Water Conservation

So we have it….

When We Need It

OBJECTIVES –

• Learn to work with owner and design team to use water efficiently

• Learn Green Guidelines and Practices

• Get familiar with LEED, Green Points & other criteria related to Water Efficiency

Home Water Usage Opportunities

4%

27%

16%

16%

22%

14%

Other

Toilets

Showers

Faucets

Clothes Washers

Leaks

Domestic Water Efficiency

• Distribute Hot Water Efficiently – Insulate Water Heater – Insulate Hot Water Pipes – Install On Demand Circulation Pumps – Locate Water Heater Within 12’ of Fixtures

• High Efficiency Toilets • Water Efficient Fixtures • No Plumbing Leaks

Distribute Domestic Hot Water Efficiently • Locate Water

Heater within 12 Feet of All Fixtures

Distribute Hot Water Efficiently

Insulate Water Heaters

Insulate Accessible Hot Water Pipes

Distribute Hot Water Efficiently

Distribute Hot Water Efficiently • Install On-Demand Circulation Control Pumps

High Efficiency Toilets

• Dual-Flush or maximum 1.28GPF

Water Efficient Fixtures

–Toilets less than 1.28 gpf (use dual flush)

–Showers use max 2.0 gpm

–Faucets use max 1.5 gpm

Water Efficient Fixtures • Water savings from low flow lavatory

faucets, used for hand washing.

• Faucet aerators and laminar flow devices conserve water by restricting the water flow at the fixture outlet.

Showers

• High efficiency shower heads may reduce demand for hot water and reduce energy use for water heating by up to 20%.

Water Heater • The water heater must be strapped.

Plumbing System Integrity and

No Plumbing Leaks

• Conserve water and prevent damage from leakage

• Aspects of basic plumbing integrity include addressing plumbing leaks, the installation of water heaters and backflow devices.

• Unknown plumbing leaks can damage the home and promote bacterial growth and waste resources and money.

• Water heaters which are not strapped can result in significant damage in a seismic event.

Testing for Plumbing Leaks

• Verify there are no leaks between the meter main at the street and the main shut off at the home.

Visibly Examine the Plumbing System for Overall Integrity

• Look for small leaks and water stains that indicate current not historic issues throughout house.

• Look for excessive corrosion on pipes that would constitute a leak or potential leak.

• Conduct a toilet tank dye test.

• Check the irrigation system for missing heads or other system leaks.

SITE DESIGN &

WATER CONSERVATION

REVIEW

Impervious Surfaces

Pervious Paving

Bioswales

Permeable paving

Permeable paving

RESOURCE - EFFICIENT

LANDSCAPES • Shade Trees Planted

• Non Invasive Species

• No Species Require Shearing

• Drought-tolerant Species

• Minimal Turf Areas

• Plants Grouped by Water Needs (Hydronizing)

Shade Trees

Drought-tolerant landscaping

Landscaping…..

• 30-60% of an average home’s fresh water is used for watering the yard.

• Good Practices:

High-efficiency Irrigation Systems

– Drip, Bubblers or Low-flow Sprinklers

This……

Not this…..

Other Good Landscaping Practices:

• Mulch All Planting Beds

• Soil Amended with Compost

• Rainwater Harvesting

• Greywater Systems

Mulching

Water Catchment Filter

Rainwater Harvesting

Domestic Water Use

Greywater Systems

Greywater Systems

• Benefits of Greywater Recycling For Irrigation

• Reduce fresh water use - When the weather is warm, about half of the water consumed by the average household in North America is for outdoor use. Capturing the indoor greywater for use outdoors can cut water usage in half. Reduce strain on septic system or treatment plant - Greywater makes up the majority of the household wastewater stream, so diverting it from the septic system extends the life and capacity of the system. For municipal systems, decreased input means more effective treatment coupled with cost savings. Develop otherwise unsuitable real estate - A greywater recycling system, along with the use of composting toilets, can enable the development of property that is unsuitable for a septic system. Groundwater Recharge - Greywater recycling for irrigation replenishes groundwater, helping the natural hydrologic cycle to keep functioning.

Plant growth - Greywater can support plant growth in areas that might otherwise not have enough water. Maintain soil fertility - The nutrients in the greywater are broken down by bacteria in the soil and made available to plants. This helps to maintain soil fertility. Enhance water quality - The quality of groundwater and surface waters are much better preserved by the natural purification processes the greywater undergoes in the top layers of the soil than by any engineered water treatment. Satisfaction - The greywater user gets the satisfaction of direct participation in the responsible management of global nutrient and water cycles.

Flow-Through

Planters

Other Good Landscaping Practices

• Fire-Safe Landscaping Techniques

• Use Environmentally-preferable Materials

• Compost and Recycle Trimmings on Site

• Minimize Light Pollution

Green Rating Systems and Water Conservation

Total Possible Points – LEED NC LEED Category Prerequisites Possible

Points

Sustainable Sites (SS) 1 14

Water Efficiency (WE) 0 5

Energy & Atmosphere (EA) 3 17

Materials & Resources (MR) 1 13

Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ)

2 15

Innovation in Design (ID) 0 5

Total 69

LEED for HOMES: Water Efficiency - 5 points All Design-based Points - No Prerequisites

Green Point Rating: Minimum 50 points Required

Consumer label, tied to independent

field verification

California grown & community

based

Ratings reflect practices ABOVE

code in CA

Plug-and-play resources for local

govt. policies & incentives

Quantifies environmental benefits

Green building market value

Complementary to LEED for Homes

Green Point Rated Single Family Checklist

Category Minimum Required Possible Points

Community 0 4

Energy 30 108

Indoor Air Quality – IAQ 5 45

Resources 6 66

Water 9 47

Innovative 0 20

Total 50 290

Green Points for Water Conservation

•Landscaping- 27 possible points

•Plumbing - 12

•Appliances - 5

•Site - 2

•Other - 1

REMEMBER……….

The point is not about getting points.

It’s about doing the right thing!

Conserving Water Makes Sense

Every Drop Matters