I have a confession to make: I love taking long, hot showers. It’s where I do my best thinking, plan out my day, and occasionally win imaginary arguments. But lately, that nagging eco-guilt creeps in every time I stay under the water for more than ten minutes. We all know water scarcity is a massive global issue, and traditional showers are huge resource drains.
So, when I was researching the latest in smart home tech and stumbled upon Kohler’s new system, the Anthem EvoCycle, I was genuinely fascinated. A shower that promises up to 80% water savings without ruining water pressure? It sounds like pure magic. But as I dug deeper into how it actually works, I realized it’s a brilliant piece of engineering with a few massive hurdles.
Let’s break down exactly what this tech does, why it’s a game-changer, and whether it’s actually practical for our homes.
How Does the Anthem EvoCycle Actually Work?
Usually, when companies talk about “eco-friendly” showers, they mean low-flow showerheads that make you feel like you are standing under a sad, dripping faucet. Kohler took a completely different, highly technological approach. They aren’t restricting the flow; they are recycling the water in real-time.
At the heart of the Anthem EvoCycle is a special reservoir integrated directly into your shower floor. Here is how the system handles your daily wash:
- Standard Mode: When you first step in, the shower operates exactly like the one you have right now. It uses 100% fresh water from your pipes. The runoff simply gathers in the floor reservoir.
- Loop Mode: This is where the sci-fi element kicks in. Once engaged, the system takes the water from the floor reservoir and pushes it through a closed-loop, high-tech filtration system. It then takes about 2 liters of fresh water, mixes it with the freshly filtered used water, and pumps that hybrid mix back up through the showerhead.
I was initially a bit skeptical. The idea of washing myself with “used” water felt strange. But because the system continuously filters and dilutes the loop with fresh water, you are essentially getting a clean, high-pressure experience without draining the city’s water supply.
The Hidden Benefit: Slashing Your Energy Bill
Here is a detail that I think a lot of people overlook when discussing water conservation: heating water requires a massive amount of energy.
The brilliance of the Anthem EvoCycle isn’t just in saving water. Because the system is taking water that is already warm from the shower floor, filtering it, and pumping it back up, your home’s water heater doesn’t have to work nearly as hard. Instead of constantly heating freezing cold water from the main line to a comfortable temperature, the system just maintains the heat of the recycled loop.
For a smart home enthusiast like me, this dual-threat of saving both water and electricity is the exact kind of innovation the industry needs right now.
The Catch: Installation Nightmares and a Hefty Price Tag
Okay, let’s be real. As much as I love the concept, bringing this into an average home is currently a logistical nightmare. This isn’t a smart speaker you just plug into the wall.
First, there is the installation. Because the Anthem EvoCycle requires an integrated pump, a digital control unit, and a filtration tank, you need a dedicated electrical connection right in your wet zone. More importantly, the floor reservoir requires a depth of about 11.5 centimeters (4.5 inches) cut into your bathroom floor. Unless you are building a house from scratch or doing a complete gut-renovation, installing this means literally tearing up your bathroom.
Then, there is the price. The innovation tax is incredibly high here.
- The base system starts at a staggering $7,500 (though they currently have a promo dropping it to around $5,625).
- But wait, that doesn’t include everything! You still have to buy the shower fixtures separately, and the specialized water tank base is an extra $825.
By the time you pay for the hardware, the smart home app integration, the plumbing, and the floor demolition, you are looking at a luxury car-sized investment for your bathroom.
My Takeaway: A Glimpse into the Future
If I were building my dream smart home from the ground up today, would I install this? Honestly, I would seriously consider it. Yes, the price is completely out of reach for the average consumer right now, but that’s how all groundbreaking technology starts. Remember when the first flat-screen TVs cost $10,000?
Kohler is proving that we don’t have to sacrifice comfort to be sustainable. As water regulations get stricter and this technology scales down in price, I wouldn’t be surprised if closed-loop showers become the standard in all new apartments a decade from now.
But I’m curious about the psychological side of this tech. Even knowing it goes through a high-tech filter, would you feel comfortable showering in a continuous loop of your own recycled bathwater? Drop your thoughts in the comments, I’d love to know where you stand on this!
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