Home improvement can pay for itself, and even put cash back in your pocket – if you’re putting your money in the right places.  Renovations that increase your home’s energy efficiency aren’t just nice for the environment, they can be economical as well.  The folks at One Block Off The Grid offer a great guide to help you sort out which upgrades make the most sense for your home.

The graphic highlights a range of improvements, both big and small, that will cut your utility bills while reducing your home’s environmental footprint.  Each project is marked with four key figures:  average annual savings, projected savings over a 20-year period, the amount of time for the project to pay for itself, and the cost of the renovation.

(click to view the full size image)

The handy illustration points out that in terms of financial investment, many of these home upgrades can offer a better payoff than traditional investments like stocks or CDs.  And depending where you live, incentives like rebates and tax breaks can make the renovation costs substantially cheaper.

These aren’t just long-term projects, either:  upgrades like low-flow showerheads and programmable thermostats can pay for themselves in less than a year, making them a good choice for renters as well as homeowners.  Larger scale renovations on the other hand, like a green roof or solar array, have the potential to save a homeowner tens of thousands of dollars over the years.

(via One Block Off The Grid)

Reduce Your Home's Water Consumption

Reducing household water usage has big-time benefits for both homeowners and for the environment: reducing strain on local water resources, cutting demand on wastewater treatment facilities, and lowering both water and sewage utility bills, to name a few. Although this is by no means an exhaustive list, we’ve put together a collection of water-saving tips and products that can help you save money and reduce your environmental footprint.

Best of all, these don’t require major sacrifices or lifestyle changes, they’re just adjustments that make a big difference – sort of the water conservation equivalent of “working smart instead of working hard”.

Basic Maintenance

Small Leaks Can Waste Huge Amouts Of Water

Check your fixtures and pipes. Give your household plumbing a good look. Do you see any leaks, even just tiny drips when a faucet is turned on? All those drops add up. A leaky faucet washer can waste tens of gallons of water per day, so why pay for all that water you aren’t using? Plus, by sealing the leak, you’ll avoid the maintenance nightmare of repairing water damage if the little drip turns into a raging flow.

Check your meter. Take a look at your water meter before you leave home to run your errands, then check it a couple hours later when you return (and you know there has been no water use.) If you see any change on the meter, there’s a leak somewhere. Find it and fix it.

Next Stop: The Kitchen

Reuse kitchen water. Instead of wasting it down the drain, use a pail to collect the water you use for rinsing vegetables or cooking foods like pasta or potatoes. The added nutrients make it great for watering a garden.

Don’t let the water run… and run… Of course, this is good advice in the bathroom too, but it’s especially easy to waste water in the kitchen. Make the effort to turn off the faucet when you don’t need it, even for a couple seconds – the water savings will add up quickly. A faucet pedal makes it even easier to regulate water use when your hands are full. One of our favorites is the Pedal Works Hands-Free Faucet Controller ($349 at Amazon)

Pedal Works Hands-Free Faucet Controller

Use the dishwasher. This is an indulgence you can feel good about. A modern, energy-star rated dishwasher loaded to capacity will use less water and energy than hand washing in the sink. And you can generally skip the pre-rinse, further reducing water use.

Bosch SHX68E Evolution 800 Plus Dishwasher

Bosch is an industry leader when it comes to efficient dishwashers. The Bosch SHX68E Evolution 800 Plus is extraordinarily energy efficient, and uses just 1.56 gallons of water per cycle. Fair enough, this is the Rolls Royce of dishwashers ($1,732.56 at Amazon) but all major manufacturers now offer their own energy star models.

If you must wash by hand, don’t let the water run constantly. Fill the sink with soapy water, wash the dishes, then refill with rinse water.

Bathrooms

Sorry, baths. Despite the very name of the room, baths are a killer when it comes to household water conservation. Showers use a fraction of the water compared to baths, so avoid the full-on tub soaking whenever possible.

Go low-flow. New low-flow showerheads match the performance of older, wasteful designs, while drastically cutting water consumption. One of the best is the Delta Water Amplifying Low-Flow Showerhead ($29.98 at Amazon), which uses just 1.85 gallons per minute in its low-flow mode, yet maintains impressive water pressure for rinsing.

