Save Water With A Brand New Energy Efficient Shower Head 

Having a shower versus taking a bath has always been seen as the more economical choice when it comes to saving water. But you might be surprised to know that many shower heads allow so much water to pass through that you’re often using the equivalent of a full bath tub. 

This is especially true if you use a high-powered mixer shower without any kind of limiter on the water flow. 

Electric showers tend to use less water but if your shower has a high flow rate, such as power showers, then those minutes spent in the shower can quickly add up to a lot of extra water used. There’s also the many litres of water that need to be heated quickly too to consider which can add considerably to your energy bills. 

Power showers are popular because they use a lot of water to provide a high pressure showering experience, but there are now a range of water saving shower heads that conserve water much more efficiently but still allow for a pleasurable high pressure spray. 

How do energy saving shower heads work?

By adding a water efficient shower head to your bathroom, less water is used every time you have a shower in one of two ways: either the flow rate of the water from the shower head is reduced or the water is aerated. 

Aerated water has bubbles of air mixed with the flow of water before it exits the shower head, reducing the overall amount of water used per minute. It still feels like your shower is operating at a high pressure when the amount of water infused with air is actually less. 

When a flow restrictor is present on a shower unit the flow rate is greatly reduced allowing less water to pass into the shower head as it pulsates, and when a regulator is used the flow is reduced but it gives a more constant flow.

It doesn’t matter what type of shower you have in your home, whether it’s a fixed head, a handheld shower unit, a high pressure shower or even a rainfall style shower head, there will always be a solution to reducing the amount of water you use every time you bathe.

How much water can a water efficient shower head save?

Every shower is different but there is a simple test to see how much water your shower is using per minute and whether you need a more efficient shower head. 

Put your shower head into a bucket, or place a bucket under your shower head if you have a large rainfall shower, and turn it on for exactly 60 seconds. Carefully measure how much water is in the bucket to determine the water flow rate. Anything over 10L is classed as a high flow rate and just a 10-15 minute shower is using as much as a regular bath. 

When you fit a higher efficiency shower head in your home or install a regulator the flow rate drops to around 5L per minute, saving thousands of litres of water every year for the average family. 

It’s not just the water consumption that is reduced, but also the amount of energy you use to heat the water, and there are lots of energy saving schemes in NSW such as installing a more energy efficient heat pump for your hot water needs. 

Am I eligible for a new water saving shower head?

There is a push by the local government to make households and businesses in Victoria as energy efficient as possible. As part of this there is now a government incentive which allows you to make the most of your water usage and reduce your energy bills with a more sustainable shower head. 

You can claim your discounted shower heads if you meet certain criteria such as being in Victoria and if you have an inefficient shower causing a high flow rate above 9L per minute. The water saving shower heads covered by the scheme are highly efficient, reducing the flow to around 5–7.5L per minute and boast a 4-star WELS rating.

If you have multiple showers in your property, whether it’s a home you own or a rental property, you can claim rebates on up to three shower heads that save water. You can have your new shower head fitted whether you have a wall-mounted installation or a handheld shower.

The discount you receive factors in the location of your property, the certificate price, and installation costs so you’ll be able to claim your shower head FREE OF CHARGE as installation is quick and easy for providers. It will vary from provider to provider, but they must be accredited by the VEU and remove your shower head from the home or commercial property to be recycled. 

If you live in Victoria and you’re interested in a brand new high efficiency shower head, fill out our short form with some basic details and we’ll get in touch with you as soon as possible. You could be saving hundreds of dollars every year with this one simple change!

More ways to reduce your shower water consumption

Even with an energy efficient water saving shower head installed, you can save even more water and energy by following a few simple tips:

• Limiting your time in the shower even by a few minutes will result in savings
• Turn the shower water temperature down by a few degrees
• While the shower is heating up, collect the cold water for watering plants
• Shave your legs before you get into the shower
• Take fewer showers per week, if possible
• Turn off the shower while you exfoliate your body and lather your hair
• Flow restrictors can be used in the shower hose
• Short, cold showers every so often have many beneficial health effects
• Shower at the gym if you have a membership
• Invest in a more efficient hot water heating system

Small changes implemented frequently can go a long way to saving thousands of litres of water per year in your home or business.