Toilets

Toilets account for 30 percent of your home’s water usage. High-efficiency toilets, also called eco-efficient or low-flow toilets, remove waste through water velocity rather than volume.

Options include:

• High-efficiency toilets, which use 4.8 litres of water per flush or less
• Dual-flush toilets which have two settings, one for light flushes and one for heavy flushes

What to Look For

• Compare toilet flush ratings. The lower the rating the less water it uses per flush
• Consider a pressure-assist toilet if using minimal water is a priority. These toilets have a separate tank that holds water under pressure and releases it with great velocity when you flush

Things to Consider

• If your home has a dual flush toilet, use the low-volume flush mode as much as possible. Experiment to see how much waste the low flush can handle
• Cheaper toilets don’t have a powerful flush and the working parts tend to be of lower quality
• Get a home evaluation to help you understand how your home uses energy and identify all improvement opportunities
• Check with your municipality, utility, or retailer to see if rebates are available