There are few things in life as universally appreciated as a hot shower on a freezing winter morning. It is a daily sanctuary. But as the temperature drops and our time under the water creeps up, that steamy luxury brings a less relaxing side effect: the dreaded energy bill.
With water heating taking a massive bite out of household budgets (making up around 30 percent of a typical home’s energy cost) the battle over who gets the hot water, and for how long, is a familiar tension in households worldwide. But what if a simple little device could act as a referee for your bathroom?
So here is ShowerStar, a clever gadget that uses a traffic light system to gently nudge you out of the shower before your wallet takes a hit.
The Story Behind the Gadget
Every good invention usually starts with a frustrating problem, and the ShowerStar is no different. The device was born out of a very relatable household crisis: a father trying to manage the shower habits of his teenage daughters.
Bernie Emby, a dad of three with a background in the energy sector, found himself constantly nagging his kids to shorten their showers. The rise of the “everything shower”—that modern ritual involving endless steps of hair and skincare—made the situation even worse. Despite his professional knowledge of energy efficiency, he quickly realised that simply telling people to use less hot water does not work.
He knew the issue was not awareness. Most of us know that standing under running hot water for twenty minutes costs money. The real problem was changing that behaviour in the moment, when you are relaxed and entirely disconnected from the real world. Thus, the idea for a real-time, visual nudge was born.
How It Works: The Traffic Light System
So, how does a gadget actually get a stubborn teenager (or a stressed adult) out of the shower?
Unlike a traditional, panic-inducing digital timer that aggressively counts down to zero, ShowerStar works by automatically sensing the water flow and guiding the user through a simple colour-coded system.
Here is what it looks like when you turn the tap on:
- Blue: The device detects water flow. You get 30 seconds to let the water heat up.
- Green: The timer officially starts. Enjoy your shower.
- Amber: You have reached the halfway point. Time to start rinsing off the shampoo.
- Red: Time is up. Time to grab a towel.
- Flashing Red (Over-time): An optional alert that gently reminds you that you are officially pushing your luck.
The real magic here is behavioural science. It relies on gentle visual and audio cues to keep you mindful of time, rather than a harsh alarm. Plus, it connects to an app, giving households access to their actual data so they can see exactly how much water and energy they are using.
How It Stacks Up
Are there other ways to save water in the shower? Absolutely. For decades, water providers have handed out those little plastic suction-cup hourglass timers. But let us be honest: they fall off the glass, they get ignored, and you have to remember to flip them in the first place.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are high-end smart home water monitoring systems that require professional plumbing installation and cost thousands of dollars.
Is It Worth the Hype?
If you live alone and already take efficient three-minute showers, you probably do not need this. But for busy households, large families, or anyone living with a serial hot water hog, this tech is highly anticipated for good reason.
ShowerStar has even earned a Smart Drop Certification from The Water Conservancy, proving it does exactly what it promises. It is a cost-of-living hero that integrates seamlessly into daily life. It does not force you to take cold showers or install restrictive low-flow showerheads that ruin the water pressure. Instead, it just helps you be a little smarter about your time.
If it can stop the morning arguments over who used all the hot water, it is easily a gadget to look forward to.
