KBB - May/June 2014 - 31

TRENDS
"Of course, we need to be able to do all of this and make sure we are
getting proper flushing out of the system," added Walsh.
The biggest challenge may be persuading consumers that they will
see maximum performance with less water. Makers of faucets and showerheads face similar skepticism.
"Unfortunately, there is still the misconception that a water-saving
showerhead cannot perform with the power and spray force of a traditional showerhead," said Brad Crozier, senior product manager for Moen.
"However, that's simply not true anymore."
Within the last few years, Moen introduced its Immersion technology,
featuring a self-pressurizing system that channels water into a circular
pattern for consistent, substantial water pressure.
Additionally, many manufacturers are perfecting aeration technology,
which infuses air with the water droplets for a more robust flow that often
runs well under the industry standard 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM).
"If every household in America installed a water-saving aerator in
their faucets, 60 billion gallons of water could collectively be saved per
year," said GRAFF president and CEO Ziggy Kulig."Designing with low-flow
aerators should be standard practice by a faucet manufacturer, and we
always make this a must-have in our designs."

Bright Ideas
Bathroom lighting has transformed over the last decade, transitioning from energy-intensive incandescents to much more energy-efficient
options.
"LED lighting has become very economical, both for accent lighting and ambient lighting," said Crowley. "We use a lot of recessed and
dimmable LEDs so you can create a mood. You don't necessarily need
another type of lighting system in the bathroom."
The move to LED for interior applications is a relatively recent one for
many lighting manufacturers as they waited for the technology to evolve.
"As the LED manufacturers progressed and color rendering index numbers improved, we introduced products for the interior and then again, as
LED output improved, we could offer warmer LED colors that provided the
requisite lumen output," said Jeff Dross, corporate director of education
and industry trends at Kichler.
When it comes to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), Dross has not
heard much demand but believes that will soon change for a few reasons.

Top: Developed by Native Trails, the NativeStone sink collection comprises cement and jute fiber, a renewable resource that is 100 percent
biodegradable and recyclable.The jute used in each sink is grown near
the artisans' workshops. The combination of the two materials results in
a lighter, stronger and stain-resistant product. Pictured: the rectangular
Montecito sink, available in pearl, ash and slate (shown) finishes. Circle
No. 202 or visit kbbonline.com/freeinfo
Bottom: GRAFF's PHASE collection of 25 products comes complete with
a water-saving aerator to reduce flow from 2.2 to 1.5 GPM. The handle's
slim, flat profile with beveled edges carries throughout the extensive
line, which includes everything from body sprays to Roman tub sets.
Manufactured from brass, finishes include polished chrome, brushed
or polished nickel and olive bronze. Circle No. 203 or visit kbbonline.
com/freeinfo

www.kbbonline.com / May/June 2014

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