October -2007 - marks 15th anniversary of national Energy Policy Act

This is where it all started. The National Energy Policy Act Of 1992, began regulating the amount of water flowing through showerheads, faucets and toilets. I was the distributor at that time, living in the Midwest. To us there was no water shortage. We had the Mississippi River, which several times, reached well above flood stage. As toilets went from using 3.5 gallons per flush (GPF) to 1.6 gallons per flush.

Distributors were going crazy over the new regulations and doing anything they could to get there allotment of remaining 3.5 gallon per flush toilets. There were some distributors that went as far as ordering whole truckloads of toilets.

This regulation was difficult on the entire industry, putting most of the burden on the manufactures to develop, design and manufacture these new water saving products. However, as distributors trying to keep our customers informed and supplied with product, we were in the difficult position of stocking double inventory. People and industries are extremely hard change and for a long time, or as long as the product was available, most of the industry was hesitant to change. Below is a statement from Kohler marking the 15th anniversary for tighter standards of water efficient products, and Kohler’s goal for consumers to think and consider water efficient products.

The kitchen and bath industry is buzzing as this National Kitchen and Bath Month marks the 15-year anniversary of the national Energy Policy Act, which created tighter standards for water-efficient products, such as toilets, faucets and showerheads. Now, low-flow water facuets have been added as the next product eligible for the EPA’s WaterSense label.

It was October 24, 1992 when EPACT took effect, lowering the national standard from 3.5 gallons per flush (gpf) to 1.6 gpf for all residential toilets sold in the United States. This new national standard reduced water usage, on average, by 20,000 gallons per year, per household.

Since then, Kohler Co. has been at the vanguard of low-flow toilets and flushing technology, having developed several toilets that surpass the federal mandate by flushing with a mere 1.28 gpf. Some models are even more efficient, such as the KOHLER Highline® and Wellworth® Pressure Lite™ models, which use exactly 1.1 gallons. Kohler’s focus on technology also led it to deveolp waterless urinals—mostly used in commercial settings—which effectively remove liquid waste without any water. Flushing toilets accounts for approximately 25 percent of a home’s water usage, so replacing one toilet can save a lot of water.

Faucets also use significant amounts of water, and Kohler has taken steps to reduce water-flow, while maintaining functionality. Consumers now can purchase WaterSense-listed faucets, which ensures the faucet is a water-efficient, high-performing product. Bathroom sink faucets bearing the WaterSense label will use no more than 1.5 gpm. If every household in America installed at least one WaterSense-listed faucet, aerator or faucet adaptor, collectively they could save more than 60 billion gallons of water per year. WaterSense-listed faucet accessories—aerators and faucet adaptors—will also be available from Kohler.

The new MasterShower Eco showerhead and handshower help make showering, the fastest growing category in the bathroom, more ecological without sacrificing the quality of water coverage or temperature control. The 2.0 gpm–as opposed to the industry standard of 2.5 gpm–sprayheads reduce water consumption in the shower by up to 20 percent, which amounts to substantial water savings considering the ever-increasing popularity of showers.

Whether specifying plumbing products that help buildings become more water-efficient, reduce facility operating costs or accommodate the preferences of homeowners, environmentally conscious KOHLER fixtures and faucets address the challenging demands of customers and preserve one of our most precious natural resources.

WaterSense, a voluntary public-private partnership program, seeks to protect the future of the nation’s water supply by promoting water efficiency and enhancing the market for water-efficient products, programs and practices.