With energy bills on the rise, water conservation is a major concern for homeowners. Did you know, toilets make up about half of a home’s water consumption? Americans flush nearly five billion gallons of water down their toilets each day.

To help conserve water, years ago the federal government required builders to install toilets that used no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Although these new toilets met the government’s requirement, they often performed poorly.

When low-flush toilets were first introduced in the 1980s, they were not effective. For example, a common complaint was that the 1.6 gallon flush didn’t get the job done, and multiple water-wasting flushes were needed to clear the bowl.

Over the years, new technology has been developed; now low-flush toilets not only work better, but are considered environmentally sound. They also out-perform traditional toilets, which use up to seven gallons of water per flush.

Homeowners need to determine which kind of low-flush toilet will work best with their home’s water pressure and volume needs. These new toilets are designed to save water and reduce energy bills:

Gravity Toilet
The gravity toilet is the most common kind of toilet, relying on gravity to remove waste. When a gravity toilet is flushed, a flapper valve releases water from the tank into the bowl. Then the water is pulled down the toilet drain through gravity. Although these toilets are the least expensive option, their flush is also the weakest.

Pressure-Assisted Toilet
A pressure-assisted toilet is a better option for homeowners who need a more powerful flush. These toilets rely on the home’s water pressure to complete the flush. When flushed, pressure-assisted toilets have a sealed tank that compresses air, which in turn releases a pressurized jet of water into the bowl to complete the flush. Although this kind of toilet gets the job done, it is louder to operate and more expensive than a gravity toilet.

Vacuum-Assisted Toilet
Flushing this toilet activates a vacuum chamber in the tank. This acts like a siphon, pulling water into the bowl. This design allows water to reach a greater area of the bowl, which means the bowl is generally cleaner than other toilets. The vacuum-assisted toilet is much quieter than the pressure-assisted toilet, but it produces a weaker flush.

Dual-Flush Toilet
The dual-flush toilet gives the homeowner two flushing options: A full 1.6-gallon flush for solid waste, or a “half-flush” for liquid waste. This design exceeds the standards for water conservation. This kind of toilet is fairly new to the US market, but have been used in Australia for years.