This document discusses strategies for conserving water in homes and landscapes. It begins by outlining objectives around water efficiency and familiarizing with relevant rating systems. It then analyzes domestic water usage and identifies opportunities to distribute hot water efficiently through insulation, circulation pumps, and location of water heaters. High efficiency fixtures like toilets and showerheads are recommended. For landscaping, the document promotes efficient irrigation, drought tolerant plants, mulching, rainwater harvesting, and greywater systems. It concludes by reviewing points available in water efficiency categories of LEED and Green Point rating systems.

1. Water Conservation
So we have it….

2. When We Need It

3. 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

4. Home Water Usage
Opportunities
4%
14%
Other
27%
Toilets
Showers
22% Faucets
Clothes Washers
Leaks
16%
16%

5. 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

6. Distribute Domestic Hot Water
Efficiently
• Locate Water
Heater within 12
Feet of All Fixtures

7. Distribute Hot Water Efficiently
Insulate Water Heaters

8. Distribute Hot Water Efficiently
Insulate Accessible Hot Water Pipes

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

10. High Efficiency Toilets
• Dual-Flush or maximum 1.28GPF

14. Water Efficient Fixtures
–Toilets less than 1.28 gpf (use dual flush)
–Showers use max 2.0 gpm
–Faucets use max 1.5 gpm

15. 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.

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

17. Water Heater
• The water heater must be strapped.

18. 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.

19. Testing for Plumbing Leaks
• Verify there are no leaks between the
meter main at the street and the main
shut off at the home.

20. 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.

21. SITE DESIGN
&
WATER
CONSERVATION
REVIEW

23. Impervious Surfaces

24. Pervious Paving

25. Bioswales

27. Permeable paving

28. Permeable paving

29. 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)

30. Shade Trees

31. Drought-tolerant landscaping

32. 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

33. This……
Not this…..

34. Other Good Landscaping
Practices:
• Mulch All Planting Beds
• Soil Amended with Compost
• Rainwater Harvesting
• Greywater Systems

35. Mulching

36. Water Catchment Filter

37. Rainwater Harvesting

38. Domestic Water Use

39. Greywater Systems

40. Greywater Systems

41. • 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.

42. 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.

44. Flow-Through
Planters

45. Other Good Landscaping
Practices
• Fire-Safe Landscaping Techniques
• Use Environmentally-preferable Materials
• Compost and Recycle Trimmings on Site
• Minimize Light Pollution

46. Green Rating Systems
and Water Conservation

47. 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 2 15
(EQ)
Innovation in Design (ID) 0 5
Total 69

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

49. 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

50. 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

51. Green Points for Water
Conservation
• Landscaping- 27 possible points
• Plumbing - 12
• Appliances - 5
• Site - 2
• Other - 1

52. REMEMBER……….
The point is not about getting points.
It’s about doing the right thing!

53. Conserving Water
Makes Sense

54. Every Drop Matters