The green house
STAR APPEAL
Showers are more water-efficient than ever – and now the WELS
rating system has caught up to them, writesSarah Pickette.FAB FOUR-STAR SHOWERS
FORM&FLOWDesigned by Paco Jaanson, the
Scondro rail shower, $165, combines a thrifty
6L/min flow rate with a clean and contemporary
geometric form.pacojaanson.com.auSATIN TOUCHIn the Kiri wall shower, $257,
Methven’s Satinjet technology utilises twin jets of
water for an indulgent showering experience
that uses just 7.5L/min.methven.com/auGREEN & CLEANHansgrohe’s Crometta Vario
Green rail shower, $199, delivers industry-leading,
6L/min water efficiency without compromising on
a luxurious feel.hansgrohe.com.auP
urchased a new shower in the past few years? You may have
noticed that the majority of better-quality designs on the market
had a three-star Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS)
rating. Until recently, three stars signified the best performance you
could expect from a shower. But manufacturers have put research
dollars into bettering water efficiency and this has meant the release
of extremely efficient showers that exceed the parameters of the
three-star rating. The WELS scheme has caught up with these
innovations by introducing a new four-star category. Already, more
than 80 showers have obtained the ultimate four-star rating.
“Recent changes mean the most efficient showers and toilets can
obtain a higher star-rating: four stars for showers and six for toilets,”
says Paul Morris, WELS regulator for the Federal government’s
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. “When industry
leaders find ways to make products more efficient, they want WELS
to recognise the improvements, so consumers know they are buying
a product that will help them save water and money.”How is a shower tested? It’s checked for watertightness; the angle
at which water sprays from the head; the drop in water temperature
between the showerhead and floor level (no more than 3 ̊C); and the
flow rate and endurance of the flow controller (tested by being turned
on and off about 50,000 times). For a shower to merit a four-star rating,
it must meet the three-star criteria and pass a new ‘spray force and
coverage’ test. “These tests were introduced in response to concerns
about some very high-efficiency showers giving an unsatisfactory
user experience,” says Morris. “A shower that uses very little water
but hurts your skin or doesn’t let you rinse your hair properly isn’t
doing its job. The additional tests we introduced make sure that
efficient showers meet a standard for comfort and effectiveness, so
the user experience isn’t compromised.”
WELS ratings have been in place since 2005 and the impact of this
program should not be underestimated. By 2021, the WELS scheme
will have helped Australians save in excess of 1000 gigalitres of
water, more than double the capacity of Sydney Harbour. #‘AUSTRALIA IS THE DRIEST INHABITED CONTINENT.
WHEN IT COMES TO ENCOURAGING THE USE OF MORE
WATER-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES AND FIXTURES,WE’RE
AHEAD OF THE GAME.’PAUL MORRIS, WELS REGULATOR