Savings Potential
Present types of high-efficiency shower heads use
one to two gallons per minute if the user controls the
water pressure to the shower head, and about two to
three gallons per minute with full-flow valves. In
contrast, common types of shower heads that are not
designed for efficiency may pass 4 to 8 gallons per
minute. The difference is starting to narrow as
manufacturers increasingly design for water
conservation. Even today, selecting a shower head for
efficiency may reduce water consumption by half or
better.
High-efficiency shower heads may cost less than
conventional shower heads. This is because they are
simpler. In new construction, this makes high-efficiency
shower heads pay off immediately. Figure 2 shows a
typical inexpensive high-efficiency shower head.
More expensive, “deluxe” shower heads have
features that tend to be wasteful. Figure 3 shows an
example. Of course, it is always possible for a
manufacturer to jazz up an efficient unit and raise the
price.