The problem with so many energy-saving ideas, from compact fluorescent bulbs to water-saving showers, is that they often deliver a miserable experience. Because there really is nothing like an old-fashioned shower that pumps out the gallons. That’s what’s so interesting about the new Hamwells e-shower, which filters, heats and recirculates shower water up to seven times: not only do you save 80 percent of the energy and 90 percent of the water compared to a normal shower, but it can pump out 15 liters per minute, or five times as much as a low flow shower head. That’s going to feel like a real old-fashioned shower.

Luxurious Long Showers With Recirculation

But because it is recirculating, one uses a fraction of the water and the energy. Interestingly, there is an accessory telephone shower that does not recirculate, so if you are nervous about its ability to filter out your shampoo, you can apply and rinse conventionally, and then luxuriate in the long hot recirculating shower. That is, I think, the key to the success of this- it’s not just about sustainability but also about comfort and luxury; now you can stay in the shower for as long as you want and not feel guilty using up all that water and energy.

Sustainable Demo

CEO Rob Chömpff demonstrated the shower in London at a TechCrunch event and explained the sustainability aspects of the shower:

The sustainability factor is a great raison d’être, but this is going to sell on the luxury, the ability to have a great deluge of water like we used to, without guilt or running out of water. And given the price of €6.800 that is probably a very good thing.

There’s an App for That

It’s all very clever; the drain has a mechanism that opens when it is on conventional shower mode and closes on recirculating mode. Of course it also comes with an app so you can control it from your phone, just what you want to do in the shower. Oh wait, according to Engadget the app does more than that.

OK, so the app is probably silly. But the rest of it is really smart and this will do very well in the luxury market. More at Hamwells.