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ecoturbino Named “Products of the Year 2026” in Germany in the Energy & Utilities Category by DISQ and ntv in Berlin
ecoturbino Named One of 96 “Products of the Year” Winners | Honored On Stage in the Energy & Utilities Category at Berlin’s BIG BANG AI Festival
All images: Copyright Thomas Ecke / DISQ / ntv
Sustainability and resource efficiency in everyday life don’t have to mean giving something up — or compromising your comfort.
That’s exactly the idea behind ecoturbino — and now it’s official, confirmed by an independent, well-respected authority. The compact water-saving SPA optimizer ecoturbino (presented by Webdeals Shops GmbH) has been named “Product of the Year 2026” in the *Energy & Utilities* category!
The prestigious award from the German Institute for Service Quality (DISQ) is presented in close partnership with national news channel ntv. The official announcement took place on September 17, 2026, at the renowned *BIG BANG AI Festival* in Berlin.
The award asks one central question: which new products genuinely make everyday life better? Out of more than 700 original nominations, 97 products made the final cut across 29 categories — potentially setting new standards for everything from sustainable food to clever household helpers to groundbreaking tech. The winners were announced live on stage at Berlin’s BIG BANG AI Festival.
Only innovations that deliver real practical value, noticeable comfort, and a genuine competitive edge make the cut.
The seal of quality gives consumers a clear, trustworthy point of reference — while confirming the outstanding achievements of forward-thinking brands.
For us at ecoturbino, this milestone is a huge confirmation of our mission: bringing cutting-edge shower technology — made in Austria & Germany — into every home, hotel, and beyond, as easily as possible. The result: dramatically lower hot water and sewage costs, without giving up an ounce of shower comfort.
The DISQ & ntv “Product of the Year” Award | Meet All the Winners
In a marketplace flooded with advertising claims, endless options, and products that all start to look alike, consumers need something they can actually trust. That’s exactly the kind of market transparency the “Product of the Year” award delivers.
Founded in Hamburg in 2006, the German Institute for Service Quality (DISQ) is an independent, privately run institute known for its methodologically sound testing, mystery shopping studies, and customer surveys.
The institute’s scientific and methodological work is overseen by a high-profile advisory board, including Brigitte Zypries (former Federal Minister of Economics and Justice, board chair), Prof. Dr. Michel Clement (University of Hamburg), Judith Klose (Civey), and Catja Stammen (editorial director of ntv’s business programs).
The award’s goal: recognize products that prove themselves in everyday use, tackle real social and environmental challenges, and deliver measurable value consumers can actually feel.
Behind the Scenes: How the Award’s Selection Process Actually Works
Winning this award means passing through a demanding, multi-stage evaluation process. The methodology behind “Product of the Year 2026” is built on objectivity, scientific rigor, and real-world relevance:
1. In-Depth Data Collection & Preliminary Research
Between March and May 2026, companies from across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) submitted their products through a standardized questionnaire portal. Before that, DISQ’s market research experts carried out extensive preliminary research to identify and nominate only the most genuinely relevant solutions.
Every submission was systematically reviewed, vetted, and sorted into one of 29 specialist categories.
2. The Three Core Evaluation Criteria
To weigh both innovation and practicality fairly, every product was assessed against three clearly defined criteria:
- Unique selling point (USP): How does the product stand out from everything else on the market? Does it offer functional, structural, or technical advantages consumers can clearly recognize?
- Benefit & added value: What real value does the product create? How does it perform on cost savings, customer benefit, efficiency gains, everyday usability, and scalability?
- Relevance & impact: What ecological and economic weight does the innovation carry? How large is the target group, or the number of people who benefit? Does the solution address pressing future challenges like resource conservation and climate protection?
3. A Holistic Jury Review — No Rigid Checklists
Rather than relying on a simple checklist, DISQ brought together a 12-person expert jury spanning business, science, and trend research — including tech investor Sophia Tran, retail expert Marilyn Repp, Sinus managing director Dr. Silke Borgstedt, ZVEI consumer lead Maria Marinelli, and futurist Marcel Aberle. Each juror scored the nominated products on a scale from 1 to 10.
Only products that achieved an outstanding average score of over 7 points across all submissions earned the coveted award. That strict threshold meant just 97 top products from the entire consumer goods market made it into the winners’ circle — ecoturbino among them, in the *Energy & Utilities* category.
The Jury’s Verdict: Why the ecoturbino SPA Optimizer Won Them Over
In its official statement, the jury spelled out exactly why ecoturbino represents such a leap forward compared to conventional water-saving devices:
From the jury’s statement:
“The jury recognizes ecoturbino as a technically well-engineered solution that saves water without sacrificing comfort. Its Venturi effect — adding air to the water stream instead of simply restricting flow — clearly sets it apart from conventional water-saving showerheads, which usually come at the cost of a weaker spray. The jury also praised the added hygiene benefit of reduced legionella risk, along with the tool-free, easy installation. As a retrofit solution that fits almost any standard fixture, ecoturbino delivers lasting everyday value with a measurable impact on water and energy consumption.”
How It Works: Why ecoturbino Doesn’t Ask You to Compromise
Conventional water-saving showerheads and flow restrictors work by simply cutting down the amount of water. Most people know the disappointing result: a thin, weak stream that turns washing your hair into a test of patience and takes all the enjoyment out of showering.
ecoturbino takes a completely different, physics-based approach:
- The Venturi principle: A targeted swirling motion draws in air and mixes microscopically fine air bubbles into the water stream. This bulks up the water volume — both visually and to the touch — so the spray stays full, strong, soft, and pleasantly invigorating, all while actual water consumption drops by up to 50 percent.
- No tools, no plumber required: Just screw the adapter on by hand between the mixer tap and the shower hose (or directly in front of a rain shower head). Installation takes less than two minutes and works just as well in rentals as it does in owned properties or hotels.
- Active hygiene & legionella protection: The constant air mixing, plus automatic hose drainage after every shower, effectively prevents standing water in the hose. That minimizes biofilm buildup, reduces limescale, and demonstrably lowers legionella risk — a must-have benefit for sensitive settings like care homes, hospitals, and hotels.
Real Savings — For Your Wallet and the Planet
Using less hot water pays off in two ways at once: lower water and wastewater bills, and lower energy costs for heating the water — whether that’s electricity, gas, district heating, or oil.
For an average household of four, ecoturbino cuts a noticeable amount off yearly running costs — while also saving around 400 kg of CO₂ a year.
That means the device often pays for itself within just a few weeks. In hotels and businesses, the effect multiplies fast: a 100-room hotel can cut its CO₂ footprint by up to 28 tons a year, while saving anywhere from four to five figures in euros.
The Bottom Line: Award-Winning Quality for Every Bathroom | Hotels, Homes, Hospitals & More
Being named Product of the Year 2026 by the German Institute for Service Quality and ntv proves an important point: smart technology doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel to have a massive impact.
ecoturbino proves that serious climate action and a genuinely luxurious shower experience go hand in hand. And with this award, one question should finally be settled for good: “Does it actually work?”
Want to cut your shower costs in half — at home or at your business — without giving up a powerful, satisfying spray? Check out the award-winning SPA shower optimizer right here in our shop and future-proof your bathroom in just a few minutes!
Early press coverage:
- https://www.n-tv.de/ratgeber/Das-sind-die-Produkte-des-Jahres-2026-id31297313.html
- https://www.deutscherpresseindex.de/2026/09/17/award-produkte-des-jahres-2026/
- https://www.presseportal.de/pm/64471/6353675
