Efficient Fixtures
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Reduces potable water consumption, water heating energy, and utility expenses |
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One to two months for fixing leaks and replacing aerators on faucets and six months to select and install fixtures; consider implementing during interior renovation cycles |
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Aerator installation and new fixtures (if needed) for toilets, urinals, or lavatories |
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FAC, GEN, BPO |
Installing water-efficient fixtures such as toilets, urinals, or faucets can provide significant water savings over standard fixtures. Look for WaterSense® labeled products when replacing fixtures. The U.S. Department of Energy standards for low-flow and automatic faucets are shown in Table 1.
One important consideration for retrofitting with low-flow toilets, low-flow or waterless urinals, is the location of the fixtures along the drainpipe. For a successful retrofit, a plumber should be consulted to ensure that sufficient water can continue to run through the existing sanitary line. Insufficient flow rates due to lower flows along shallow pipe slopes could lead to problems downstream, such as odors, blockages, and pipe corrosion. These problems can be prevented by keeping a conventional urinal or toilet as the farthest (most remote) fixture in the plumbing group, and replacing the others with low-flow or waterless fixtures.
Installation of low-flow aerators, dual-flush toilets, hands-free faucets, low-flow showerheads, and underground piping repairs have resulted in huge savings on water bills.
Toilets: Toilets account for 24% of a typical building’s water consumption.8 Most conventional toilets require 6 liters (L) per flush (Lpf) (1.6 gallons (gal) per flush (gpf)), whereas high-efficiency toilets (HETs) require less than 4.8 Lpf (1.28 gpf) and dual-flush toilets require 3–4.1 Lpf (0.8–1.1 gpf). HETs or dual-flush toilets can be used to reduce domestic water consumption when replacing outdated toilets (Figure 6). Dual-flush adaptor kits are inexpensive, and a simple retrofit for tank-type toilets.
Table 1: Fixture water consumption: conventional vs. water efficient
Data Source: U.S. Department of Energy
Urinals: Retrofitting with low-flow or waterless urinals instead of conventional urinals can reduce domestic water costs related to urinals by 50–100%. The installed cost of waterless urinals is less than that of conventional urinals; the only maintenance required is cartridge replacement four or five times a year. Waterless urinals use a cartridge that houses lightweight, biodegradable oil. The oil allows the heavier urine to pass through and down the drain while sealing off and preventing odors from escaping into the space. There is significantly less cleaning required with these fixtures, due to the lack of flushing water. Specific manufacturer cleaning instructions and maintenance protocol should be followed.
Faucets and showerheads:
Both aerating and non-aerating low-flow faucets and showerheads can provide a smooth, laminar stream of water at half the flow rate of a conventional fixture. Manufacturers typically etch flow rates onto the fixture; these rates can be read directly from the aerator. If the rate is illegible, users can choose to calculate by measuring directly using a measurement cup and a stopwatch.
- Lavatory faucets: no-delay, automatic shut-off timing is recommended for lavatory faucets.
- Low-flow showerheads: Narrow spray jets and an increased mixture of air in the water (providing aeration) reduce water flow while simulating the feel of a conventional showerhead.
- Touchless controls: Infrared sensors detect motion, and activate and deactivate lavatory faucets. Water use is minimized, while hygiene is improved. Retrofitted controls require battery replacement every one to two years.