ROI-Driven Products: Low-Flow Fixtures

Low-flow fixtures are plumbing fixtures that use significantly less water than conventional fixtures. They include toilets, urinals, showerheads, and faucets. Typically, a low-flow fixture will reduce water consumption by at least 20% when compared to conventional fixtures. That translates into measurable savings in both water expenses and sewage expenses, as well as a savings in the energy used to heat the water.

Low-Flow Toilets

Toilets are responsible for nearly 30% of the indoor water consumption in a typical U.S. home. In addition, a toilet made before 1994 can use over three times the water a new toilet uses. This makes the replacement of a home’s existing toilets a high priority when it comes to home and building improvements.

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The price for a new toilet installed by a qualified plumber can vary greatly depending on quality, preference, and performance. A standard high-performance toilet that uses 1.28 gallons per flush can be purchased for $150–$500. The installation charges will typically be $250–$500. This puts an average toilet replacement at $500 with both labor and materials. According to the EPA’s WaterSense program, homes that replace older toilets with new WaterSense-labeled toilets can expect a savings of up to $90 per year. That puts the simple payback on an average toilet replacement at just over five years, with an ROI of nearly 20%. Keep in mind that the ROI can be much higher if the installation is done by the homeowner.

Low-Flow Urinals

Most people don’t realize that nearly 65% of all urinals in use today exceed the maximum allowable flush standards set by the federal government. This shortfall indicates a tremendous opportunity for building owners and managers to reduce their operating expenses through the implementation of high-performance, low-flow urinals.

According to the EPA, a WaterSense-labeled urinal only uses 0.5 gallons per flush (gpf), compared to 1.5–4.5 gpf for older models. That can reduce a facility's water use by nearly 4,600 gallons per year (4.6 kilo-gallons). Assuming you live in an area that charges $10 per kilo-gallon ($5 for water and $5 for sewage), that would equate to a savings of nearly $50 per year. When comparing that to an average total installed price of $500, the simple payback is 10 years with an ROI of 10%.

Low-Flow Showerheads

A standard residential showerhead uses 2.5 gallons of water per minute (gpm). However, a low-flow WaterSense-labeled showerhead uses only 2 gpm. That is a reduction of 20%, which can lead to a total household water savings of 2,300 gallons per year. Since this will also ease the demand on water heaters, it can create an energy savings of 300 kilo-watt hours per year as well. Assuming the same $10 per kilo-gallon charge as above, and $0.10 per kilo-watt hour of electricity, a WaterSense-labeled showerhead will create a total savings of more than $50 a year. This relates nicely to an average showerhead’s total installed price of $200, allowing a simple payback of four years with an ROI of 25%. Keep in mind that the ROI will be much higher if the installation is done by the homeowner.

Low-Flow Faucets

Faucets account for more than 15% of a home’s indoor water consumption. A low-flow WaterSense-labeled bathroom sink faucet can reduce that consumption by more than 30%. That equates to nearly 500 gallons of water per year. Much like a showerhead, a low-flow faucet will also create an energy savings by reducing demand on the water heater. This savings is small, about $10 per year, but it helps to create a total savings of $15 per year. Because a homeowner is more than capable of changing out a faucet, the total installed price can be less than $100, depending on preference and quality. This allows for a simple payback of under seven years, and an ROI of approximately 15%.

As you can see, homeowners and building managers have many opportunities to reduce their expenses through low-flow fixtures. Ultimately, the question of whether the ROI justifies the expense of installing low-flow fixtures must be answered by each individual. With the data presented above, homeowners and building managers make that decision efficiently and in their own best interests.