1.6 Gallon Toilet Tanks to become a thing of the past.
In the 1980s and early 90s, multiple states adopted standards setting
maximum water use levels for showerheads, faucets, toilets, and
urinals. Based on these standards, Congress adopted national standards
on these products in the Energy Policy Act of 1992. The standard for
toilets which took effect in 1994 is 1.6 gpf (gallons per flush).
Under the law, if the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
revises these standards, DOE is obligated to review ASME's action and
consider revising the federal standards. If ASME does not revise the
standards within five years, states are free to set more stringent
standards themselves. To date, ASME has not revised any of these
standards. On December 22, 2010, DOE officially waived preemption for
plumbing products, allowing states to set standards provided that they
are more stringent than the 1994 federal standards.
California, Georgia and Texas have adopted toilet efficiency
standards that require products to use no more than 1.28 gpf. The 2012
ASAP/ACEEE report,
The Efficiency Boom, analyzed potential
toilet standards based on this 1.28 gpf level, estimating savings of 92
billion gallons of water and $4.3 billion dollars in net present value
through 2035. Products meeting the 1.28 gpf level currently meet the
qualifications for the EPA WaterSense program (similar to ENERGY STAR
but focused on helping consumers identify water-efficient products).
More efficient toilets are not expected to cost any more than toilets
meeting the current standard.
Toilets are included on the California Energy Commission Phase 1 rulemaking docket with a final rule expected in 2014.