The latest breakthrough in sustainable bathroom technology has now been launched in the form of eco-cistem™ – an innovative toilet cistern that uses grey condensate water for flushing, making it a revolutionary solution for water conservation. The product has been launched by Paul Crossley, former MD of shower manufacturer JT. Crossley was appointed MD of eco-cistem™ in 2023 to refine the product design and branding, streamline the UK manufacturing process, and establish several test sites to measure water savings and gain the required accreditations. The development work has now been completed, successful case studies have been conducted, and the product is currently in stock and ready for distribution. In addition, the product has been installed in several commercial hotels and office facilities and is already delivering significant water savings.
The new eco-cistem™ is specifically designed to work with air-conditioning units that produce varying amounts of condensate water, which typically goes directly into the waste pipe. In an eco-cistem™ installation, this grey water is redirected to the toilet cistern and used to flush the toilet(s). The eco-cistem™ unit features a patented 18-litre, twin-chamber cistern that can store up to 12 litres of ‘free’ condensate grey water above a standard 6-litre chamber dedicated to flushing the toilet. The unit prioritises using grey water for flushing and only pulls in fresh water when no grey water is available. This ensures an efficient flush each time with no reduction in performance.
The amount of condensate produced by air conditioning units will vary enormously based on usage by country. However, even in the UK, climate change is affecting weather conditions, and buildings are also becoming so thermally efficient they need to be cooled to maintain comfortable levels. As a result, the forecast for air-conditioning unit sales is on the increase. Considering that even a 1.75kw aircon unit, one of the smallest in the market, can produce over 1 litre of condensate per hour, the company says an eco-cistem™ installation will always make a substantial saving on freshwater usage.
The eco-cistem™ has been designed and manufactured in the UK and is suitable for various projects, including hotels, apartments and office blocks. It has been created as a concealed installation and at 485mm high x 476mm wide x 195mm deep in size, can fit in all standard service voids. It is simple to install for wall or frame-mounted WCs and has adjustable flush volumes between 3.5 and 6 litres to suit different regions worldwide. It has undergone testing and received WRAS approval, ensuring compliance with UK Water Supply Regulations. Additionally, it has passed the AB Air Gap test conducted by KIWA, achieving Category 5 compliance. The cistern is also eligible for BREEAM points under WAT 01 for water consumption and can earn up to six points in LEED’s water efficiency category.
The eco-cistem™ product was developed and is now the trading name of The Green Futures Initiative Ltd, founded by the directors of G&H, a Mechanical, Electrical, and Public Health (MEP) building services company based in Yorkshire.
