Review: Waterpik EcoFlow 1.5 Showerhead (+Giveaway)

I have learned a lot about green living while writing and researching for Green Your Decor. I know where to look when I want a rug that won’t offgas noxious chemicals and why it’s a good idea to pay extra for soy-based cushions in upholstered furniture. But I admit I haven’t learned a whole lot about conservation in other ways. Because let’s face it — an FSC-certified, fair trade sculpture makes me feel good about my purchase, but it won’t reduce my energy use or conserve water. I’m trying to be a lot more diligent about making changes that are bigger than just replacing all my light bulbs with CFLs and using the dishwasher when its full. The kind of changes that make an impact that you can’t necessarily see right away. Replacing our existing shower head with a Waterpik EcoFlow 1.5 low-flow shower head was one of my first steps in this direction.

The EcoFlow is supposed to save up to a gallon of water per minute. This alone peaked my interest. The average shower in our home lasts between 10 and 15 minutes, so that’s a big water savings overall.  We just recently received and installed the EcoFlow, but I am cautiously optimistic that over the next month or two, we’ll see a difference — even if small — in our water bill. According to Waterpik’s water savings calculator, if we take 4 showers per day at an average of 12 minutes each, we can save $217.25 over a year, along with 17,520 gallons of water. Those are some impressive numbers.

Installation was a simple process that took my husband less than 5 minutes. And I love the 5 spray settings that can be adjusted by simply rotating the front edge of the showerhead. I’m a sucker for a relaxing shower, so being able to switch between full body coverage, a concentrated spray, misting and two different massage settings has made it a joy for me already.

Switching to a water-saving, low-flow shower head is one of the more affordable changes anyone can make that will have a positive impact on the Earth. And if you’re wondering what we did with our existing shower head, we’re planning on donating it to the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore, so it won’t end up in the landfill. I do, of course, wish that the EcoFlow was made with recycled metal content and that the packaging was recyclable #1, #2 or #5 plastic. It still has a ways to go, but a low-flow faucet is a step in the right direction.

Waterpik offers several EcoFlow models, both faucet-mounted and handheld, so you can find one that fits your budget and your needs.

Why It’s Green:

• A low-flow shower head will help you conserve water

Price: $19.99-49.99. Download this coupon for $5 off your purchase of an EcoFlow showerhead.

(review)

WANT TO WIN?

One reader has a chance to win their own EcoFlow showerhead to help reduce water consumption. So how do you win? Visit the Waterpik EcoFlow website, then come back here and leave a comment about something you liked or learned. It could be a product or something you learned about the company. Do this by 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, to enter.

Want to enter more than once? Boost your chances of winning by completing one or more of the tasks on this list. Please leave a separate comment for each entry:

1. If you haven’t already, sign up for Green Your Decor’s email updates by 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, April 28, 2009. You must verify your email subscription to be eligible. After you sign up, FeedBurner will send you a verification email. Please do not ignore it — your entry will be invalid if you do not verify. From now on, subscribers will no longer be entered automatically. This will help me avoid choosing a winner who is a subscriber, but who doesn’t necessarily want a specific prize. If you are an email subscriber and you want to be entered, please leave a comment saying that you are an email subscriber and interested in this giveaway. Subscribers will not be entered automatically. You must leave a comment saying that you are a subscriber in order to enter.
2. If you’d prefer to receive your updates via RSS, sign up for the GYD feed. Then please leave a comment letting me know that you’ve done so, and be sure to include your email address. RSS subscribers are anonymous otherwise. This will let me know that you want to be entered in this giveaway.
3. Blog about GreenYourDecor.com and post a link to your blog entry here.
4. Stumble or give a thumbs up to any page at GreenYourDecor.com via StumbleUpon and post a link to your SU profile to verify your thumbs up.
5. Fave Green Your Decor on Technorati. Then come back here and leave a comment with your Technorati user name so I can verify it.
6. Tweet about Green Your Decor or this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your tweet.

You have until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, to enter. U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only! A winner will be chosen via Random.org and contacted via email. Good luck everyone!