Delta Water Amplifying Low-Flow Showerhead

Shower smart. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get distracted in the shower, what with all the singing and pondering the mysteries of the universe. But try to keep it short – reducing a shower by just two minutes can easily save 100 gallons of water each month.

A nifty little gadget to help you avoid wasting water by being aware of how much you’re using is the Water Pebble, designed by Paul Priestman. The Water Pebble is placed in a sink or shower, and uses green, yellow, and red indicator lights to give a quick visual reference of how much water is being used. Learn more at the Priestman Goode Design website.

The Water Pebble

And While We’re Talking Bathrooms… Low-flow toilets are good, but toilets with a dual-flush option are even better. One of the best is the Caroma Caravelle ($369 at Amazon) which performs just as well as many older high-flow designs but uses only 0.8 gallons per flush for liquids, or 1.6 gallons for solids – which can translate into annual utility savings of $100 in water-restricted areas.

Caroma Caravelle Dual-Flush Toilet

Finally, don’t use the toilet as a trash can. Even with a low-flow design, flushing a tissue or a cigarette butt is an unnecessary waste of water.

Bring The Rain Indoors

OXO Good Grips Pour & Store Watering Can

Rainwater is great for watering indoor plants. It’s free, and it’s actually better for your plants than using municipal water from the faucet. Rainwater contains no chlorine, and its ambient temperature is easier for plants to tolerate than cold tap water. The OXO Good Grips Pour & Store watering can ($15.50 at Amazon) is great for indoor use, thanks to its ergonomic design and compact folding spout.

Do you have other suggestions for simple ways to cut household water consumption? Leave a comment below and let us know!

A Metaefficient Bathroom – Environmentally Friendly And Functional

A bathroom may be one of the smallest rooms of a home, but make no mistake – it’s a vital one. Whether you’re building a new home or renovating an existing one, integrating efficient components into a bathroom will add convenience and improve functionality, and also minimize the environmental impact of energy and water consumption.

When considering each individual component of a truly efficient bathroom, remember that how an item is produced is important as well as its design. And a product’s lifecycle is always a key consideration, since a long-lasting item saves the need for a new purchase and keeps the old out of the waste stream.

After scouring user reviews and comparing countless features and designs, we’ve compiled the following list of standout products. Here are some of the most innovative and promising components on the market for putting together a “meta-efficient dream bathroom”.

Caroma Caravelle Dual-Flush Toilet

Caroma Caravelle Dual-Flush Toilet

Toilets can be real water-hogs, often consuming far more water than is really needed for waste disposal – in fact, older designs can send up to seven gallons of water down the drain with every flush. Low-flow toilets typically use just 1.6 gallons per flush, and their performance has improved dramatically since water-conserving designs were mandated in the 1990’s. Dual-flush toilets are an even more efficient solution, since flushing liquid waste actually requires very little water.

Why It Was Chosen:
The EPA “WaterSense” rated Caroma Caravelle is one of the best dual-flush designs available. Caroma has produced dual-flush toilets for years in its home country of Australia, where water restrictions are a part of everyday life. The Caravelle uses a mere 0.8 gallons per flush for liquids, or 1.6 gallons for solids, while still performing just as well as many older high-flow designs. The water saved is an double environmental advantage, since both freshwater consumption and wastewater treatment are reduced, and utility savings can add up to $100 per year for homeowners in water-restricted areas.

You can find the Caroma Caravelle Dual-Flush Toilet for around $352 at Amazon.

Delta Water Amplifying Low-Flow Showerhead

Delta Water Amplifying Low-Flow Showerhead

Showerheads are certainly a matter of personal preference. But regardless of the style you choose, make sure to look for a low-flow design (generally less than two gallons per minute). The newest designs can amplify low water pressure and provide a more powerful spray, while using far less water than older styles.

Delta Water Amplifying Low-Flow Showerhead

Why It Was Chosen:
Thanks to its aerating “H2O Kinetic Technology”, the Delta Water Amplifying Low-Flow Showerhead still provides solid water pressure in its 1.85 gallon-per-minute low-flow mode. It minimizes unnecessary water waste with normal use, but a control allows the user to switch to a high-flow rate if necessary. It features a self-cleaning design to avoid clogging, and its classic styling will match almost any bathroom style.

