FloWise Toilet is Among First to Bear the EPA's WaterSense LabelNew EPA Test Specification Assures No-clog Performance on 1.28 Gallons per Flush

LAS VEGAS, KITCHEN/BATH INDUSTRY SHOW -- The ingenious design that made FloWise® the first toilet to reduce water usage by more than 20 percent without a dual flush, has now earned it the right to bear the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WaterSenseSM label.

WaterSense works much like the ENERGY STAR program for appliances. By prominently designating products and services that conserve water and perform as intended, the labeling program makes it easy for consumers to identify and select high-performance water-efficient products for their homes.

American Standard FloWise Toilet

FloWise uses 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf), so it qualifies as a "high-efficiency toilet," or an HET. To earn the WaterSense label, a toilet must use only 1.28 gpf, down 20 percent from the 1.6 gpf found in conventional toilets -- the maximum allowable flush volume by law.

In addition, HETs carrying the WaterSense label must also:
1. Have a flush valve flapper or seal on the flush valve that has passed a stringent chemical-resistance test to ensure it won't leak over time due to the effects of chlorine or the hardness of the water.
2. Be designed so that they cannot be deliberately or unwittingly modified to increase the volume of water used per flush.
3. Effectively flush a minimum of 350 grams of soybean paste to pass the test required to qualify for the performance rating.
HETs lower utility bills, reduce strain on septic systems, and are eligible for special rebates in many drought-prone areas.

Champion® 4 Technology
FloWise can deliver high-efficiency performance on a regular gravity-fed toilet because it uses American Standard's proprietary Champion 4 flushing technology. Champion 4 toilets have a funnel-shaped piston-action Accelerator™ Flush Valve that forces the water to accelerate as it enters the bowl. Instead of a typical hinged flapper, the rigid plastic piston action allows 360 degrees of water to be released into the bowl in less than a second, delivering a precise non-adjustable flush. Champion 4 gets a lot of power out of less water, effectively scouring the bowl clean without clogging.

According to the EPA, homeowners who replace their older 3.5 gpf toilets with a WaterSense HET will reduce water consumption from their toilet by more than 60 percent and will save up to $90 annually and $2,000 over the life of the toilet, depending on local water and sewer costs.

Then there are the rebates. Some water utilities and municipalities, especially those in water-restricted areas, will offer incentives for installing HETs in the form of rebates ranging from $50 to $150 or more. The WaterSense label will make it easy for consumers to readily identify which products qualify for the highest rebates.

"Anyone who wants to save money on utility bills has a reason to choose a toilet that carries the WaterSense label," said Pete DeMarco, director of compliance engineering at American Standard.

"In addition, the 25 percent of Americans living in rural areas and relying on wells or septic systems have a built-in incentive to install products with the WaterSense label. These homeowners will embrace more efficient plumbing products in order to reduce both the demand on these systems and the maintenance costs needed to keep them working well."

FloWise is backed by a 10-year limited warranty, inside and out, including the tank and trim.

Style Counts
FloWise is a transitional-style toilet, designed to complement a wide variety of existing bathroom décor choices, from traditional to contemporary. An attractively fitted lid completes the elegant style of the two-piece, elongated design. "High-efficiency toilets still need to deliver high style," notes James Walsh, American Standard's product director for toilets. "Homeowners want their toilets to blend comfortably into the surroundings."

FloWise is available in White with a suggested retail price of $395. For more information, please call (800) 899-2614 or visit www.americanstandard-us.com. For more information at the WaterSense visit www.epa.gov/watersense.

Consumer Media:
Lindsey Rose
Carmichael Lynch Spong
(612) 375-8516
lindsey.rose@clynch.com

Trade Media:
Nora DePalma
Building Profits Inc.
(770) 772-4726
ndepalma@building-profits.com

Additional Information:
Spec Sheet
Repair Parts