Water is a finite resource but we are facing multiple issues with water supply, usage and waste. Since 2015, the Dutch innovator Hamwells has been working to solve this problem through high-performance engineering. Their mission is to make showers as sustainable as possible without forcing users to sacrifice the comfort of a high-quality shower.
Recognized as a previous participant at the European PropTech Association Startup and Scaleup Awards, judges were wowed by Hamwells innovation. They specialize in systems that recycle energy and water in real time and this article should explain everything you need to know about why their PropTech innovation is so interesting and impactful.
Bridging the gap between technical expertise and environmental responsibility is never easy. Hamwells are showing luxury experience can coexist with a much smaller resource footprint. Without further delay and introductory blabbing, let’s move on to the stats to get an overview of what we are facing.
Statistics on Water Waste from Showers
There is plenty of data on the incredible amount of waste that we see through shower usage, but Hamwells highlight some of the incredible numbers on European usage. Of the 400,000,000+ European citizens, consumption per day is 17.600.000.000 litres of hot water. That’s 7,040 Olympic sized swimming pools, 164,380,000 kilo CO2 emissions from heating water which approximately equals driving 1.286.168 times from Amsterdam to Milan by car.
We’ve highlighted some more general statistics for a glimpse into the problem.
- According to the EPA, one shower can save enough electricity to power a 60-watt light bulb for nearly 7 hours.
- We Are Water highlight how showers account for around 30% of household water use in economically developed countries, where 80% of domestic water consumption takes place in the bathroom.
- In terms of practical steps to reduce water waste, smaller steps can be monumental on usage. A study by University of Surrey shows how high water pressure alone was able to reduce usage.
For those interested in learning more about the sustainable threats related to water as a vital reource, you can check out our article on Day Zero Droughts. One really standout statistic from this was the fact that 74% of drought-prone regions will face severe water scarcity by 2100 according to projections.
Dutch PropTech Sustainable Shower
What if your daily shower could actively protect the planet without compromising on comfort? Since 2015, Hamwells has been answering that question through high-performance engineering.
This Dutch team specializes in technical product development that focuses on two major goals: lowering resource consumption and maintaining a premium experience. Their approach is straightforward but effective. They don’t just build showers. They design systems that recycle energy and water in real time.
Brief Glimpse into Hamwells Sustainable Shower Solution
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The Blue System: A heat-exchange solution that reduces CO2 emissions and lowers the EPC of a home.
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The Loopz System: A recirculating shower that filters water continuously. It is portable and ships worldwide.
Hamwells Blue System
How much energy literally goes down the drain every time you take a shower? The Blue system by Hamwells is designed to catch that waste before it leaves your home. Their Blue System captures heat from outgoing wastewater to warm up incoming fresh water. By utilizing Wastewater Heat Recovery technology, it recycles the residual heat from your used shower water to preheat incoming cold water.
This process is remarkably efficient at 72.5 percent. Because the system handles the heavy lifting of heating the water, your boiler or heat pump does not have to work nearly as hard. This translates to an annual saving of roughly 1,713 kWh and a reduction of 582 kg in carbon emissions.
Beyond the environmental stats, the system is built with a focus on high-end comfort. Many people worry that sustainable showers mean a weak flow of water, but that is not the case here. The Blue supports a flow rate of up to 12.5 liters per minute.
It offers a luxury experience while still being a highly practical choice for modern homes. It is also designed to be robust. Since the wastewater reaches a high flow rate in the pipes, the system is largely self-cleaning. Maintenance is kept to a minimum, and any necessary checks are made easy by a glass panel that doubles as an access hatch.
For those involved in building or renovating, the benefits extend to the infrastructure of the home itself. Using the Blue can allow for a hot water system that is up to 40 percent smaller than average. This reduces the initial investment for heating equipment and makes it much easier to meet strict nZEB energy standards. Installation is streamlined because the system arrives pre-assembled in a frame.
Whether you are working on a new construction, a renovation, or a modern modular concept, the placement is flexible. You can install it directly in the bathroom, tucked away in a technical cupboard, or even in a centralized mechanical room for larger projects like hotels.
The Loopz System
For those looking for even greater efficiency, the Loopz system uses advanced filtration to allow for a full shower using only six liters of water. This is especially interesting for us as we are part of the 50L home coalition.
Loopz delivers a full-scale shower experience in off-grid locations while using a fraction of the usual water. It is a compact, all-in-one unit that operates without a permanent water connection. You only need a 12V power supply and six liters of water to get started. Whether you are living in a van or camping after a day of surfing, the system provides high-end comfort in a portable 10 kg package.
The internal filtration process keeps the water clean as it recirculates. A sediment filter first removes larger debris like grass or stones. Then, a stainless steel microfilter captures particles as small as 38 microns, including sand and skin flakes.
For those using the Loopz Plus, an optional UV-C LED provides an extra layer of safety by neutralizing 99.99 percent of bacteria and viruses. These steps ensure that the water remains fresh throughout the session. You can shower for five minutes or an hour while still only using those initial six liters.
Operating the system is straightforward and designed for travelers. You simply place the unit on a flat surface and fill the reservoir with water from a tap or a nearby creek. Once the LED indicator signals it is ready, the shower is good to go.
The unit is built with durable materials like stainless steel and wood composite. It also uses recycled ABS for a longer lifespan. When you are finished, the slim design makes it easy to store in tight spaces. This is a durable, practical system for anyone who wants a high-quality shower without the footprint of heavy water usage.
Final Thoughts on Sustainable Showering
From the first mechanical pump patented by William Feetham in 1822 to present, the history of showering has often prioritized convenience and luxury over conservation. However, the environmental cost of these daily rituals is now impossible to ignore. From tourism to Italy’s wastage of 43 million peoples worth of water.
The individual act of showering is really a massive collective burden. While personal habits like taking shorter showers or switching to biodegradable soaps are vital first steps, the future of the bathroom lies in bridging the gap between high-end comfort and structural efficiency.
We’ve discussed the use and discard model before, but traditional plumbing is also at a loss in this regard. New technologies can, should and will turn the bathroom into a closed-loop system of efficiency that we won’t even question in the future. Whether it is through recycling heat to lower energy bills or filtering water to enable off-grid living, these solutions address the 30% of household water use that typically happens in the bathroom around the world.
Sustainability is a community effort, and by integrating smarter technology into our homes, we can ensure that a clean future doesn’t require us to sacrifice the simple pleasure of a hot shower.
