10.2190/5UM2-TNKJ-8XTM-RDFF 5UM2TNKJ8XTMRDFF 4 The Reactions of Household Residents to Low-Flow Shower Heads 157 166 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 5UM2TNKJ8XTMRDFF.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=5UM2TNKJ8XTMRDFF 2 Richard Katzev Public Policy Research, Inc., Portland, Oregon This project investigated the acceptance of water and energy conserving low-flow shower heads by household residents. Subjects were given an opportunity to install one of thirteen different shower heads in their homes. The shower heads differed on three factors: water flow, flow delivery (regular or aerating), and control mechanism (present or absent). In response to questions posed during two telephone interviews, the subjects indicated they were extremely satisfied with the performance of the shower head they had tested and generally preferred it to their old one. This was true soon after they had installed it, as well as several weeks later. There were no significant differences between the thirteen different shower heads, the three shower head factors or any of the demographic variables investigated in this study. The results of the study also raised several questions concerning the actual water and energy savings attributable to low-flow shower heads, as well as cost-effective methods for disseminating this device among a large population of individuals. R. Katzev and J. Hulden, Low Flow Shower Head Consumer Acceptance Study, <i>Final Report for Office of Energy Resources</i>, Bonneville Power Administration, 1990. J. Weihl and W. Kempton, Residential Hot Water Energy Analysis: Instrument and Algorithms, <i>Energy and Buildings, 8</i>, pp. 197-204, 1985. D. Brook, Water Saving Shower Heads, <i>Energy Program Occasional Paper</i>, Oregon State University Extension Service, June 1990. W. Maddus, Survey of Water Fixture Use, <i>U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development</i>, Contract H-5230, March 1984. Niagara Products, Owners Manual and Guarantee Certificate for Niagara Low Flow (2 gpm) Shower Head, 1990. Anonymous, Low Flow Shower Heads, <i>Consumer Reports</i>, pp. 369-371, June 1985. Anonymous, How to Save Water: Low Flow Shower Heads, <i>Consumer Reports</i>, pp. 470-473, July 1990. M. A. Brown, D. L. White, and S. L. Purcker, <i>Impact of the Hood River Conservation Project on Electricity Use for Residential Water Heating</i>, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL/CON-238, November 1987. A. Meier, Saving Water Heating Energy, <i>Energy Auditor & Retrofitter</i>, pp. 9-13, 1985. B. Jordan, Door-to-Door Water Conservation Retrofits: The San Jose Story, <i>Home Energy</i>, pp. 25-31, July/August 1990. E. S. Geller, Attempts to Promote Residential Water Conservation with Education, Behavioral and Engineering Strategies, <i>Population and Environment: Behavioral and Social Issues, 6</i>, pp. 96-112, 1983.