Everything you need to know about eco-friendly toilets

Aside from the shower, the toilet consumes the most water out of all household appliances. Households with multiple toilets consume gallons of water every day, watching it literally wash down the drain.

In Canada, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) controls toilet water consumption standards, only certifying toilets which meet the requirement of 6 litres per flush. But let’s be honest, that still seems like an awful lot of water to waste!

If you are an environmentally conscious homeowner, then it is important to bear in mind the amount of water you’re using daily. Luckily, there are now plenty of resources on the market to help you curb your water consumption, and this includes eco-friendly toilets! We’re going to go over the basics of why your toilet wastes so much as well as some of the environmentally friendly options available! 

Here are current eco-friendly toilet options

The Average Toilet

source: Flickr, SuSanA Secretariat

The common residential toilet works by way of gravity. Water is stored in the back of the toilet, and released into the toilet bowl when the flush is pushed. Flush toilets stay in operation due to a mechanism called the “S bend” or siphon, located in the hole at the bottom of the toilet bowl. As its name states, this tube is shaped like an S, connecting to the sewer plumbing under the toilet and creating a suction which pulls the water and waste out of the bowl and into the sewer. This style of toilet is still the most prominent but wastes a significant amount of water every time the user flushes it.

Dual Flush Toilets

The dual flush toilet is relatively new for the North American household but is popping up much more frequently as it has been on the international market for quite some time. This toilet is considered an eco-friendly option and is a substantial sustainable upgrade in the realm of flush toilets.

This model offers two types of flushes for soil versus non-solid waste. This style of toilet is said to reduce flush volumes by over 60 percent and said to save 25 percent more water than a single-flush toilet. This style of toilet is not only eco-friendly but is very affordable. 

Composting Toilets

Composting toilets are also referred to as “waterless” toilets, and are considered very eco-friendly as they use little to no water. Although this option might feel a little bit alien, they are extremely conservational, efficient and easy to maintain. This style of toilet can be electric or non-electric, and come in a wide variety of sizes and prices.

At this point, composting toilets have the most efficient use of waste on the market. However, they can be initially expensive on first purchase. Further, this style of toilet requires the installation of proper ventilation, to release toxic fumes outside. Unfortunately, it cannot be connected to existing home plumbing and therefore the process may be a bit difficult in the average home. 

Squat Toilets

source: Pixabay, sferrario

This style of toilet is abundant in the Eastern world and has not made its way to North America that prominently. Squat toilets are flush with the ground and use an extremely small amount of water, working in a similar way to the average North American toilet bowl. Following the use of this toilet, the user pours a small amount of water into the bowl to remove waste, and this is completed by a hose or bucket depending on the facility. When the water level rises, waste is sucked into the sewer.

Experts claim that this style of toilet is not only more sanitary than flush toilets, but is also less expensive and easier to clean and maintain. This is an excellent option for a cottage or a home which is electricity free. However, if you’re design-obsessed, we might suggest choosing another toilet model.

Toto Toilet

The Toto toilet is becoming a popular model for those with a budget to afford it. This Japanese brand is making waves with its tankless toilet. Keeping in mind both comfort, style, sustainability and water efficiency. This brand makes a superior environmentally-friendly toilet based on high-efficiency flushing technology and advanced engineering.  The Toto uses only 5.5 litres of water in comparison with the average 13 litres used by the average toilet. Further, its hybrid design pulls water from external sources.

Not only is this toilet environmentally friendly, but it comes equipped with a cleaning feature, leaving the user dry as well as maintaining an adequate seat temperature. As you can imagine, this toilet is not cheap, but it is growing in popularity as this model is stylish, easy to clean and exceptionally functional!