Saving Inside & Out

Saving Water Indoors

On average, about 70 percent of water used at home is used indoors. The WaterSense specification addresses water efficiency during the planning and design stages of home construction, where significant impacts can be achieved using readily available technologies. WaterSense labeled homes must have:

• WaterSense labeled plumbing fixtures that have been independently certified for efficiency and performance. Required labeled products include:
  • Toilets
  • Bathroom Faucets
  • Showerheads (pending)
  • Flushing urinals (if installed)
• An efficient hot water delivery system that stores no more than .5 gallons of water between the source of hot water (the water heater or a recirculation loop) and the furthest fixture in the home.
  • Recirculation systems must be demand initiated (push button or motion sensor activated)
• ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washer and dishwasher (if included)
• A maximum service pressure of 60 psi
• No leaks

Landscape Design

Depending on where a home is located, the water used to maintain its outdoor landscape can total anywhere from 30 to 70 percent or more of your home's total water use.

Water efficiency begins with designing a water efficient landscape. The front yard of WaterSense labeled homes must be landscaped. The criteria also applies to any other areas improved upon by the builder beyond temporary stabilization (including turf, sod, flower beds, or water features.)

A WaterSense labeled new home must comply with one of two options when designing the landscape:

• Option 1: Uses the WaterSense Water Budget Tool to design a landscape based on a regionally appropriate amount of water
• Option 2: Limits turfgrass to 40 percent or less of the landscaped area

Irrigation

If an Irrigation System is installed, it must:

• Be designed or installed AND audited by a WaterSense Irrigation Partner
• Use fixed spray irrigation on turfgrass only and achieve at least a 65 percent distribution uniformity
• Use drip or micro irrigation on all plants other than turfgrass
• Include irrigation controllers that meet multiple criteria

Homeowner's Manual

Even the best built home will only realize its water savings potential if the homeowner has the ability to properly maintain it. For this reason, builders must also provide the homeowner of each home that earns the WaterSense label an owner's manual that details usage and maintenance of the home's indoor and outdoor water efficient features. At a minimum this should include:

• Operations and maintenance manuals for all water-using equipment
• If an irrigation system is included:
  • A schematic of the irrigation system
  • An itemized list of all components
  • Copies of the programmed irrigation schedules with information on reprogramming
• General information on water-efficient appliances that are not included in the home as built, but could be added at a later date (such as clothes washers or dishwashers)

To assist builders in the development of the owner's manual WaterSense has developed customizable tools and templates available to builder partners here on the WaterSense Partner Site.