SAVING WATER: What does the WaterSense label mean to your remodel?

Using water-efficient products we can save both our environment and money.  WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is making it easy for all of us homeowners to find and select water-efficient products.

On average, WaterSense labeled product use 20% more efficient than similar products that are not.  To achieve a WaterSense label, a manufacturer must get their product certified against a specification from WaterSense.

WaterSense Labeled Home Products

Bathroom Sink Faucets -If every household installed a WaterSense labeled faucet or aerator we could save more than 60 billion gallons of water annually.  By installing a WaterSense labeled faucet an average home will save 500 gallons each year – and this reduced demand of water requires less heating, which saves even more energy and money!

Here are the bathroom faucets and aerators you can find with WaterSense Labels:

• Delta (Lahara model)
• Moen (Banbury, Caldwell, FINA, Lindley, Muirfield, Rothbury models and more)
• Price Pfister (Ashfield, Falsetto, Hanover, Langston, SKYE, Vega, Virtue models)
• NEOPERL Aerators

Toilets -Inefficient toilets are responsible for much of the water wasted in American homes today.  Replacing these toilets could save nearly 2 billion gallons annually.  GetWithGreen.com covered the best of the best WaterSense toilets late last year.  The ones we provided pricing for were high-efficiency toilets (HETs).  Here is the WaterSense list:

• American Standard (Cadet, FloWise models)
• Caroma (Adelaide, Bondi, Brisbane, Caravelle, Colonial, Royale, Sydney)
• Cascadian (Toscano)
• Crane (Eco Opus III, EcoGalaxy, EcoMiser, Economiser, EcoSaratoga)
• Foremost (AIO, Plaza, Total)
• Gerber (Ultra Flush)
• Glacier Bay – Home Depot brand
• Jacuzzi (Espres)
• Kohler (Barrrington, Cimarron, Escale, Highline Pressure Lite, Kelston, Persuade, Saile, San Raphaeil Power Lite and Pressure Lite, Wellworth Pressure Lite)
• Mansfield (704, Prestigio, EcoQuantum, Quantum, QuantumOne)
• Niagara (1.0 PA, Eco-Logic)
• Pegasus – Home Depot Brand (Cottage)
• ProFLO (HET Dual Flush ADA, EF, and RF, HET Gravity Flush EF and RF)
• Quality Craft (Alexis HET)
• Sterling – a Kohler company (Karsten EB and PB, Rockton EB and PB, Stanton)
• Tangshan Ayers Bath (Dofiny HET)
• TOTO (Aquia I, II, & III, EcoClayton, EcoDartmouth, EcoDrake, EcoNexus, EcoPromenade, EcoSupreme, EcoUltramax, EcoWhitney, Gwyneth)
• Tynan (Casade ADA, EF, and RF, MacLair EF & RF)
• VitrA (Evergreen)
• Vortens (Dali, Delfos, Hurricane, Rhodas DF, Tornado, Tornado)

Weather- or sensor-based sprinkler control technologies – Turning off the sprinklers when they are not needed due to weather changes is something we often forget to do.  WaterSense is presently drafting a specification for manufacturers to recieve labels.  You can bet that products such as the Cyber-Rain XCI system and automatic sprinkler shut-offs will be working for qualification.

Showerheads- Showering represents 17% of indoor water use per household.  Today there are no Showerheads available with WaterSense labels, but the specification is being worked on now.

Finally, many water companies offer REBATES for the purchase of WaterSense labeled products, so make sure you check with your utility!!!

 

 

 Print This Post