Reducing hot water consumption is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy consumption in a building and thus contribute to sustainability. In Sweden alone, hot water with a heat value equivalent to SEK 7 billion (approximately 7 TWh) is flushed straight down the drain, usually without any energy recovery.
The Umeå company Enduce has developed a shower floor drain that recovers up to 75% of the energy in used shower water, thereby contributing to significant resource and energy savings for property owners and residents.
- We have carefully adhered to a number of design principles, prioritizing only proven, robust and passive solutions that deliver real benefits. Materials are carefully selected, and we avoid, for example, pumps, sensors and replacement filters. All to minimize resource use and maximize climate, environmental and customer benefits," says Henrik Hagman, Technology and Product Manager at Enduce.
To accurately assess the overall environmental impact of the product, Enduce commissioned an independently audited and certified Life Cycle Assessment.
- The results show that, depending on the context in which the floor drain is installed and how the water is heated, savings of 1 500-11 700 kg koil oxide equivalentsand in extreme cases up to 27 000 kg koil oxide equivalents over the lifetime of the floor drain. The savings can be compared to the 126 kilograms koil oxide equivalents caused by the energy-recovering floor drain during its life cycle," says Daniel Böckin.
In addition to the life cycle assessment, an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) has been issued for the floor drain to underline the environmental benefits in an accessible and transparent way.
- The fact that this type of product has an environmental product declaration is unique - I have never come across it before. It means third-party verification and quality assurance - with the life cycle assessment and EPD, we know for sure that the floor drain provides environmental savings," says Daniel Böckin.
The analysis concludes that the Enduce floor drain can make a significant contribution to the fight against climate change and the transition to a sustainable society. The technology means that buildings across Sweden - and globally - can drastically reduce their energy consumption, save money, and contribute to a reduced environmental and climate impact.
- It's a common misconception that sustainability is costly. This is not the case for our floor drain. Saving energy in the shower is among the most effective ways to reduce energy consumption, and it also future-proofs property owners against price fluctuations in the energy market. The industry needs a new standard," says Thomas Holmberg, CEO of Enduce.
Read the Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Product Declaration for Enduce E1 here: https://enduce.se/dokument/
How the Enduce shower floor drain works
The Enduce E1 recovers heat from the shower water. Used shower water is passed through a high-efficiency heat exchanger before being flushed down the drain, where the heat is transferred to the incoming cold water of the shower. This means that significantly less hot water needs to be added for a comfortable shower temperature. This saves large amounts of energy - up to 75% - which is world-leading. The technology is passive, with no need for an electrical connection, pumps or replacement filters. An integrated cleaning system keeps the solution reliable and efficient over time. The product is designed to be easily installed and used in single-family homes, apartment buildings and hotels.
About life cycle assessment
The life cycle assessment accurately maps the environmental and climate impact of the Enduce E1 floor drain throughout the product's life cycle - from raw material extraction and material production, to transportation, manufacturing, installation, use and end-of-life disposal. Life cycle assessments are essential to prove whether or not a product actually creates environmental and climate benefits overall.
What are carbon dioxide equivalents?
Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) is the unit used by environmental product declarations for the amount of greenhouse gases contributed by a life cycle stage. Depending on the actual greenhouse gas emitted, its amount is converted into carbon dioxide equivalents.
About Environmental Giraffe
Miljögiraff has over 20 years of experience in life cycle assessment. Environment Giraffe is at the service of the planet and is driven by the combination of analysis, development and creativity to support clients in creating sustainability. They offer life cycle assessment for evaluating environmental aspects, design methods for developing sustainable solutions and training to spread skills.
"We create measurability in environmental work from a life cycle perspective on environmental aspects. The LCA methodology lays the foundation for modeling complex systems of aspects with a credible assessment of potential environmental impacts. By understanding our current situation, we can set strategies to reach our common goals."
