Minato-Ku, Tokyo, Japan
The WASHLET from TOTO integrates new features into its already successful smart toilet for a more sustainable and hygienic toilet.
In 2022, TOTO’s WASHLET integrated smart toilet got a major overhaul.
Despite the ultra-water-saving specs, waste can be discharged to the sewage pipes with a vigorous flow.
Balancing the trade-off between ultra-water-saving and waste discharge performance, both improved over previous models, the toilet also offers a usage environment combining hygiene with comfort.
For its sustainable design, WASHLET has recently been awarded a 2023 Green Good Design Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
Looking at the water conservation situation for sanitary ware worldwide the global standard LEED v4.1BD&C water sense criteria for large toilet flushing requires a 20% reduction from the baseline flush volume of 6.0L,with 4.8L or less per flush, and today, flush volumes of 4.8L or less have become mainstream for water-saving toilets.
However, among toilet flush volume regulations worldwide, there are water conservation regulations even more stringent than the LEED criteria.
Anticipating the accelerated introduction of water conservation regulations in the future in Japan and overseas markets, TOTO revised the toilet flushing engine (flow channels within the ceramic) in its WASHLET integrated smart toilets, enhancing flushing power while achieving a minimal flushing volume averaging 3.3L per flush (large / small flush = 3.8L / 3.0L).
This improvement is surprising even by global standards, achieved through advantaged technologies covering the flushing system, structure, and water flow control.
The design represents a significant water conservation effect (45% reduction) from the baseline flush volume of 6L per flush.
In terms of annual reductions in flush volume and CO2 emissions per person annually, this new WASHLET integrated smart toilet achieves a reduction of 4,927L and 2.7 kg CO2 per year compared with the baseline flush volume of 10,950L and 5.9 kg CO2 per year.
Some models have an average flow rate of 3.5L with a 42% reduction.
In addition to conserving water, when combined with TOTO’s key hygiene technologies for toilets — including EWATER+ for waste accumulation prevention, CEFIONTECT for waste removal and rimless design, and TORNADO FLUSH for cleanliness — the designers have produced a toilet that balances water savings with hygiene and comfort.
TOTO is continually working to improve the efficiency of water usage to improve the water conservation of its toilets.
By spreading water-saving toilets around the world, the designers strive to preserve water resources on a global scale and contribute to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Water and Sanitation.
Water conservation also contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13, Climate Action, by reducing the electric power and CO2 emissions needed to treat water at treatment and sewage plants.
Project: WASHLET
Designers: TOTO Ltd.
Manufacturer: TOTO Ltd.
