There was a time when the words “low-flow toilet” struck fear into the hearts and minds of homeowners and builders alike. Thankfully, low-flow toilets have come a long way, and the days of sub-par flushing have ended for most. Even better, new flushing technologies that powerfully push water into and pull waste out of the toilet have allowed for further reduction in water use, with high-efficiency models offering 1.28 gpf and dual-flush models allowing for 0.8 gpf for liquid waste and 1.6 gpf (and in some cases less) for solid.
Confidence in these newer models to reduce consumption while still offering reliable performance is growing fast. Helping it along is the EPA's WaterSense label, which not only certifies that the toilet uses 20% less water than the federal standard of 1.6 gpf, but also that it has been third-party certified to meet rigorous performance testing.
Water-conserving toilets are available from most major manufacturers and come in a range of shapes and styles. Here are nine recent introductions.
Katy Tomasulo is Deputy Editor for EcoHome.