Water Efficiency

Photo: Ospr3yy. License: CC BY-SA 3.0

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

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    Feature Article

    Our product editors pick some winners from the expo floor at Greenbuild 2013 while raising questions about some materials.

  • Waste Water, Want Water

    Feature Article

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    Between lighting, water use, mechanical systems, the building envelope, and occupant health, existing buildings are rife with cost-effective retrofits and operational opportunities that also offer environmental benefits. Improvements range from the painfully obvious to the more complex and involved.

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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.

  • Power Flushing With Pressure-Assist Toilets

    Primer

    Many of today's best-performing low-flow toilets enhance their flush with air pressure to force water into the bowl at high speed.

  • Combined Sewer Overflow

    Primer

    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.

  • Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater

    Primer

    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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