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(Woodbridge, ON — May 14, 2010) On Earth Day, Ontario Environment Minister John Gerretsen announced a proposed ban on the sale of new toilets in the province that use more than six litres of water. The province hopes to quell Ontarians’ voracious demand for freshwater—at 260 litres per capita, nearly double that of European countries with similar living standards.
Speaking on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day from a New Canadians Home Hardware store in downtown Toronto, Gerretsen also introduced the province’s plan to build Ontario into a global hub for water conservation technologies as part of the Water Opportunities Act. Unbeknownst to most Canadians, an Ontario company has already created the world’s most efficient toilet.
Hennessy & Hinchcliffe Inc., of Mississauga, ON, launched the Proficiency Ultra High Efficiency Toilet (UHET) last year. Designed by entrepreneur Phil Hennessy, Proficiency effectively flushes both liquid and solid waste with one ultra efficient three-litre flush. What’s the secret to this innovative Canadian technology? A patented air transfer system that pressurizes and depressurizes the toilet’s trapway with nothing more than the displacement of air as water fills and empties the tank. “I started working on the concept of pressurizing the trapway back in 2002”, says Hennessy. “At that time, the most efficient toilets flushed at six litres, but I knew there was potential to go lower and still get the job done.”
The water and dollar savings potential is huge. Using 37% less water than current high efficiency toilets, Proficiency could save homeowners hundreds of dollars a year, and save municipalities millions in reduced costs to pump, distribute, and treat water and wastewater. Property managers across the country have already jumped at the opportunity to maximize water savings by installing the Proficiency in apartment complexes and seniors homes. London & Middlesex Housing Corporation has installed 2,000 of the toilets throughout public housing units in and around London, Ontario.
Quite possibly a panacea to protecting our most precious natural resource, the Proficiency is definitely a boon to proponents of green building. In the heart of downtown Brampton, ON, construction is nearing completion on the Chapelview Project—a joint venture amongst the governments of Canada, Ontario, Peel Region, the City of Brampton, and Martinway Contracting Ltd. Chapelview is slated to become the first LEED Platinum certified affordable housing project in the world, with Proficiency the toilet of choice.
The market may be heading towards greener choices for the obvious environmental benefits, but what concerns many homeowners is a toilet’s ability to flush waste—on the first push of the lever. “We knew there were bound to be skeptics,” says Hennessy. “We had to create a reliable, effective product.” To ensure the toilet’s performance, Proficiency was extensively tested by Bill Gauley, a professional engineer and principal of Veritec Consulting, of Mississauga, ON. Gauley is a recognized expert in the field of toilet performance, and Veritec is one of the primary testing labs for all toilet manufacturers in North America. “When I developed the testing program in 2003,” says Gauley, “half the toilets we tested failed to meet the minimum performance criteria. The Proficiency 3-litre model not only offers a great flushing performance, it also saves more water than any other toilet. I know, because I have one installed in my own home.”
A former dairy farmer and an accomplished float plane pilot, Hennessy spent seven years in his workshop on the Trent River building countless mock-ups and tests to perfect the mechanics of Proficiency’s flushing system. His family-owned business is the only producer of toilets with operations and research and development based in Canada. He was elated when the Environment Ministry displayed the Proficiency at the Earth Day press conference. “When the government supports green initiatives, it benefits consumers, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and the industry,” Hennessy says. “Their support has created a fantastic opportunity. However, this is just the first step on the long journey to a healthier planet.”