Green University – Water Saving Toilets

In this edition of the Conserv-A-Store Green University series we will tackle a product that oddly we enjoy but is probably not viewed as very sexy….Water saving toilets.

We’ve got plenty of  pics and videos for you below but first a quick overview.

We are so lucky to have ample toilets in the USA. We are not as over-toileted as Japan which really is remarkable for it’s ubiquity of beautiful toiletry. But we are way ahead of most of the world. Any of you that have traveled some outside of the USA may have used the foot pads with the hole in the ground. For an old guy like me, it’s just very difficult to get into position and can be quite unsanitary.

But even in the USA there are toilets and then there are Water saving toilets which we all need to be using when we can.

Niagara 1.28gallons per flush(gpf) Flapperless toilet uses a dam style device to provide the flush

Toilets throughout recent history have gradually been engineered to use less water from 5 gals to 3.5 gals to 1.6 gallons per flush. The Energy Act of 1992(Hey Republicans, congrats George H W Bush was the President that signed this conservation bill into law so going Green can be a bi-partisan or we hope a non-partisan effort) mandated the gallon per flush at 1.6 gallons per flush(gpf) or about 6 liters per flush. The original 1.6 gpf toilets were horrible and did not work well. Guess the plumbers were happy. But gradually manufacturers figured it out and most 1.6 gpf toilets now do an admirable job.

Manufacturers often times led by the Europeans and Californians, who have water woes, soon began to try to go below the 1.6 gallons per flush US mandate.

Lowest flow toilets are a bit like hybrid vehicles-all manufacturers have been compelled to have them-so Kohler, American Standard, Toto, all the biggies make at least a 1.28 gallon per flush toilet and some even go lower to a 1.0 gallon per flush. Niagara Conservation with their Stealth toilet is perhaps the lowest flow for a single flush @ .8 gallons per flush

Flushing mechanism for the Niagara Stealth Toilet that only uses .8gallons per flush

There are dual flush toilets that have a separate lever for liquid and for solid waste. You can also purchase a toilet guts replacement that will make your toilet dual flush.

              The Hydroright Toilet mechanism converts your existing toilet to a dual flush

There are power flush toilets. These use a patented air force system that jets the water and increases the pressure on the waste thus removing the waste down the drain with less water.

Here’s how a power flush toilet works,

“With a pressure-assist toilet, instead of an open tank behind the toilet bowl there’s a sealed plastic vessel hidden inside the porcelain tank. After the toilet is flushed, the pressure vessel fills from the bottom using standard water pressure. As water (1.6 gallons or less, depending on the model) flows into the vessel, air in the tank is compressed above the water, “charging” the tank. No special pump or compressor is involved; water pressure creates the compressed air.
When the user flushes the toilet, this compressed air forces the flush water into the bowl at a higher velocity—and shorter duration—than with a standard gravity-flush toilet. This burst of water does an excellent job at removing waste. According to Sloan, its Flushmate pressure-assist mechanism will deliver a peak flow of flush water at about 70 gallons per minute, which is twice the velocity of gravity-flush toilets.

                                 Video of how the Sloan 1.0 gpf Pressure Assist Flushmate works

We assume that the toilet of the future will use no water and be totally air driven. That’s still a bit out there but good to know that something we use everyday but take for granted is gradually evolving to be more Green and protect the environment while saving us $ on our water costs.

Conservastore is your Green Products Superstore. We are proud to offer a variety of lowest flow and low gallon per flush water saving toilets. We have listed these below for your shopping pleasure.

Niagara Stealth Toilet uses only .8 gallons per flush-please click here

Pro Flo Toilet uses 1.28 gallons per flush-for some folks .8 may seem like too little water. These toilets also come in more finishes for those that want to decorate their bath-please click here

Niagara and Pro Flo 1.0 gallon per flush toilet. These work quite well but are a bit expensive. But over the long haul we feel the pressure assist is the way to go, will heighten your experience, and save you the most water-please click here

The Hydroright dual flush after market mechanism. You can convert your standard toilet into a dual flush in minutes-please click here