B137

Performance evaluation of showerheads for Hong Kong residents

Brief:

Increasing water and energy efficiency of shower bathing has been proposed as a measure addressing carbon reduction. A voluntary water efficiency labelling scheme (WELS) on shower heads was proposed by the Hong Kong Government in 2009. This paper examined the occupant acceptance of a sample WELS showerhead and compared with non-WELS showerheads installed in 10 Hong Kong residential apartments. The shower use characteristics are determined, water and energy implications associated with shower heads are discussed. The results showed that replacing household existing showerheads with the WELS sample showerhead could reduce water consumption per shower from 48.7 L (sd=24L) to 44.3L (sd=17.4L). Correspondingly, the energy consumption would reduce from 2.29MJ (sd=1MJ) to 2.14MJ (sd=0.8MJ) per each hot water shower bathing. Outdoor temperature has no significant influence on the occupant required hot water temperature (p>0.2, paired t-test) and no significant difference of showering time was reported between the WELS showerhead and household exiting ones (p=0.95, paired t-test). The occupant acceptance to the WELS showerhead would be correlated to its supply flow rate and pressure (p≤0.05, Chi-square test).

Further information:

Cheung WY, Wong LT, Mui KW, Zhou Y, 2015. Performance evaluation of showerheads for Hong Kong residents, The 41st CIBW062 International Symposium of Water Supply and Drainage for Buildings, 18-20 August, Beijing, China. 491-500.