Water Efficiency
For years, the U.S. has taken water for granted. Low prices and a lack of regulation have led to massive waste, poor infrastructure, and the illusion that we have an endless supply.
But that mindset is changing. We’ve seen drought in the Southwest U.S., water rationing in California, dwindling aquifers, and contaminated water supplies. These problems are not going to be solved by drilling deeper wells.
Water-saving appliances, improved wastewater treatment, and higher performance goals can all mitigate the damage. Here you’ll find resources on products and strategies you need to achieve these goals.
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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Innovative Products and Technology from the Greenbuild Expo
Feature Article
Our product editors pick some winners from the expo floor at Greenbuild 2013 while raising questions about some materials.
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Waste Water, Want Water
Feature Article
Options for small-scale, onsite wastewater treatment and reuse are improving-but can we solve a global crisis one building at a time?
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Commercial Kitchens: Cooking Up Green Opportunities
Feature Article
Commercial kitchens run energy- and water-intensive equipment for long hours, sometimes even when not in use. While the challenges of saving water and energy in commercial kitchens are daunting, they're not insurmountable. Careful equipment selection and a commitment to conscientious kitchen practices can dramatically cut down on waste-and utility bills.
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Cost-Effective Green Retrofits: Opportunities for Savings in Existing Buildings
Feature Article
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.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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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.
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Detect Leaks Before They Ruin Your House
Product Review
FloLogic detects leaks from plumbing and shuts down the home's water supply, protecting the building and saving resources.
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
A wide range of education options, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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Innovative Products and Technology from the Greenbuild Expo
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
Options for small-scale, onsite wastewater treatment and reuse are improving-but can we solve a global crisis one building at a time?
-
Cost-Effective Green Retrofits: Opportunities for Savings in Existing Buildings
Feature Article
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.
