Home » The Investment And Savings Of Water-Efficient Products

The Investment And Savings Of Water-Efficient Products

There are generally two categories that people will fall into when it comes to choosing a variety of water-efficient products.

To fulfil an environmental conscience

These days, we are a lot more educated and aware of the impact our actions have on the environment. As such, we conduct more in-depth research around water-efficient products.

To save money long term

Water-efficient units use less water, costing us less on our water bills in the long run. It’s as straightforward as that.

water-efficient appliances

What kind of plumbing products should you ensure are energy-efficient?

As you’d expect, the four most common energy- and water-efficient products are found in three wet rooms: the bathroom, the kitchen, and the laundry.

Water-efficient showerheads

You probably already know that you should be having showers that last no more than four minutes, and you do try to adhere to that.

Truth be told, though, the time spent in the shower almost always creeps up beyond five or six minutes, and if you’re washing your hair, that can easily jump to 10 or more minutes.

Investment and savings

According to WaterRating.gov.au, the average showerhead can use 15-25 litres of water per minute. A 3-star showerhead, on the other hand, uses as little as 6 litres per minute. That’s a reduction in water usage of up to 76% per cent!

Currently, the maximum rating for showerheads is 3 stars.

Showerheads can range in price: modest devices sit around the $50-$100 mark, while others can creep up into the hundreds and beyond. Browse Reece’s products here.

water-efficient showerhead

Water-efficient taps

Water-efficient taps can be considered in all wet rooms: the bathroom (sink and bathtub), kitchen, laundry, and even outside.

Investment and savings

Prices vary considerably. Take this Dorf 6-star basin mixer from Harvey Norman: it’s listed at a hefty $595, but its water consumption is down to a very low 4.5L/minute. Compare that to a 1-star tap, which uses 12-16 litres of water per minute. That’s up to 71% less water, every time you use the tap.

A more modest tap – say, this 5-star rated one from Caroma – is listed at $152. According to the WELS labelling scheme, this tap will use between 4.5 and 6 litres per minute.

This swivel basin mixer – rated 4 stars – is priced at less than a tenth of the Dorf one: it’s on sale for $55.

The wide range of pricing available online for water-efficient taps just shows how making a step towards saving water needn’t blow your budget. There are many modestly priced fixtures out there. (But in case you are feeling lavish, how about this tap that has an LED light to reflect water temperature? It’ll set you back a cool $1000.)

Water-efficient toilets

A variety of toilet suites in a wide pricing range means you can choose a solution that can save thousands of litres of water per year.

Not only are modern toilets more water-efficient than older ones, but they are also smarter in their designs. More compact suites allow even the best water-saving toilets to be fitted in tighter spaces.

The minimum water efficiency requirement for toilets must not exceed 5.5 litres per flush. Compare that to older toilets, which could use up to 12 litres per flush! And remember, 5.5 litres is just the WELS minimum. More efficient toilets – up to 4-star ratings, 3.2 litres per flush.

That’s a huge decline from those older, traditional toilets.

Investment and savings

Just like the examples of taps we listed above, toilets can vary considerably in price, too. From suites upwards of $1800 to others as low as just a few hundred dollars, you can mind your budget and your household’s water usage with an efficient toilet in your home.

Read more about water-efficiency – one of a few considerations when choosing a new toilet – in this blog post.

Water-efficient washing machines

Since 2012, the Government has enforced the following regulations for whitegoods suppliers:

  • Washing machines with a capacity of 5 or more kilograms must have a WELS rating of at least 3 stars
  • Washing machines with a capacity less than 5 kilograms must have a WELS rating of at least 2.5 stars

Investment and savings

Front loaders are generally more water-efficient than their top loader counterparts, however as stated above, both kinds of machines meet the minimum requirement of a 2.5 star rating.

The reason front loaders are more water-efficient comes down to two factors:

  • Different washing action
  • Better spinning performance

This Betta Electrical article helps explain the difference.

water-efficient products

What is WELS?

WELS stands for Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards. It is a scheme created and instilled by the Australian Government. It requires certain products to be “registered and labelled with their water efficiency in accordance with the standard set under the national WELS Act 2005.

Technical definition aside, it also helps consumers just like you a simple way to understand the water efficiency of various products and appliances common around the home, in order to help Australia save more water!

Just look for the stars: the more stars a product has on its label, the more water-efficient it is.

 

Make the move to water-efficient products in your home

Sustainability doesn’t mean a compromise to style, quality, or comfort. As time goes on, new ways of water saving and conservation are only getting better and more effective.

If you want to see a drop in your water bills while simultaneously saving water for our planet, contact the expert team at Watermaster. We can create bespoke water-efficient solutions for your home or commercial property, while keeping your budget in check.

You might think it’s only a small move, but it’s making a big difference when it comes to earth’s sustainability! Contact Watermaster today.

2023-01-10T12:06:57+00:00 December 15th, 2016|Blog|