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Many years ago, every sink had a separate tap for hot water and another for cold. And so it happened that in 1937 Al Moen accidentally scalded himself as he washed his hands under a steamy hot water tap. It was this incident that inspired him to create the single-handle faucet that mixes hot and cold water together as it flows from the spigot. His invention was the basis for founding Moen, Inc., and it eventually transformed the American home.
Since then, the faucet has been continually reinvented as manufacturers strive to provide homeowners with even greater convenience and functionality. According to the 2014 National Kitchen and Bath Design Trend Report, the following recent innovations are gaining favor with consumers around the country:
 1. Pull-down and pull-out faucets currently dominate the market, over standard kitchen faucets. These types of faucets conveniently combine the functions of a single-handle faucet with that of a high-pressure sprayer. The pull-down variety features a high-arc design with a faucet head that pulls straight down into the sink. This arrangement simplifies the filling of pitchers or tall cooking pots in the sink. On the other hand, a pull-out faucet has a lower profile, making it the best choice in situations where faucet height must be limited, such as under cabinets. The faucet head pulls out toward the user, making it easier to fill pots on the counter next to the sink. 
2. Touchless and touch-activated faucets are expected to grow in popularity this year, at the expense of standard faucets. These technologically advanced faucets make it convenient to start and stop the flow of water when your hands are too messy to use the handle. Touchless faucets activate the flow of water when they identify that your hands are in the proximity of a sensor. Touch-activated faucets start the flow of water when you touch or tap anywhere on the spout or handle, using your wrist or forearm, etc. Some faucets provide both touchless and touch-activated functionality.
3. Water-saving faucets were specified by almost 40 percent of kitchen and bath designers this year, and it is expected that the market will continue to expand in 2014. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the WaterSense program to assist consumers in selecting faucets that flow at a maximum of 1.5 gallons per minute.  WaterSense labeled faucets can reduce a sink's water flow by 30 percent or more from standard flow of the 2.2 gallons per minute, without sacrificing performance. It is estimated that billions of gallons could be saved nationwide each year by retrofitting sink faucets with models that have earned the WaterSense label.
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