarding 'looking for research that has identified the perceived barriers and benefits to householders installing low flow showerheads. I am also looking for information on programs that have successfully encouraged their installation'.

We are looking at reviewing our existing shower head swap campaign here in Darwin, Australia. I'm particularly interested in reducing shower flow rate as well as shower time.

Thanks very much in advance

Joel

Joel Spry
Australia

At Fort Collins Utilities we have had success installing low flow shower heads through a direct install program in partnership with the county. Through the program we install, for free, aerators, showerheads, CFL and LED's, clotheslines, shower timers, tank banks, CO2 detectors, high efficiency toilets and programmable thermostats.Each year we are able to install 300-500 showerheads. Reach out to discuss more.

http://larimerworkforce.org/young-adults/lccc/water-energy-program/


Pete Iengo
City of Fort Collins
United States
www.fcgov.com