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<TITLE>Re: [Greenbuilding] low flow shower heads</TITLE>
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<FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>Not that a Navy shower is weak (as in pressure), but will provide a weak (or uncomfortable) showering experience to most people—this is ALL about perception so it’s subjective (ala CFL or LED lighting colors, marital bliss, etc.). Getting people to separate the shower and rinse cycle would be nice but I’m cynical about that—much more likely to throw on the showerhead, install a GFX (no I don’t sell them, Carmine) and let Calgon take you away. And that’s a good thing.<BR>
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99.2% is about 90% a completely made-up number. But I’m 100% sure the right figure is a very high figure.<BR>
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re: Origin – therein lies the problem, no? Breaking shopping assumptions and considering factors like where something is made/grown and distance shipped should be factored for virtually every decision in the interest of sustainability and economic security.<BR>
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I think the Hansgrohe provides a good modern model—engineered in Germany, some parts are made there, but final assembly of that SKU is in US.<BR>
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Items can have cheap plastic shells and will simply show wear over time. Gaskets can wear out. Some heads have weak threading and won’t screw tight to the wall neck (=leaks). <BR>
The lime scale can get stuck and isn’t easy to clean out—so they clog and get trashed. Many of the better heads (like the Hansgrohe and Grohe) have rubber nozzles—just rub your finger over it to clean out the scale and anti-clog. <BR>
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One line of showerheads (which I’ll let remain nameless) is all gizmo to save water and provide strong pressure but it involves a spinwheel on the face—a moving part that screams wear and replacement to me.<BR>
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On 5/13/11 3:43 PM, "Reuben Deumling" <<a href="9watts@gmail.com">9watts@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<BR>
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On Fri, May 13, 2011 at 12:32 PM, Jason Holstine <<a href="jason@amicusgreen.com">jason@amicusgreen.com</a>> wrote:<BR>
</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'><U>slight shape or design difference</U>—bigger, rounder, oblonger, squarer.... <BR>
</SPAN></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>style = higher price; fine. <BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>There are definitely <U>performance differences </U>though, obviously in the potential water and energy savings—most are 1.75 to 2.5GPM—and especially in the pressure...many on this list would be fine with a Navy shower or weak shower, <BR>
</SPAN></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>This is what I'm interested in, but I'm surprised you lump Navy with weak. My sense of the value of the button is precisely that it does not in any way interfere with the 'strength' or other qualities of the shower. It represents an opportunity to change the coincidence of acts performed in the shower with water consumption, but I'd be inclined to separate pressure and the presence or absence of a soap valve.<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>but the other 99.2% of the populace is much more picky. <BR>
</SPAN></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>I'm not sure we know this. Most folks I've mentioned the shower valve/soap button to haven't heard of it and seem to immediately like the idea--which of course doesn't mean they go out and find one and install it and live happily ever after, but it makes me suspicious of your percentage figure. <BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'><U>Durability and place of origin</U> also factors.<BR>
</SPAN></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>Say more. I happen to be inclined toward favoring both when I shop for shoes, appliances, etc., but it hadn't occurred to me that a showerhead (a) would be identified as domestically produced, or (b) that there were significant differences in durability. I'm curious--what are the wear parts on a showerhead? <BR>
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