The average U.S. family wastes 180 gallons of water per week, or 9,400 gallons annually, from household leaks, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. By simply switching to more efficient household appliances or installing leak prevention systems, homeowners can minimize water waste and save on utility costs.
These new water saving products increase a home’s overall efficiency and reduce the risk of major leaks or flooding.
Electric Water Heater
The ProTerra Hybrid Electric Water Heater from Rheem draws heat energy from the surrounding air to produce hot water year round, even during the winter months. In addition to water heating, the unit also prevents water damage with a leak detection system that limits leaks to no more than 20 ounces of water.
Not only does the unit shut down in the event of a leak, but it also sends users an alert via the EcoNet app in as little as 15 seconds.That efficiency can save homeowners up to $491 per year in energy costs, the company says.
ProTerra Hybrid Electric Water Heater | Image: Rheem
READ MORE: Building Products
Leak Detector
Kohler’s H2Wise+ water monitor shuts off the main water supply automatically and remotely when a leak is detected. The system is installed directly onto the main water line and provides regular diagnostics of the entire home’s plumbing. The internal valve can be set up to close automatically and can also be closed remotely via the KOHLER Konnect app, or manually with a local switch or small screwdriver.
H2Wise+ tracks daily water use from each fixture and faucet in the home to give homeowners a better understanding of their water usage, and the leak detector also sends pre-freeze warnings through the Kohler Konnect app to help prevent burst pipes.
H2Wise+ water monitor | Image: Kohler
Inverter Heat Pump Water Heater
LG’s ENERGY STAR certified Inverter Heat Pump Water Heater is rated with an Uniform Energy Factor of 3.75 UEF, the industry standard for measuring water heater efficiency. The higher the UEF, the more efficient the product. By comparison, most ENERGY STAR certified conventional gas and electric water heaters have UEF ratings between 0.65 and 0.95.
LG’s Inverter Heat Pump Water Heater has a wide operating range of 23°F to 120°F and includes the company’s ThinQ technology for virtual scheduling and monitoring.
Inverter Heat Pump Water Heater | Image: LG
Smart Showerhead
The Reva smart sensor showerhead by Oasense uses a built in hydro-turbine that saves 50% of the shower water by reducing water flow to 15% when the user isn’t actively rinsing. Reva then resumes full-pressure flow whenever the user steps back into the water stream.
The smart system turns on once the system’s pre-set temperature is reached. The Reva showerhead is designed to detect movement even in a steamy environment, the company says.
Reva Smart Sensor Showerhead | Image: Oasense
Water Saving Toilet
The Malibu Suite collection from Icera includes six toilets that are all equipped with the company’s patented EcoQuattro gravity flush technology for water conservation.
Malibu Suite toilets are certified as EPA WaterSense compliant and use less than 1.28 gallons per flush, 20% less water than the current federal standard of 1.6 gallons per flush, according to the EPA.