New Solar Power Faucet by Sloan Valve
by Justin Thomas, Virginia 
on 06.19.05
A solar powered faucet? Apparently this faucet works with ambient light much like solar calculator. Called the "Solis", it has an integrated storage cell, which powers a electronic sensor to turn water on and off. It also has a 0.5 GPM aerator and built-in temperature control, making it achieve LEED credit points by conserving both energy and water. Sloan also makes a number of other green fixtures such as waterless urinals and highly efficient hand dryers. :: Sloan
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When we update our bathrooms we are going to install touchless faucets in addition to water saving toilets and showers. Touchless last a life time, save water during the life of home, prevent cross contamination, and reduce plumbing repairs caused by wear and tear. Our faucets will be our gift to the planet.
So, if I want to wash my hands in the middle of the night, I have to turn on the light?
Yeah, they use those sensor-activated faucets in public bacthrooms for years here in Germany and they never work correctly if you don't use like some 100 Watt bulbs in your bathroom. There goes your resource-saving...
I'm an architect and I use these faucets from Sloan Valve all the time in my buildings and custom homes- they work great in any lighting situation -even at night.
These are nothing new... We installed them in our restaurant months ago. The had plenty of power... but the sensor "tripped" when the bathroom door opened and cut the water off. It needed to be calibrated constantly. Great idea... maybe someone can copy it and make it more practical. Then I want them in my house.
Let's think a bit about your "gift" to the planet. Suppose the faucet uses (let's make up a generous number) half as much water over its life as a regular faucet. So, compared to a regular faucet that lasts 20 years and uses 300 gallons per year, this faucet saves 3,000 gallons of water. At $0.005 per gallon, the faucet saves $15 worth of planet Earth's resources. Now, if the faucet costs $50 more to purchase than a standard faucet, your "gift" to planet Earth is a net depletion of $35 worth of resources. Well intentioned, but not helpful.
Jim,
You're assuming that saving water is just an economic equation. The amount of water saved is important too, especially for those in drought-prone areas, or those who capture rainwater or draw it from wells.
Justin
It is an economic equation. Yes, the amount of water saved is important. The question is "how important?" For example, is the 3,000 gallons saved more important than feeding a third-world child for a year? The purpose of the economic equation is to answer precisely that question. If we don't at least attempt to quantify the tradeoffs, then we will likely make poor choices.
Jim
I have just begun my quest for the future environmentally concious home and this website is quite informative. I am also a student and doing a research paper on water conservation with respect to global warming. These products are very illuminating as to how far technology has explored the ecofriendly world. i only wonder how i never heard of it before.