Although there are many publications about the benefits of low-flow showerheads and toilets, some people either still aren’t convinced or don’t think it’s within their budget to have one of these water-saving plumbing fixtures installed. The increase in efficiency coupled with the decrease in costs and environmental impact is well documented, however, and there are many affordable products on the market that make it easy to go green at home. If that isn’t enough to convince you, here are a couple case studies that might do it:

New Toilets for a Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites in Phoenix, Arizona recently installed new, more water-efficient toilets throughout the 115 guestrooms, meeting room, boardroom and marketplace within the hotel, and according to a recent case study, the installation has cut the hotel’s water usage by approximately 55% annually. The Marketing Pros of Scottsdale, Arizona took out the old 3.6 gallons per flush (GPF) toilets and installed new 0.8 GPF Ultra High Efficiency Toilets in their place, which are known for their quiet flush and average annual savings of 20,000 gallons of water per unit.

New Toilets, Showerheads and More for Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District

Elsinore Valley, California enlisted 1,650 individual customers to participate in the Elsinore Valley Stealth program. A total of 1,338 participants replaced two of their toilets with eco toilets – in this case, Niagara Conservation’s Stealth toilet – and the remaining 312 participants replaced one toilet. The old toilets ranged from 1.6-5.0 GPF (gallons per flush), and the new toilets were all 0.8 GPF models. The program also included the installation of 1.5 GPM (gallons per minute) showerheads and 1.5 GPM aerators for the kitchen and bathroom. Eco-Green Services, LLC installed all the new toilets, showerheads and aerators, which are expected to save the valley approximately $2,036,000 over the next 20 years. These savings are considerable, seeing as the entire program cost $759,000.

In addition to toilets, showerheads are an excellent way for the average homeowner to cut costs and reduce environmental impact. Traditional low-flow showerheads with flow restrictors are a good start, but newer, more technologically advanced products can reduce 40% more water usage while providing adjustable spray settings ranging from massage to needle. Aerators also add to the overall water savings, particularly dual-thread aerators that are designed to work in conjunction with both female and male faucets. These products don’t necessarily have to cost a lot of money, and even homeowners who can’t afford to install all-new plumbing fixtures in their homes can still start small with a new affordable showerhead, and install other fixtures gradually. Anything we do to have a positive effect on the environment will make a big impact over time, as more people see the benefits.