Smarter ways to reduce shower water use and drive long-term behaviour change across homes, councils and water utilities.
It’s no longer enough to rely on desalination plants and pipelines to secure Australia’s water future. As the climate shifts and populations rise, every drop saved at home becomes vital infrastructure. And while large-scale supply solutions play their part, the biggest untapped opportunity may be much closer to the bathroom sink.
For Bernard Emby, founder of TouchGrid and creator of ShowerStar, household behaviour is central to water conservation.
“I have three daughters who spend a lot of time in the shower,” Emby said. “Then I started researching and realised that hot water is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the average Australian home.”
Water heating accounts for up to 30 per cent of household energy use and around a quarter of residential water consumption. Yet public awareness has slipped.
“There’s a disconnect between what young people know and what they actually do,” Emby said. “My generation saw public campaigns. My kids haven’t.”
ShowerStar is designed to bridge that gap. The device clips onto a shower pipe and utilises vibration sensors to track shower duration. It provides real-time feedback using green, amber, and red lights, nudging users to shorten their showers without requiring changes to plumbing or relying on apps.
“You don’t need to alter the shower head,” Emby said. “You just make people mindful of how long they’re showering.”
Trials have demonstrated water savings of more than 30 per cent, with 98 per cent of devices remaining installed.
The simplicity is key to its success. While the paired app can track costs and water use in detail, even households that ignore the data respond to the visual cues.
“It prompts conversations, especially with teenagers,” Emby said.
For utilities and councils, the benefits go well beyond household budgets.
“Hot water is the most expensive water in the home,” Emby said. “Reducing shower duration cuts bills and helps reduce pressure on infrastructure.”
ShowerStar can be deployed without needing professional installation. That reduces cost and avoids the liability issues that often complicate large-scale rollout. In Australia, three utilities are trialling the product, with Western Australia’s Water Corporation among the early innovators. In the United States, gas utilities are also exploring it as part of emissions reduction programs.
ShowerStar is also being trialled in aquatic centres, hotels, and regional areas, anywhere water use is high and savings matter.
Yet scaling innovation takes time.
“Water utilities’ greatest strength is that they’re built for scale, and their greatest weakness is that they’re built for scale,” Emby said. “Navigating regulation and risk takes patience. What makes the difference is community engagement.
“Utilities have the trust and reach to educate people in ways that startups can’t.
“Our message is about the power of getting people to change at scale. Small changes, done widely, can have a big impact.”
For more information, visit touchgrid.com