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Imagine taking a long, hot shower without wasting water and energy.
That’s the guilt-free promise of a recirculating shower, which continuously filters, sterilizes and reuses water that would otherwise go down the bathroom drain. The technology reduces water consumption up to 90% and energy use by 80% compared to a conventional shower, according to manufacturers of the devices.
“We are addressing two of the problems the world is facing, climate change and water shortages, without sacrificing the shower experience,” said Troels Grene, chief executive officer of Flow Loop, a Danish company that has developed a recirculating shower called the Eco Loop.
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Flow Loop is one of several startups bringing the technology to market in northern Europe, with plans to expand to drought-prone regions of the United States and other countries in coming years.
The high-tech showers, which sell for between $4,000 and $6,000, are part of a trend to make buildings more sustainable and resilient to climate change. Much as solar panels and battery storage have transformed homes into power stations, recirculating showers, greywater systems and rainwater tanks turn dwellings into water treatment and recycling plants.
A 2019 study found that regions across the U.S. could face water shortages in the decades ahead due in part to climate-driven droughts. Showers account for about 17% of the nation’s household water consumption, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Heating water consumes about 18% of energy in single-family homes on average and 32% in apartment buildings with five or more units.
Industrial designer Mehrdad Mahdjoubi founded Swedish recirculating shower startup Orbital Systems in 2012 after a collaboration with NASA to devise a sustainable water supply for a Mars mission. That opened his eyes to the unsustainability of water consumption on Earth.
“We have been flushing toilets with drinking water and using 25 gallons to take…
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Source : time
