A few months back, we covered Nebia, a shower head that has impeccable water savings - it’s here, and folks can buy one today for about $400 (USD). This showerhead atomizes the water to deliver a different shower experience while producing over 70% water savings and a healthy dose of energy savings.
These great water-saving showerheads are all well and good, but what if we rethought the shower system as a whole within the home?
The shower system of today has one or multiple flows of warm water, and once that water is used, it ends up down the drain. A couple of companies have come up with ingenious ways of making the shower system into a closed loop. What does that mean?
Closed-loop showers start with a defined amount of water and recycle its flow repeatedly, adding smaller amounts of warm water at specific intervals. This process delivers a great showering experience that doesn’t feel like you’re under the gun to get out of there quickly. It also means you can have water fixtures that deliver a very high flow, as much as 4 gallons per minute, without any guilt.
Orbital Systems and Flow Loop are the companies that are pioneering this new shower system. Orbital charges $3,995 (USD) for their system today, and Flow Loop is currently in development with an aim to deliver a similar product at a lower price point.
If you think $4k a hefty price to pay - Orbital says $1,100 (USD) in savings per year are at stake, so making that investment back could be a breeze depending on your water and energy rates.
It should also be noted both companies have thought through the retrofit vs new build scenario - with offerings for both homeowners.
All this to say - there is tremendous merit in this type of product - while it reduces the amount of waste, lowers your footprint, and gives your wallet a break, it also improves the overall experience of showering.