The new water index will rate the indoor and outdoor water usage of a home
In many parts of the nation, water is fast becoming an increasingly expensive commodity, with national water and sewer rates rising faster than energy costs. Homebuyers need to know how efficiently water is being used in the homes they are considering buying. In response to this need, the national energy standards organization, RESNET, is introducing its first ever water efficiency rating index, HERSH2O.
Similar to the HERS Index Score, RESNET’s nationally recognized energy efficiency standard, this new water index will rate the indoor and outdoor water usage of a home including the bathroom and kitchen, clothes washer, pools, and irrigation, while also accounting for leaks, excess pressure, and waste to derive a HERSH2O score. The score is derived by comparing the rated home to a reference home, which is typical of construction practices in 2006.