Lowering Water Consumption, Elevating Bathroom Design ‒ Kohler products offer aesthetics and water conservation.
For drought-prone areas like Breckenridge, Colo., the Panorama Idea Home, built by Thrive Home Builders, is well suited to offer custom comfort and environmental responsibility. With a goal of achieving the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s highly coveted WaterSense certification, the home was designed to both transcend beauty and maintain high-performance. When it came to ensuring water saving options, Thrive went with Kohler.
“While we’re looking for a contemporary design in the overall modern farmhouse look, it’s also important that we capture all the environmental features,” said Gene Myers, founder and Chief Sustainability Officer at Thrive. “Kohler gives us the best of both, sleek design, and water conservation. Behind these products is a social conscience, they are really trying to be authentically sustainable.”
Many of Kohler’s products carry the WaterSense label, meaning the products are evaluated by independent, third–parties to meet specifications for water efficiency and performance. To achieve the WaterSense label, products must use at least 20 percent less water, save energy, and perform as well as or better than regular models.
New homes, like the Panorama Idea Home, can also be WaterSense certified but must be at least 30 percent more water-efficient than typical new construction homes.
To trim water usage, Thrive started at the obvious source, the bathrooms. Bathrooms are the largest use of water in the home, using more than 50 percent of all indoor water. For the shower, a Statement VES variable-flow showerhead with an adjustable flow lever was installed. The showerhead is height adjustable and features a 360° rotation providing comfort and flexibility. According to the EPA, a simple upgrade like this can save 2,700 gallons of water for the average family.
Adding to the luxury of the primary bath, Thrive specified the Eir® Intelligent toilet. Toilets account for nearly 30 percent of an average home's indoor water consumption.
“The bidet type toilet has become very popular since Covid,” said Myers. “This one has it all, and also is a back-to-wall installation that allows for concealed connections, really discreet.”
The Eir® smart toilet includes a heated seat, customizable cleansing, a nightlight, hands-free opening/closing, automatic flush, plus a touchscreen remote. Both WaterSense and ADA certified, the toilet also offers dual flush modes to maximize water savings with either .8 or 1.0 gpf.
For the secondary bath, the Panorama Idea Home has another Kohler WaterSense labeled toilet. The Reach™ Curv one-piece compact elongated toilet with skirted trap way is also a dual-flush model offering either .8 or 1.28 gpf options. The one-piece design creates a more seamless appearance while making cleaning, and sanitation, easier.
In the laundry room, the Panorama Idea Home features the Glen Falls utility sink by Kohler. With traditional styling and a 13” deep basin to accommodate heavy-duty tasks, the single bowl sink is offered as a top-mount or undermount installation. Keeping pace with the environmentally responsible mission of the project, the enameled cast iron sink is manufactured with 70 percent recycled content, per the product Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). The enameled finish is built to resist scratching, burning, and staining to provide years of beauty and reliable performance.
Coloradans understand that despite the considerable snowfall that brings world-class skiing to Breckenridge, the summers are surprisingly arid. Rapid snow melt relieves the hills of much of the moisture creating relatively long, dry, summers. When water levels are low, every drop counts to help keep downstream reservoirs full.
In the Panorama Idea Home, water conservation was achieved through Kohler’s products without sacrificing the overall design and the comfort of its occupants.
“We really appreciate our alignment with Kohler. Their environmental focus is the real deal, not just green washing,” said Myers. “They have a family member, Laura Kohler, as sustainability officer, so with that sort of leadership in place, especially with a family-run business, they’re taking it all seriously.”
For more information, visit Kohler
Resources and links:
Glen Falls 25” top-/undermount single-bowl utility sink
Eir® One-piece elongated smart toilet, dual-flush
Reach Curv One-piece compact elongated toilet with skirted trapway, dual-flush
