Green

EPA Finalizes WaterSense New Home Specification

With the release of the WaterSense Single-Family New Home Specification, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is making it easier for builders and home buyers to support water efficiency across the country.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the WaterSense Single-Family New Home Specification, which works with other voluntary green building programs such as the National Green Building Standard, Energy Star and the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program. Under the new specification, builders can now become WaterSense partners and begin constructing homes to earn the WaterSense label.

Designed to use about 20% less water than typical new homes, WaterSense-labeled new homes will be independently inspected and certified by EPA-licensed certification providers. These new homes will feature WaterSense-labeled plumbing fixtures, Energy Star-qualified appliances (if installed), water-efficient landscaping and an efficient hot water delivery system.

Residential water use currently accounts for more than half of the publicly supplied water in the United States; about 1.27 million new homes are built each year. According to the EPA, if all new homes built in 2010 were WaterSense-labeled, it would save more than 12 billion gallons of water per year and the homeowners would save more than $130 million in utility bills.

Compared to a typical new home, a WaterSense-labeled home is said to save a family at least $100 per year in water, sewer and energy bills; compared to an existing older home, a family could save more than $200 per year on utilities.  Learn more about the 2009 WaterSense Single-Family New Home Specification at www.epa.gov/WaterSense/spaces/new_homes.html.


Source: EPA

Links

Did you enjoy this article? Click here to subscribe to Plumbing & Mechanical. 

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Multimedia

Videos

Image Galleries

DEWALT media event at Stanley Black and Decker University

The DEWALT media event was hosted at the Stanley Black and Decker University in Towson, Md.
Photos by Mike Miagza

3/13/13 2:00 pm EST

Prepared to Navigate the New Lead-Free Laws?

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND Sail through lead-free law compliance. When piping a potable water system, the bronze valves you’re using have an expiration date –January 4, 2014. Find out what US Senate Bill S.3874 is about, how it compares to previous standards, and most importantly — how it will affect you.

THE MAGAZINE

Plumbing and Mechanical

PM May revised

2013 May

Check out the newest issue of Plumbing & Mechanical magazine! You can also view our Ad Index here.

Table Of Contents Subscribe

PM Poll

As we approach mid-year, how do your sales compare to last year? Sales are:
View Results Poll Archive

The Plumbing and Mechanical Store

M:\General Shared\__AEC Store Katie Z\AEC Store\Images\Plumbing\new sites\valve-handbook.gif
Valve Handbook

Revised to include details on the latest technologies, Valve Handbook, Third Edition, discusses design, performance, selection, operation, and application. This updated resource features a new chapter on the green technology currently employed by the valve industry, as well as an overview of the major environmental global standards that process plants are expected to meet.

More Products

Clear Seas Research

Clear Seas ResearchWith access to over one million professionals and more than 60 industry-specific publications,Clear Seas Research offers relevant insights from those who know your industry best. Let us customize a market research solution that exceeds your marketing goals.

Truck of the Month

Truck of the month

Are you proud of how your service truck looks? Do the graphics give people whiplash as they drive by? Have your calls increased because people remember your truck — and your company name? If so, we’d like to see it, too! Click here to find out how your service truck could be chosen as PM's Truck of the Month.

 

STAY CONNECTED

Connect to PM on Facebook Connect to PM on Twitter  Watch PM on YouTube