Our Favorite
Not to be outdone by GreenGear’s high-tech bathroom videography, I made my very own movie using a digital camera which you can view below. I should have shaved, and who knew I had such a big bald spot on my head. Oh, and next time I’ll brush my hair.
So I was a little skeptical of this product. I read reviews of various Oxygenics products on Amazon, and some were good, some bad. Then I went to their web site and was mightily confused by their wishy-washy pitch (sorry, pun not originally intended). Was their product supposed to feel good? Make you healthier? Save water? Lots of cool flashy demos, not a lot of raw information. The specs, in particular were very unclear on how much water this shower head used. So I bought one, the Elite Shower 700 series (chrome), knowing Amazon’s return policy is awesome. Despite their best efforts to confuse me, I think I found a good shower head that I can unequivocally recommend.
The water spray covers your whole body, and the droplets are big enough to carry the heat of the water so that the shower is comfortable, even on a cold day. It really doesn’t feel like you’re giving anything up, and indeed, it actually feels invigorating (without being enervating). One error in my video: the model I bought was $34.95 (with free shipping from Amazon), not $50 or so as I said. This price makes for a nice middle ground between the miserable Delta product and the undoubtedly great Bricor models.
One item I mention in the video that I think is worth emphasizing is that I also bought a shutoff valve. This simple device installs in between the shower head and the regular spout. Regardless of which shower head you choose, this is a good thing to have. In the end, the total amount of water used in the shower is what matters, and if you are reasonably warm, turning the shower entirely off is a great idea while you lather up or shave. If you shower for 5 minutes or so and have the water off for 1 minute or so, that’s another 20% savings, right?
Ok, without further ado, here is my premier, first ever, possibly last YouTube posting. For the large majority of women who have never seen me in the shower before, I urge you to restrain yourself, as you are about to witness my unmitigated hotness. And bald spot.
Hey Tom! Nice Video! The oxygenics looks like a pretty good model. 1GPM is very low, so i’m happy that it still supplies a good shower.
Go check out the Bricor website, they have one that does only .55 GPM. WOW! But it looks like more of an industrial model. kind of looks like it would hurt.
Comment by Zane from Green Gear — December 23, 2007 @ 5:44 pm
I have found that I start at the full 1.5 GPS setting which I run for a minute until warm, then can back down to the 1 GPS setting for most of the rest of the shower — that’s 5.5 gallons for a full 5 minute shower. Not bad.
Tom
Comment by Tom Harrison — December 23, 2007 @ 10:29 pm
[...] I polled my family, it was basically a tie with the Oxygenics model we [...]
Pingback by Evolve Shower Head — Roadrunner Washes Green | Five Percent: Conserve a Little Energy — January 6, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
[...] need immediate feedback. If I install a water saving shower head I would like to know the next day how much more virtuous I am. When I turn out lights or make other [...]
Pingback by How much energy do you use in your house? | Five Percent: Conserve a Little Energy — April 13, 2008 @ 2:03 pm
Hey Tom,
I just purchased the Oxygenics Elite 700 after reading your review of it.
I was wondering what model shut off valve you have and where you purchased it from?
Thanks
Comment by Gino — April 29, 2008 @ 9:35 pm
Gino –
I hope you enjoy your new shower head!
The Oxygenics models have a built-in flow reducer. If you want a shut-off valve, I got mine at Home Depot for a few bucks. But I stopped using it because my shower valve has a lever that accomplishes the same thing, and also the flow from the Oxygenics in it’s reduced flow mode is really minimal, but still enough to keep warm :-)
Tom
Comment by Tom Harrison — April 30, 2008 @ 9:12 am
Thanks for the quick turn around!
I have two bathrooms in my house and was thinking of trying the Bricor model reviewed by Greengear as well in my other bathroom, being that they are both used frequently. I was wondering if you know where to purchase it because I cannot find a place online or in any stores. And I also know they have two models for the one that was reviewed, a 30psi and 80 psi model, and I have 40-45 psi in my bathroom but do not know which to choose from. If you know anything about this that would be great.
Thanks again and keep up the good work on the blog.
Comment by Gino — April 30, 2008 @ 3:17 pm
Gino — the GreenGear guys and I never managed to swap showerheads as planned, so I haven’t tried the Bricor. Write a comment on greengear.com and ask there. I’ll bet you’ll get a good answer.
Tom
Comment by Tom Harrison — April 30, 2008 @ 8:27 pm
[...] to low-flow shower heads several of which I have reviewed in prior posts. My favorite is the Oygenics Elite 700, but there are other good options, notably the Evolve Roadrunner, or even just the little fitting [...]
Pingback by Review: Save Water, Energy with Shower Professor Digital Timer | Five Percent: Conserve a Little Energy — November 18, 2008 @ 12:42 pm
[...] of four. All our clothes washing is in cold water. As per an earlier post in which I measured the water usage of various low-flow shower heads and settled on the Oxygenics Elite 700. When on full-blast, it uses 1.6 gallons per minute (GPM); [...]
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[...] control systems for buildings are another. Compact Fluorescent bulbs are another. Water saving shower heads, toilets, and faucets are others. They are feasible and perhaps even groundbreaking because they [...]
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[...] help you conserve water, and in particular hot water which means you’re also save energy.The other very good water saving shower heads I tested are larger, and considerably more expensive. [...]
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