Saving Water in Southern Homes - WaterSense and Beyond

Saving Water in Southern Homes – WaterSense and Beyond

Saving water is an important part of the Green movement, so I decided to explore how to save water in homes – particularly in southern homes.  Let’s look now at water saving fixtures.

I remember water saving fixtures from decades past – like toilets that didn’t flush completely and showers that made it hard to rinse.  The good news is that’s all changed.  Today, WaterSense fixtures are certified to save at least 20% without sacrificing performance.  Here’s how:

·         Toilets– Flushing toilets accounts for about 30% of the water use in the average home, and they’re also the major source of leaks.  WaterSense toilets use 20% less water than the current federal standard, which can save 4000 gallons per year.  This will reduce your water bill by about $90 per year, and $2,000 over the life of the toilet.  New WaterSense toilets combine high efficiency with more flushing power, performing better than standard toilets in consumer testing.  Most manufacturers now offer WaterSense models with the most desirable features (like elongated bowls, comfort height, etc.) in a variety of styles.  The toilet in this picture is a Kohler.

·         Showerheads – The average family uses about 30 gallons per day in the shower.  Standard showerheads use 2.5 gallons per minute, but WaterSense models use 2.0 or less.  That’s enough to save 2900 gallons per year, plus 370 kilowatt hours of electricity heating the water.  Again, better designs mean you don’t have to sacrifice a good shower to save water.  Most manufacturers have WaterSense showerheads, most features are available (like larger heads, rainheads, wand models and massage functions), and they’re not expensive.  The clients I design homes for  have had good experience with Kohler, Moen and Waterpik heads.

·         Bathroom Faucets – Faucets account for 15% of water use, and WaterSense faucets reduce flow by 30% or more with the same performance.  This can save the average home over 500 gallons, plus energy savings by reducing hot water demand.  I usually pick faucets for aesthetics and compatibility, and I’ve been able to find WaterSense models at a reasonable cost for every application.

There are a few fixture related ways to save water that WaterSense doesn’t cover:

·         Bathing – Most green experts say that bathing uses less water than showering, and that’s probably true on average.  But I think that depends on how long you shower.  An average tub holds about 30 gallons, which is equal to 12 minutes with a standard showerhead or 15-18 minutes with a WaterSense.  Shower less than that and you’re saving water.  As a caveat, remember to include the time you run the water to get the temperature right!  [I will show you a way to save that water in a later post.]  WaterSense doesn’t certify tub faucets because the purpose is to fill the tub, and reducing flow by 20% automatically hurts performance.  But there is a simple way to save water every time you bathe – use a smaller tub!  Over the last 10 years I’ve seen a trend away from big tubs, even in luxury homes.

·         Kitchen faucets – WaterSense doesn’t certify kitchen faucets either, for similar reasons.  The best way to save water in the Kitchen is to reduce the amount of water that goes down the drain.  Foot controls and touchless faucets allow you to turn the water on and off when you’re using it instead of letting it run.  Both start at around $150, but foot controls are in addition to the faucet and cost more to install, where touchless models replace the faucet.

·         Dishwashers use less water than hand washing.  If you honestly need to wash the dishes before putting them in, you probably need a better dishwasher.  Get an Energy Star appliance that will save both water and energy.  If you sometimes run a half-loaded dishwasher, consider a drawer-type.  Two-drawer models have about the same capacity as a standard dishwasher, but allow you to save on smaller loads.  Fisher Paykel makes a very good one.

The cool thing is that these fixtures save water with no real downside, so I recommend them for both new homes and replacement.