Water Efficiency
Water efficiency in buildings requires a set of strategies for reducing water consumption.
Water-saving appliances and fixtures are an inexpensive (often cost-neutral) way to achieve greater efficiency. Rainwater or graywater reuse and even blackwater treatment are ways to push the envelope.
Water Efficiency
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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What Makes Plumbing Green? BuildingGreen’s Guide to Plumbing Products
Feature Article
People like a clean flush and a long shower, but water is getting scarcer. Selecting the right building products can meet both needs.
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Design Strategies for Occupant Engagement—and Why They Boost Performance
Feature Article
Researchers reveal simple ways to empower occupants to reduce energy, water, and waste. It all starts with good design.
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How to Succeed with the Living Building Challenge: 12 Teams Share Tips
Feature Article
The bar is high—that’s obvious—but watch out for some surprising pitfalls. Here’s how dedicated teams have tackled Living Building challenges.
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Net-Zero Water and More: Moving Beyond “Low Flow”
Feature Article
These emerging water strategies are finding momentum and filling the need to address efficiency and resilience on multiple scales.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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The Embodied Energy of Tap Water
Primer
A third of the annual energy bill paid by a municipality goes toward water treatment. Here’s why clean water uses so much energy.
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The Surprising Connection Between Water Conservation and Deadly Infections
Primer
Legionella and other pathogens can proliferate in pipes and low-flow fixtures, threatening the health of vulnerable people.
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Water Budgets: A Holistic Look at Efficiency
Primer
Developing a water budget for a building can identify opportunities for savings that might otherwise go unnoticed.
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Invasive Plants
Primer
In the quest for a balanced ecosystem it is important to choose native species and avoid invasive plants. Invasive species can put a strain on water usage and can take space and resources away from native plants.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Water Savings and More Using Vacuum Toilets
Product Review
Jets vacuum toilet systems use significantly less water than standard systems, reduce wastewater, provide design flexibility, and can be used in combination with graywater and composting systems.
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Modular, Onsite Graywater System
Product Review
Grayworks is a modular, plug-and-play commercial graywater treatment system that simplifies installation and maintenance.
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How Low-Flow Can You Go with Plumbing Fixtures?
Product Review
BuildingGreen-Approved toilets, urinals, showerheads, and faucets automatically meet CALGreen and LEED v4 water-efficiency standards.
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BuildingGreen Announces Top 10 Products for 2017
Product Review
Our innovative Top 10 product selections reduce stormwater and wastewater, improve efficiency and IAQ, and contain fewer hazardous materials.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Petal Certifications Help the Living Building Challenge Jump in Scale
News Brief
With recent and upcoming certifications, the Living Building Challenge breaks out of its boutique building typology.
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LEED to Certify Entire Communities, Cities
News Brief
USGBC rolls out two new certifications based on actual performance tracked through the Arc platform.
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How a Dense Metropolis Can Support a Living Building
News Analysis
Net-zero water tops the list of obstacles a New York group is tackling. Its goal: to solve the large-scale ecological problems of dense urban areas.
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Will Aggressive Performance Goals Fit Under Google’s Glass Tent?
News Analysis
The design of Google’s green headquarters hinges on new technologies, like a “glass fabric” enclosure.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Water: The Back Seat Driver
Blog Post
Welcome to our new blog dedicated to the issues of water, water efficiency, and water policy.
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Bringing Water Back into the Discussion
Op-Ed
Most Americans treat freshwater as if it were limitless and free, even as water shortage is becoming a reality in many areas of the United States. But there are many cost-effective ways to reduce that consumption.
Learning Resources
A wide range of education options, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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Design Strategies for Occupant Engagement—and Why They Boost Performance
Feature Article
Researchers reveal simple ways to empower occupants to reduce energy, water, and waste. It all starts with good design.
