What Is a High-Efficiency Shower Head?

Aerating Shower Heads

• Two types of high-efficiency shower heads are used. The first type, called an aerating shower head, mixes the water with air before it comes out. Aeration results in a shower spray composed of small, misty droplets. Because of the large surface area of the many small water drops, aerating shower heads lead to a lot of evaporation and may cause undesirable steam and humidity levels in warm, wet areas of the country.

Laminar-Flow Shower Heads

• The second type of high-efficiency shower head is the laminar-flow variety. Laminar-flow shower heads expel water in tight individual streams. Many can be adjusted to give the user different patterns and intensities. Laminar-flow technology reduces water use by forcing the water through very small apertures -- less water comes out, but because it is forced through small holes at high pressure, it removes dirt effectively and feels good against the skin.

Water Efficiency

• Shower heads manufactured before 1992 used about 5.5 gallons of water per minute. At those rates, a 10-minute shower would use 55 gallons of water -- enough for a deep bath. Current federal standards require shower heads to use a maximum of 2.5 gallons per minute, less than half of the old standards. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program labels shower heads that use 2 gallons of water per minute or less.

Energy Efficiency

• Saving water also saves energy in two ways. Every time you use hot water, it takes energy in the form of electricity or natural gas to heat it, costing your family money. By reducing your hot water use during a shower, you reduce your utility bill each month. Using water also has hidden energy costs since municipal water companies require large amounts of power to treat and pump water to their customers. These costs are reflected in your water and sewer bills.