I have never heard of a dual flush. Interesting, thanks for sharing! Do you know what the cost difference is?

Thanks for commenting on my blog today. Just so you know, that was not frost on the daffodils but the start of 3" of snow!  = )

As with anything else, price varies greatly.  I think they start around $250 and go up from there.  There are options between $250 and $350, but some are more expensive too, $500 or more.

I hadn't heard of this for a residential use either. Our travel trailer has a dual flush, necessary to conserve water and conserve space in the septic holding if you don't have full hook-up.

The dual flush is a great idea, but at a cost of over $200? I don't think the average family would be able to get over the sticker-shock! Another much more feesible option if to take a few bricks and put them in the tank of the existing toilet. The other problem I could see is teaching kids which button or handle to push for what they did. I know other coutries have been using the system for years, but it just seems like it would be about as easy to teach a kid how to use the toilet as it is to teach them how much paper not to use. Just my two cents.

To Colleen's point, it may be more cost-effective to modify an existing toilet, but if you're remodeling or replacing out of need, $200 is more than reasonable for a quality bath fixture.

Don't forget to look at the payback via savings in water bills.  It is estimated that ultra-low flow toilets would save the average US home over ten gallons of water per day.  Multiply that by a year and that is over 3650 gallons.  Dual flush toilets save approximately 40-60% more water than ULF toilets do.  As more communities in the US are faced with water shortages and as the price of water rises, dual flush toilets could easily pay for themselves.

I have never had a problem teaching my children how to use a toilet properly with regard to paper and flushing,  My husband, well that is another story!  

I had to laugh a little at the husband comment.

I was thinking the other day about what seems to be a relatively recent push for conservation (maybe it's just in my area). I grew up in a house that did alot of the things that are talked about on these forums. We wore sweaters instead of turning up the heat. Our shower had a shut-off valve so the water wasn't going full bore when you didn't need it. The toilet was rigged to use only the needed amount to get the paper down it, not one drop more. We did all of this not because my parents cared about the environment (even though the did). All of it was done because of money. I am from a large family and when you multiply the cost of all that water and heat by 10 people, it is alot of money.

I believe it is our job to educate people as to the cost savings. Yes, that dual flush toilet is going to set you back a pretty penny, but how much will it reduce your water bill? Yes, the front-loading washing machine is more expensive, but it is more gentle on your clothes and uses less water reducing two bills.

I wasn't saying in my original post that people shouldn't buy a dual flush because of the initial cost. I just think without proper education and information they won't.

I agree that proper eduction in the long term benefits of most conservation efforts is key.  Too many people have blinders on and only see the what is right in front of them, the short term.  The long term payback of most simply conservation measures is a benefit that should not be overlooked.

You are so right when you say that many conservation efforts are simply a renewal of older thinking - turn down the heat and put on a sweater, open the windows and wear a tank top instead of turning on the air, compost your food scraps instead of throwing them out.  The best environmental efforts are not done through innovative technologies like solar panels and wind turbines, but rather through old fashioned steps to reduce energy usage. 

Brenda, I know some toilets have a low water option for anytime it is used as well. Definitely should conserve our water.

Brenda, I didn't know about the dual flush option on toilets -  what a great idea - it should be required in new homes. Not sure I'm up for replacing all of ours just yet but nice to know it is available.