The Delta Water Amplifying Low-Flow Showerhead is available at Amazon for about $30.

Pedal Works Hands-Free Faucet Controller

Pedal Works Hands-Free Faucet Controller

There are countless faucet designs to match any bathroom, but regardless of the style you choose, adding a faucet foot pedal to control water flow will drastically cut water waste while adding convenience. Your sink will stay cleaner since you don’t need to touch the handles with dirty hands, and you’ll avoid wasting water during tasks like shaving or brushing your teeth.

Why It Was Chosen:
The Pedal Works Hands-Free Faucet Controller works in conjunction with your existing faucet. A user simply sets the handles for the water temperature needed, and controls the stream using the floor-level pedal. A toe latch provides continuous flow if desired, and allows normal hand control of the faucet too.

The Pedal Works Faucet Controller isn’t cheap, but over time it will save money by preventing water waste. Available for $349 at Amazon.

EnviroGLAS Recycled-Glass Terazzo Countertop

EnviroGLAS Recycled-Glass Terazzo Countertop

Solid surface countertops have become much more popular in recent years compared to laminate styles. If you decide on a solid countertop design, be sure to pick a material that minimizes the potential drawbacks of high maintenance, toxic composite resins, and high embodied-energy content from transportation or raw material usage.

Why It Was Chosen:
EnviroGLAS creates terrazzo-style countertops from 100% recycled glass and porcelain, bound with resins that produce no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The material is durable and low-maintenance too, requiring no waxes or harsh cleaners.

Prices vary depending on specific color and material choices. Learn more at the EnviroGLAS website.

Kohler Steward S Waterless Urinal

Kohler Steward S Waterless Urinal

Fair enough, not all homeowners have the space (or desire) to integrate a urinal into a personal bathroom. But a waterless urinal can slash water consumption while adding convenience for male members of a household, elevating it beyond some sort of “man cave” novelty.

Why It Was Chosen:
The Kohler Steward S Waterless Urinal completely eliminates unnecessary water waste, making it even more efficient than a dual-flush toilet and earning “water efficiency” points toward a LEED rating. Its odor-minimizing, splash-resistant design reduces the need for maintenance, saving on time and the use of cleaners. And its modern but understated design maintains an aesthetic that’s still appropriate for home décor.

The Kohler Steward S Waterless Urinal retails for a hefty $532, but you can find it at Amazon for around $367.

C. Crane Geobulb 3 LED Lightbulb (Warm White)

C. Crane Geobulb 3 LED Lightbulb (Warm White)

Vanity lighting is admittedly an area where personal preference will dictate the types of lights you install. LED bulbs may not work for all applications in a bathroom setting, but they’re definitely worth considering for vanities and “open can” recessed lighting fixtures. The initial cost is a bit steep, but they use even less power than their compact fluorescent counterparts, plus they last far longer and contain no mercury.

Why It Was Chosen:
Some LED bulbs have struggled to match the brightness of incandescents or even fluorescents, but one of the best incandescent-replacement LED bulbs available is the Geobulb 3 from C. Crane. It uses just 7 watts of power to produce 520 lumens, matching the overall light output of a 50-60 watt incandescent bulb. And because of the directional nature of LEDs, the Geobulb 3 produces more light from the top of the bulb, so it’s especially well suited for use in open mounted fixtures as opposed to shaded lamps. The Geobulb 3 is rated for a 50,000-hour lifespan, and it’s also available in “Soft White” and “Cool White” styles.

The C. Crane Geobulb 3 LED Lightbulb is available at Amazon for $69.95.

Have you included any of these items in your own bathroom design? Or have you tried others that you are especially pleased with? Leave a comment and let us know!

I’ve tested many products over the past year. Here are three that have particularly impressed me with their efficiency:

A Neti Pot

Recently, I’ve been won over by a simple device: the neti pot. This ceramic pot can be used to cleanse your nasal passages. The practice of Neti comes from the ancient tradition of Yoga and Ayurveda. So how does it work? Basically, you put warm water and salt in a Neti pot. You then pour the solution in one nostril, and it comes out the other one. The flowing liquid clears your sinuses of  dirt, allergens and pollutants.

