Living Green

With a drought in mind and cash in hand, some metro Atlanta officials are offering toilet rebate programs to smoothe a homeowner's move to low-flush toilets.

Earlier this month, DeKalb County announced that anyone who replaces a water-guzzling toilet with a low-flow 1.6 gallons per flush or 1.28 gpf "high efficiency" model will receive $50 or $100, respectively. And just last week, Mayor Shirley Franklin announced a similar program for Atlantans.

Neorest (ENLARGE)

The Toto toilet

RELATED LINKS: • Photos: Check out these toilets

The conversion can save hundreds of millions of gallons annually, and helps homeowners upgrade.

We decided to see just how far a toilet upgrade could go — and also let folks know what's new on the toilet scene since they last replaced the hardest working appliance in the house.

Fred McCurdy, a sales manager with Cowan Supply in Atlanta, says while most people come to his store looking for a simple porcelain pot, many quickly become intrigued by models fit for George Jetson himself.

Just consider the Neorest "personal cleansing system" from TotoUSA, a Japanese manufacturer with factories in Georgia. The bidet and toilet combo raises its lid or seat automatically as you approach and, as you walk away, uses a sensor to determine whether to use 1.2 or 1.6 gallons of water to flush your unmentionables. Using a remote control, you can make it spray, heat, deodorize or dry, all for a mere $5,000. (Toto also manufactures much less expensive toilets with high efficiency ratings.)

While you don't need to spend a small fortune to have your own royal throne, plumber Lee Krinsky explained that the cheaper you go, the more you may be flushing quality down the drain. (And as anyone who has used a low-end low-flush toilet knows — water savings are lost if you have to flush three times.)

"That little bit more money you spend, the more flushing action you'll get," said Krinsky, partner and vice president of Plumb Works in Atlanta.

Low-cost toilets don't pack the flushing punch that better-designed models offer, he explains, which means just because your waste is out of sight, it's likely not out of your home drain lines. Toilets in the $50 to $150 range are more likely to have stoppages because of their less sophisticated design, raising your potential for disaster.

He advises that once you hit the $200 mark and up, you should be sitting pretty. But keep in mind that no matter the model, all toilets will need maintenance. (Using single-ply toilet paper can help, he advised.)

From flushing to heating to cleansing to drying — advances in toilet technology give us new reason to sit and stay awhile.

Here's a glimpse of today's water closet wonders.

A Royal Seat: C3-200, bidet seat

Manufacturer: Kohler

Features: Ideal for the person who wants a bidet but doesn't have the space, this heated seat simply plugs into a nearby wall and can be fitted over your existing toilet fixture. The bidet has a sprayer for both front and rear cleansing, a warm air fan with different speed settings, deodorizer, remote control usage and a lighted bowl for night-time use. You and your significant other can store your preferences, as well, for quick comfort.

Cost: About $1,500

A warm welcome: The Swash 800

Manufacturer: Brondell

Features: This queen of the Swash series (think high-tech toilet seats) offers what its manufacturer calls an "endless warm water wash" with a heated dryer finish, eliminating the need for toilet paper. That's where the Swash manufacturers see this model's Earth-friendly savings. Customize the bidet experience with your pick of heat and water pressure preferences, all operated by a handy remote control. Fits more than 98 percent of toilet fixtures, according to Brondell.

Cost: About $800.

Earth-friendly and unusual: BioLet 60 XL composting toilet

Manufacturer: BioLet USA Inc.

Features: Nope, it's not a port-o-potty, though this composting toilet uses no water and needs no sewer or septic hookup. The electric toilet (also available in non-electric model) uses a base mix of peat moss and pine wood shavings to break down human waste into "humus," a material collected in a tray at the bottom of the toilet. While the BioLet needs to be emptied just every two months to a year, depending on usage, an electric fan continuously draws air into the toilet preventing odors from escaping.

Cost: $1,999

Drop in the bucket: San Raphael Pressure Lite toilet

Manufacturer: Kohler

Features: This high-efficiency toilet (a distinction given to toilets that use 1.28 gallons per flush or less) blows away the competition when it comes to water consumption — it flushes with just one gallon of water. The unit uses compressed air to help flush waste more vigorously, cutting down on clogged drains. Kohler estimates this model can save a household of four up to 10,000 gallons of water each year.

Cost: About $750

Smart and simple: FloWise Toilet

Manufacturer: American Standard

Features: According to its manufacturer, this is the first toilet to reduce water usage by more than 20 percent without offering a dual flush. This model, available only in white, uses just 1.28 gallons per flush, and bears the Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSenseSM label as a high efficiency toilet.

Cost: $395

High-end luxury: Neorest Washlet 600

Manufacturer: TotoUSA

Features: In addition to aforementioned amenities, this automatic dual flush unit offers personalized bidet action with front or rear cleansing. The unit also features a timed and automatic energy saver that analyzes user patterns and shuts down (like a computer) when not in use for an extended period of time.

Cost: From $5,200 to $5,900