Green Showerheads
Sweet and Low Flow
Courtesy of Delta
Water-saving showerheads add air into the water stream to ensure a functional amount of pressure.
Low-flow showerheads have gone from weak streamed to mainstream in the 21st century. In the past, when showerheads had flow rates of 5.5 gpm or greater, a 2.5 gpm showerhead was considered to be low flow. Today, 2.5 gpm is the industry standard for shower fixtures. So now the term low flow is applied to showerheads with a flow rate less than 2.5 gpm. The lower the gpm, the more eco-friendly the showerhead is. Some low-flow units produce as little as 1 gpm.
Today’s low-flow showerheads are able to reduce water use without drastically reducing water pressure. Many of them are aerating showerheads, meaning that they inject air into the water so you still get a strong stream.
Low-flow showerheads come in a variety of price points and styles. You can buy a basic low-flow unit for as little as $20, and if you crave a more sophisticated model, companies like Kohler produce low-flow rain showerheads as well as other styles.
For more information about water-saving showerheads and faucets, visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s Web site.