Does it string? Well, I don’t like getting water up my nose. But neti is non-irritating if you use warm water and the correct amount of salt. This saline solution matches the composition of your nasal mucus quite well. It took me a few days to get the solution and technique right.

You can learn more than you ever wanted to know about Neti in the book Neti: Healing Secrets of Yoga and Ayurveda by David Fawley. The author really knows his stuff — I’ve read many books by him. Besides giving basic instructions on using the Neti pot correctly, the book goes into the more advanced uses of the Neti pot, including using it to administer herbal remedies.

Sennheiser PX 100 Folding Headphones

Sennheiser PX 100 Portable Headphones

These $35 headphones from Sennheiser (PX 100s) are probably the best portable headphones available.  I’ve tried all kinds of earbuds and lightweight headphones, but in terms of sound quality and comfort, the Sennheisers are the most efficient. The PX 100s have excellent sound quality, and they are comfortable to wear. They also fold up, so that you can put them in your pocket. I’m rough on my gadgets, and the PX 100s have survived a couple of years with me. They’ve been crushed, yanked, and have endured general rough treatment. By contrast, I had a pair of portable Grado Heaphone. They sounded great but of one of the ear pieces broke after a few months.

Merino Wool Underwear

You may have heard me chant the praises of merino wool clothing previously. But merino wool is particularly excellent as an underwear material. It has all the right properties: it regulates temperature, breathes and it doesn’t trap odors. It also doesn’t itch — and believe me I don’t like clothing that itches. You can also put them in with your regular laundry.

Icebreaker and Smartwool both make merino wool underwear for and women. Smartwool boxers are slightly less expensive ($35 each).

Overview

A meta-efficient design for a bathroom.

Water

Water in the bathroom: use filtered rain water, otherwise filter water very thoroughly (i.e. remove: chlorine, heavy metals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, VOCs, radon, and other contaminants).

Channel greywater into a garden.

Air Purification

Purify the air using indoor plants.

Heating

Use radiant heat through the floor. Heat via direct sunlight. Otherwise: from direct, renewable source (i.e. wood or sunlight).

Water Heating

Heat water using a point-of-use instant water heater thus reducing water wait time and external tanks. Heat using a renewable source.

Sinks

Use low-flow aerators, use foot-pedals to control faucets for increased hygiene, water reduction, accessibility (children, elderly). See previous post for more information.

Shower

Contain shower heat by sealing entire shower (thus reducing the need to heat water).  Use an ultra-low-flow, aerated showerhead. If the water is not filtered, remove chlorine using vitamin C. Heat water at point-of use, reclaim heat after use. Use non-slip surface reducing injuries (i.e. textured tile). Incorporate handles for accessibility. Make faucets reachable by children. Overall use open shower design.

Towels

Choose optimal towels.

Soap

Choose optimal soap but incorporate dispensers to converse.

Baths

See shower principles. For a tub, recommend an ofuro is recommended, specifically one made of Alaskan yellow or Port Orford white cedar: aromatic, repels bacteria. Or ceramic. Dead sea salt most optimal for bath.

Toilet

A toilet that combines squatting, cleaning with water (bidet function), urine separation, feces composting (sewer-free). Use sewage to produce biogas (fuel). See my article: The Three Fundamental Flaws Of The Modern Western Toilet.

Light

Natural where possible (suntubes, skylights, opaque glass windows) otherwise use meta-efficient lights. Use LED task lights (motion-sensing), and ambient lights (LED bulb preferred –see 75 watt LED equivalents). Also, use low-wattage LED motion-sensing lights for night-time trips (so as to not wake others).

Psychology

Design for comfort and sufficient privacy.

Building Materials

Non-toxic, natural, waterproof, mildew-proof. Tile, naturally-treated wood, glass, stone.

Floor Coverings

If needed should be removable, washable.

Cleaning

Smooth, uncluttered surfaces to optimal cleaning.

Optimal cleaning products: non-toxic, organic. Scents: essential oils.

