February 13 2011

Shower Better and Save Energy: The Ladybug Adapter by Evolve

Ziger/Snead recently installed a great product in the Greenest House in Baltimore that both saves energy and makes showers more comfortable! The small device, called the Ladybug by Evolve, is designed to conserve water by stopping the flow until both the water temperature and user are ready for action. You see in many instances 'shower-ers' turn on the hot water and then get lost in the activities of the morning. Coffee making. Telephone answering. Baby changing. Teeth cleaning. Whatever the activity, showerers generally let energy rich potable water simply run down the drain while getting ready. But it isn't just a conservation issue, because we let hot water escape, and most households have not converted to more efficient gas instant water heaters, users have less hot water for their showers!

This is where the Ladybug comes in! The adapter is installed between the led shower head and the shower arm and is designed to slow shower water flow to a trickle as the temperature approaches 95°F (35°C). The flow remains constricted until the user activates the device, by pulling a string or turning the knob, to release the full flow of the shower. Voila! Hot shower water without the waste!

The Ladybug is priced online at $29.95 (chrome finish) so the upgrade is very affordable. Installation should take just a few minutes. If you are in the market for a new showerhead you will find a full range of showerheads including standard, low flow, rain, and handheld versions.

From my perspective this is the best kind of energy efficient device. A product that is affordable, saves energy, conserves water and makes life more comfortable. That is true sustainability.

Here is a description from the manufacturer:

"Do you multitask while you wait for the shower to get hot? Brush your teeth? Make the bed? Maybe even pick out your clothes or iron a collar? Many of us do?and don?t know that while we?re feeding the dog or grabbing that second cup of coffee, two-and-a-half gallons of hot water per minute are funneling down the drain.

That?s where evolve? showerheads come in. Utilizing the unique, patent-pendingShowerStart? technology, these showerheads allow you to continue multitasking ? only now you?re saving water instead of wasting it.

Evolve showerheads do this by stopping the flow to a trickle when the water reaches a comfortable 95 degrees. This way your hot water?s no longer running down the drain while you?re away from the shower.

Using an evolve showerhead can save a yearly average of 2,700 gallons of water, the fossil-fueled energy it takes to heat it?and up to $75 off your utility bill." - Evolve

Below is a video demonstration of an Evolve showerhead in action.

For more information please visit the Evolve website or read about the Greenest House in Baltimore.

posted by Jonas Risen

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