[Greenbuilding] Fwd: History of toilet flush volume

[Stephen Collette]

> Reuben

> I'm aware that American Standard has a book on their history. Since  
> they are now 100 years old, and I believe the book came out a few  
> years ago, I suspect there may be some interesting facts on all of  
> this and more. I don't have the book, I've only scanned it when I  
> was in their Canadian offices. Interesting for those interested in  
> such things (like us).
>
> Stephen
>
> Stephen Collette BBEC, LEED AP
> Principal
> Your Healthy House - Indoor Environmental Testing & Building  
> Consulting
> www.yourhealthyhouse.ca
> stephen at yourhealthyhouse.ca
> 705.652.5159
>
>>
>> From: "Reuben Deumling" <9watts at gmail.com>
>> Subject: [Greenbuilding] history of toilet flush volume
>> To: "Greenbuilder list" <GREENBUILDING at listserv.repp.org>
>> Message-ID:
>> 	<bf530c410804211017u5bb2dc3cu36de452f056bb34c at mail.gmail.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>>
>> I am curious if anyone on this list might have insights on this  
>> subject?
>> Since 1992 toilets in the US have been required to use no more than  
>> 1.6
>> gallons per flush. Prior to that many toilets used more water. How  
>> much is a
>> matter of some dispute, though I have measured 3-4 gpf. What I am  
>> interested
>> in is a historical overview of the changes in flush volume prior to  
>> 1992 in
>> the US. My suspicion is that, like with washing machines,  
>> refrigerators, and
>> other (major) appliances, the amount of water and/or electricity  
>> these
>> devices used was jacked up during the Cold War for ideological and  
>> economic
>> reasons. In other words that toilets, like fridges and washing  
>> machines,
>> actually may have used modest amounts of water (for flushing)  
>> before WW II.
>> Can anyone point me to sources that would help answer this question?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Reuben Deumling