My unwinking, analytical gaze of efficiency now turns to the toilet. Unfortunately, the design of the modern Western toilet is highly inefficient, in fact, it is so inefficient that it is actually harming our health. The modern toilet has only been around for about 150 years — the “porcelain throne” was created to “give dignity” to the water closet, rather than considering human physiology.

There are three fundamental problems with the Western toilet:

1. It’s designed to be used in the sitting position, and this is an ineffectual position for evacuating the bowels
2. The use of toilet paper is an ineffectual way to clean one’s posterior
3. Defecating in fresh water, and flushing the feces away for treatment doesn’t make sense

Let’s examine these fundamental problems:

Squat Toilets

Squatting is the natural position for elimination — it makes the process easier and more complete. Two thirds of the human race squat to answer the call of nature.

According to Jonathan Isbit, author of Nature Knows Best: The Health Benefits of the Natural Squatting Position, squatting prevents “fecal stagnation” which is a prime factor in colon cancer, appendicitis and inflammatory bowel disease (more details here). Virtually every physician and physiologist who has ever troubled to write on the subject agrees that the squatting position is the optimal position for elimination (for a survey of the research see The Bathroom by Alexander Kira). For example, F. A. Hornibrook, author of the Culture of the Abdomen, says that unfortunately “constipation has become a contentment in Western countries”.

Squat toilets are also easier to clean, because they are simpler and there’s not as many surfaces to clean.

A Squat Toilet In A Japanese Home

Blue Earth Ceramics is the only manufacturer of squat toilets in the U.S.

Jonathan Isbit sells a device called Nature’s Platform that allows you to squat on a conventional toilet. His description is as follows: “It has a five-degree slope so that you don’t have to balance on the balls of your feet. It folds up in 3 seconds so other family members are not inconvenienced. It is lightweight, but still strong and stable enough to hold a 300-pound man or woman.”

Nature's Platform: Retrofit Your Toilet For Squatting

Bidets

Toilet paper an ineffectual way of cleaning one’s posterior. Not to get too graphic — but it just smears more than cleans. Using water for cleaning is much more effective, and it has a therapeutic effect on damaged skin (it’s gentle on rashes or hemorrhoids).

The use of toilet paper also requires enormous resources. We use 36.5 billions rolls of toilet paper in the U.S. each year, this represents at least 15 million trees pulped. This also involves 473,587,500,000 gallons of water to produce the paper and 253,000 tons of chlorine for bleaching purposes. The manufacturing process requires about 17.3 terawatts of electricity annually. Also, there is the energy and materials involved in packaging and transporting the toilet paper to households across the country.

Toilet paper also constitutes a significant load on the city sewer systems, and water treatment plants. It is also often responsible for clogged pipes. In septic systems, the elimination of toilet paper would mean the septic tank would need to be emptied much less often.

Basically, the huge industry of producing toilet paper could be eliminated through the use of bidets. Instead of using toilet paper, a bidet cleans your posterior using a jet of water. Some bidets also provide an air-drying mechanism.

In Japan, high-tech bidets called Washlets are now the most popular electronic equipment being sold–60% of households have them installed. In Venezuela they are found in approximately 90% of households.

Inexpensive bidets are available–you can find a $65 bidet seat that attaches to your toilet. This model uses no electricity or hot water. After using a bidet, most people find cold water is fine, and not particularly shocking to one’s rear. Occasionally, a few sheets of paper are needed to dry oneself. Many people say that even a bidet is unnecessary, the say a garden type pump sprayer works best. Indeed, this method of washing is common in Asia. You can also find simple travel bidets for under $20.

This book is a good source of information on bidets: Everything There Is To Know, From The First and Only Book On The Bidet. The book discusses the different models of bidets, the health aspects and ecological benefits.

Waterless Composting Toilets

Waterless Composting Toilet: Envirolet

The sewer systems we use today are entirely ineffectual and unnecessary. The primary flaw in our design is that we use fresh water to dispose of feces. This is perhaps the most ineffectual thing to do with human manure — it pollutes fresh water, and it requires municipalities to maintain extremely costly sewage treatment infrastructures. Even after treatment, sewage can still wreck havoc on rivers and groundwater. The most effective and straightforward thing to do with sewage is to compost it (or use it to produce fuel via biogas). It’s a valuable resource.

