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
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Power Flushing With Pressure-Assist Toilets
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Many of today's best-performing low-flow toilets enhance their flush with air pressure to force water into the bowl at high speed.
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Combined Sewer Overflow
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Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) occur in municipalities with older wastewater systems that carry both sanitary wastewater and stormwater; eliminating CSOs involves investment in wastewater infrastructure and reducing stormwater flows.
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Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater
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Constructed wetlands, when used to treat wastewater, can keep nitrogen and phosphorous from the water supply and cut costs by controlling the size of drainfields.
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Graywater Collection and Use
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If properly stored and separated from potable water, graywater collected from sinks, showers, and clothes washers can be used to irrigate landscaping.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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A “Waterless” Urinal Without the Odor
Product Review
Sloan’s Hybrid urinal is water efficient and uses a pre-programmed, bi-weekly rinse that minimizes odor and maintenance problems.
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Sewage-Source Heat Pumps Turn Wastewater to Warmth
Product Review
International Wastewater’s heat pumps provide heating or cooling using sewage and don’t require dual plumbing.
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A New Place to Store Rainwater: The Fence
Product Review
Created by a 14-year-old student for a science fair, Water Fence provides an innovative solution for storing large volumes of water.
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Faucets That Combat Infection Without Wasting Water
Product Review
New technology from Rada helps prevent life-threatening Legionella and other pathogens from growing in pipes and faucets—a big problem in healthcare.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Huge Carbon Savings from Transit Could Dwarf Building Efficiency
News Analysis
LEED-EBOM project data confirm that how people get to the office has a greater impact than other green building efforts.
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Ibuprofen Side Effects May Include Stunted Produce, Infertile Otters
News Brief
From our bodies into wastewater, and back into our water supplies, pharmaceuticals are disrupting biological processes in plants and animals.
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Water Scarcity Means Higher ROI for Water Retrofits
News Brief
Market pricing doesn't predict when water will become scarce. A new tool calculates realistic payback scenarios for efficiency projects based on local conditions.
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EPA Ignoring Hundreds of Toxic Chemicals in Wastewater
News Brief
An investigation finds that only a fraction of hazardous wastewater pollutants are regulated, and of those, only a handful are monitored.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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