Our Test of Energy and Water Saving Showers

New technologies such as Kelda’s air-powered shower could significantly reduce building hot water demand, which has remained stubbornly high despite advancing energy standards.

Kelda showers use a patented technology to deliver water into a high-velocity air stream. This differs from widely available aerated showers. Benefits include:

• Flow rates of 4.5 l/min
• Significant improvement in SAP via Appendix Q (to both DER & DPER metrics)
• Reduced energy and water bills

We visited the Kelda head office last month and sampled the shower. Our experience was positive and we did not think the low flow rate resulted in an ineffective shower.

Until recently, options to reduce water demand have been limited. Waste water heat recovery (WWHR), whilst effective if System A or C variants are adopted, can be challenging to accommodate, especially in high-density buildings. Other solutions such as restricted flow showerheads and taps can impact on the occupant experience and may also lead to outlets being on for longer, therefore reducing the energy and water saving benefits they were meant to encourage. It is therefore reassuring that additional options to tackle this demand are now available. Further development in this field is expected.