Holding Tank Of Composting Toilet

I’ve written about the benefits of composting toilets and buildings that are completely sewer-free. See also the Composting Toilet Systems Book and Humanure Handbook for more information.

Other good books on this topic:

Liquid Gold: The Lore and Logic of Using Urine To Grow Plants

Reusing The Resource: Adventures in Ecological Wastewater Recycling

Foot pedal faucet controllers allow you to control a faucet hands-free. These devices are efficient and hygienic — they are commonly found in commercial kitchens and hospitals. I’m not sure why we don’t see them in more homes. You can reduce water use by 50% using pedal controllers, and if it’s hot water, you’ll be saving power too.

At a sink, you control the flow of a faucet with a pedal much like the accelerator in a car. It’s easier to turn off the faucet when you are brushing your teeth, shaving, or doing the dishes. In a four-person household, the use of pedal controllers in the kitchen alone can save up to 7500 gallons of water annually, as well as conserve the energy needed to heat those gallons.

Hand-free faucet controllers also guard against the transfer of bacteria between faucet fixtures and hand. They are particularly useful when your hands have paint or soil on them.

Pedal controllers can be installed relatively easily under the sink, although most do require an electrical connection.

Some foot pedal faucet controllers retailers are: Pedal Works Hand-Free, Foot Faucet and Chicago Faucet Shoppe.

The Best Kitchen Faucet Aerators

One of the least expensive ways to increase the efficiency of your home is to install low-flow aerators on your faucets. These devices save water, and lower utility bills as well, because less hot water is used. Because of this, low-flow aerators will generally pay for themselves in only a few months. Standard faucet aerators will allow flow rates of 2.5 – 5 gallons of water per minute. But for bathroom faucets, low-flow aerators that deliver 0.5 to 1 gallon (1.9 to 3.8 liters) of water per minute will deliver the same force of spray, but often in a more pleasing fashion. Kitchen faucets may require a higher flow rate of 2 to 4 gallons (7.6 to 15.1 liters) per minute if you regularly fill the sink for washing dishes. If you tend to let the water run when washing dishes, the lower flow rate of 0.5 to 1 gallon per minute may be more appropriate. Some kitchen aerators will allow you to flip between two flow rates without affecting the water temperature (see below).

Here are some figures on faucet water usage: 15% of an average household’s daily water consumption is through faucet use. In a family of four, where each person uses the bathroom sink for 6 minutes each day, using a 0.5 gallon per minute aerator (instead of a 2.5 gallon per minute aerator) would reduce the daily household water consumption by 48 gallons per day, which totals 17,520 gallons annually.

Here’s a video by USA Landlord that demonstrates how to install a typical low-flow aerator:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Let’s take a look at the most efficient aerators available:

Sink Faucet Aerator 0.5 GPM

This is a basic aerator which provides an even spray pattern, and uses only 0.5 gallons of water per minute. It is suited to bathroom sinks (e.g. where washing hands and brushing teeth take place). It’s a chrome-plated brass faucet aerator by Niagara Conversation. It’s available from Amazon for $1.50. Update, out of stock at Amazon — also available from USA Landlord and Energy Federation Incorporated.

Sink Faucet Aerator 1.5 GPM

Faucet Aerator

This aerator is similar to the 0.5 GPM version, but the 1.5 GPM rate is more suited to kitchen sinks, where a faster flow is often needed. It’s available from Amazon and EFI for about $1.95.

Deluxe Flip Aerator

Kitchen Faucet Aerator

This bath or kitchen sink aerator has a fingertip on/off control lever, and it’s rated at 2.5 GPM. It allows you to temporarily slow flow of water while maintaining water temperature. This aerator is available from Amazon for $6.50. Also available at Amazon and EFI.

Deluxe Kitchen Swivel Aerator

Deluxe Flip Aerator

This kitchen aerator is similar to the Deluxe Flip Aerator — it has a touch flow restrictor, but it also swivels, allowing you to clean the sink. It controls water flow to only 2.2 gallons per minute but with 60 psi.

This aerator is available from Amazon, USA Landlord, or EFI for about $7.

