Watersense labeled new homes are designed to reduce residential water use indoors, as well as outdoors, compared to typical new homes—allowing you and your family to enjoy all the comforts of home while using less water and energy, and spending less money on utility bills.

Watersense labeled new homes help families save an average of 10,000 gallons of water and at least $100 on utility costs each year by including WaterSense labeled plumbing fixtures, an efficient hot water delivery system, water-efficient landscape design, and other water- and energy-efficient features. For more information in regards to watersense products and literature, please visit the water sense website at www.epa.gov/WaterSense/

Partnering to Build WaterSense Labeled Homes

Are you a homebuilder who wants to become more involved in green residential building? WaterSense labeled new homes are designed to work well with other green building programs (ENERGY STAR, LEED®, National Green Building Standard) and allow flexibility to meet homeowners’ needs. Learn more about how to partner with WaterSense, build homes to the WaterSense Specification for Single-Family New Homes, and get your homes independently inspected and certified to meet EPA’s water-efficiency and performance criteria.

Watersense invites other organizations interested in bringing beautiful, water-efficient homes to your neighborhood to partner with EPA. Learn more about other WaterSense new homes partnership opportunities for certification providers and builders. For additional information, visit the website at www.epa.gov/WaterSense/

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Water conservation programs are popping up around the country. Is it time for your approach to go beyond the basics?

Water-saving washers and dishwashers. High-efficiency and dual-flush toilets. Eco performance showerheads and faucets. All are well-established components of water conservation programs – and have proven effective for builders large and small. For instance, KB Home, the first national builder to partner with EPA’s WaterSense program, has used water-saving fixtures and appliances to reduce water consumption in its homes by 20 percent.

While a 20 percent savings is impressive, some builders are finding creative ways to save even more. There is potential for big savings, for example, by rethinking the home’s interior plumbing infrastructure and reducing the need for lawn irrigation.

Creative Plumbing

Tankless water heaters. A tankless water heater will be most effective if it’s placed as close to the point of use as possible. “Sometimes you might need two instead of one,” according to John Barrows, a Long Island-based green builder, and co-author of “Green Building for Dummies.”

Shorter pipe runs. Centrally locating a conventional water heater can reduce hot water piping. With less heat loss as water travels through the pipe, users won’t run the water as long while waiting for it to heat up.

Recirculating systems. A hot-water recirculating system uses a pump to quickly move hot water from the tank to the tap, while simultaneously sending cooled water back to the tank. One potential downside, according to Barrows, is that the system can be an energy drain if it’s left on all the time. He suggests adding timers, motion detectors, or a simple switch “so you can turn the system on like you turn on the lights.”

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Homes with basements usually have a sump pump in them. The sump pump removes accumulated water from a sump pit and channels it away from the home to prevent the basement from becoming flooded. Water can enter the basement through perimeter drains when it rains or as ground water if the basement is located beneath the level of the water table.

Where the Water Goes

When groundwater levels climb, a sump pump diverts water from the house to a municipal storm drain or a dry well at least 20 feet away from the house. In older properties, sump pumps discharge to the sewers via a floor drain. However, most municipal bylaws prevent newer properties from doing this. The excess water can overload a municipal sewage system and even damage a septic system.

Sump pumps need to ensure discharged water doesn’t run into window wells, neighboring lots or septic system drain fields.

Types of Sump Pumps

Sump pumps are either submersible or pedestal/upright types. The former sees the pump placed together with a waterproof motor in a single unit. It fits inside the sump and does not pose a problem if it gets wet.

A pedestal pump has the motor placed on top of a column above floor level in a basement. The pump remains in the sump but the motor should not get wet due to its elevation. Submersion creates the danger of electrocution given the combined reality that water is a conductor and the motor is not protected through waterproofing. Both types of pumps connect to an outlet pipe to drain water away from the house.

by Aric Mitchell

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