A Brief Look at the New Eco Toilets - Part I
The Energy Policy Act was passed by congress in 1992.
Among other things, it mandated that toilets could not use more than 1.
6 gallons of water for flushing.
When the law went into effect in 1994, new toilets had been designed by all the major manufacturers of bathroom fixtures.
But there was a problem with these new "eco toilets".
Evidently, two years was not enough time for the manufacturers to research the new toilet design.
Because, even though the new "green toilets" passed the 1.
6 gallon limit, there was not enough water to flush out all the solid waste.
So it often took 2 or more flushes to complete the job.
In recent years, however, this situation has dramatically changed.
There is a confusing variety of new toilet designs to choose from that save water.
They all meet the requirements of the 1992 law, varying from 1.
6 gallons all the way down to zero gallons.
A low flush toilet has the tank and bowl completely redesigned, so that less water is able to achieve the desired effect.
The dual flush toilet has two separate flush handles: one for solid waste, which uses the full 1.
6 gallons of water, and another that uses much less water, when the full flush is not needed.
Pressure toilets fill a storage tank with water under pressure, so when flushed, water gushes out with more force than just the force of gravity.
Of course, much less water is required to empty the bowl.
When the handle of a flapperless toilet is pushed, a bucket of water tips over in the tank, which then flushes the toilet.
Less water is needed, and an additional benefit is there are no rubber seals necessary, which can save on repair bills caused by leaky valves.
The toilets mentioned above are only the varieties that still use water for flushing.
Other types don't need any water at all.
These kinds of eco toilets will be the subject of another article.
Even though it has been over 15 years since the low-flush law went into effect, many of the new green toilets have yet to become popular.
In coming years, increased usage should decrease the cost of some of these fixtures to where they will gain more widespread acceptance.
For more useful information about the new eco toilets, see the author's website, as mentioned in the paragraph below.
Among other things, it mandated that toilets could not use more than 1.
6 gallons of water for flushing.
When the law went into effect in 1994, new toilets had been designed by all the major manufacturers of bathroom fixtures.
But there was a problem with these new "eco toilets".
Evidently, two years was not enough time for the manufacturers to research the new toilet design.
Because, even though the new "green toilets" passed the 1.
6 gallon limit, there was not enough water to flush out all the solid waste.
So it often took 2 or more flushes to complete the job.
In recent years, however, this situation has dramatically changed.
There is a confusing variety of new toilet designs to choose from that save water.
They all meet the requirements of the 1992 law, varying from 1.
6 gallons all the way down to zero gallons.
A low flush toilet has the tank and bowl completely redesigned, so that less water is able to achieve the desired effect.
The dual flush toilet has two separate flush handles: one for solid waste, which uses the full 1.
6 gallons of water, and another that uses much less water, when the full flush is not needed.
Pressure toilets fill a storage tank with water under pressure, so when flushed, water gushes out with more force than just the force of gravity.
Of course, much less water is required to empty the bowl.
When the handle of a flapperless toilet is pushed, a bucket of water tips over in the tank, which then flushes the toilet.
Less water is needed, and an additional benefit is there are no rubber seals necessary, which can save on repair bills caused by leaky valves.
The toilets mentioned above are only the varieties that still use water for flushing.
Other types don't need any water at all.
These kinds of eco toilets will be the subject of another article.
Even though it has been over 15 years since the low-flush law went into effect, many of the new green toilets have yet to become popular.
In coming years, increased usage should decrease the cost of some of these fixtures to where they will gain more widespread acceptance.
For more useful information about the new eco toilets, see the author's website, as mentioned in the paragraph below.
Source...