The push to offer easy everyday sustainable lifestyle technology in people’s home has seen positive movement; from more efficient and Eco-friendly FMCG household products, aspirational energy consumption ambient indicators to the humble longer-lasting LED light bulb.
The household bathroom has been the stage for what I see as one of the strongest symbolic demonstrations of practicing a more resource-sensitive lifestyle with the uptake of toilet sinks. In all shapes and materials, this simple technology of conserving used tap water as flush water for the water closet is a great visually iconic green technology that encourages people to think and act smarter.
However it appears to me that so much more needs to be done in combating the other big water waster in the bathroom – the hot water shower. So much precious clean water slips away down the shower drain before it reaches a palatable hot temperature for a decent shower. Much has been promoted in taking shorter showers but it is the very start up that seems like the most wanting of a commonplace revolution.
There are several devices currently on offer such as the Chillipepper CP6000 that works the back end water tank system so that only hot water jets out of the tap.
http://www.chilipepperapp.com/howit.htm
(On a side note, instead of water conservation, another interesting approach by Retherm focuses on energy conservation by recycling the heat energy generated from used hot water.
http://www.retherm.com/HowItWorks.htm
)
There is obviously so much more white space up for grabs for water conservation in this area. It will take a whole lot more tinkering with the approach, technology, packaging and marketing for mass introduction and adoption. I’m hoping that disruptive tech change culture is already in motion.