High-Performance “Vacuum Flow” Aerator

This high-performance aerator uses the least amount of water, but it is also the most expensive. The aerator uses a vacuum flow “booster” valve where water is aerated and “compacted” under vacuum pressure. Because of the force of the vacuum chamber, the aerated water leaves the aerator in a powerful stream, but at a very low rate of consumption — 0.375 gallons per minute. Thus gives it the feel of an aerator that uses 3 – 5 times as much water. Also comes in 0.5 GPM and 0.7 GPM versions.

Available from SaveWaterUs for $24.95

Here are links to the low-flow aerator manufacturers mentioned in the article: Niagara Conversation, SaveWaterUs and AM Conservation Group.

I’ve been testing the Road Runner low-flow showerhead, which is rated at 1.59 gallons per minute. Currently, it’s my favorite showerhead, beating out my previous favorites: the 2GPM Oxygenics showerhead, and the 1.75GPM Nigara Earth Massage showerhead. The Road Runner has a unique feature: it has a built-in sensor that detects when the water gets warm enough for showering (95° F or 35° C), and then it “pauses” the shower by reducing the water flow to a trickle. 

You don’t have to wait for the water to warm up, instead you go do something else like brush your teeth. This feature works quite well for me, and I might end up saving some hot water. You can see a video of the showerhead working here.

I also liked the consistent, rain-like flow of the Road Runner showerhead — the showerhead has a nice wide coverage pattern. The manufacturer says the Road Runner will produce a constantly flow, even if your water pressure is variable.

The Road Runner showerehead is available from Clean Air Gardening for $40.

This post has been updated for 2011.

I recently wrote about Filtering Your Drinking Water Very Efficiently, but let us turn now to your shower water. When we shower, we absorb the substances dissolved in water through our skin quite readily. For example, 60% of the chlorine absorbed daily comes from showering in chlorinated water. The chlorine is absorbed directly from the water and from the chlorine gas released into the air.

Ideally, we would filter out all the undesirable chemicals from our shower water. However, unless you have a whole house water filter, this is not possible. This is because filtering water at the showerhead is problematic — the water moves fast, making filtering difficult, and the water is typically hot, which is also undesirable for filtering.

So basically, if you are filtering your shower water at the showerhead, you can only really hope to remove chlorine from the water. Shower filter manufacturers who claim otherwise should probably be viewed with skepticism. But chlorine is certainly one of the first you’d want to remove from your shower water. Anyone who has swam in a swimming pool with high levels of chlorine, can tell you that it dries and irritates the skin, makes  hair brittle, and causes eyes to become red and itchy. Also, inhaling the toxic steam can aggravate the sinuses and lungs. But it’s not only chlorine that’s in municipal water these days, increasingly cities are adding chloramines to the water. Chloramines are more stable compound, containing chlorine and ammonia. Unfortunately chloramines are more difficult to remove from water.

However, there are filters out there that will remove 100% of chlorine and chloramines from your shower water: vitamin C-based shower filters. These filters have a simple method of operation: the shower water passes through the block of vitamin C, and the chlorine is converted to inorganic chlorides. Vitamin C shower filters are made by a few companies, for example VitaC Shower, Keosan and Sonaki. You can also get filters for your bath too.

Another common type of shower filter is the KDF filter, which uses copper and zinc for filtration. KDF filters remove free chlorine by reversing the electrochemical process that originally separated the chlorine from sodium in a brine solution. KDF filters, however, have a important limitation: they do not remove chloramines. Also, KDF shower filters are affected by water pressure. When the water pressure is not high enough, water can’t pass through the KDF powders. KDF filters also tend to get clogged very quickly. I’ve seen some buyers on Amazon reporting that their KDF filters get clogged after a couple months.

Some shower filters use activated carbon. This is effective in reducing certain organic chemicals and chlorine in cold water. Chlorine is attracted to and held (absorbed) into the surface of the carbon particles. However, the efficiency of absorption is quickly nullified when the water becomes warm. The lifetime of an activated carbon shower filter is very short. An activated carbon shower filter gets clogged very quickly by the dirt it is meant to stop.

So I recommend a vitamin C shower filter like the VitaC Shower brand filter. I’ve used these filters for years, they remove 100% of the chlorine and chloramines from your shower water, and will last about 6 months before they need replacement.