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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How to Succeed with the Living Building Challenge: 12 Teams Share Tips
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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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Design Strategies for Occupant Engagement—and Why They Boost Performance
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Researchers reveal simple ways to empower occupants to reduce energy, water, and waste. It all starts with good design.
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What Makes Plumbing Green? BuildingGreen’s Guide to Plumbing Products
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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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Resilient, Sustainable Water Management: A Holistic Approach
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Water is our planet’s lifeblood. But climate change has redefined how we view water, with drought amplifying water scarcity and changing our relationship with the landscape and the built environment.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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What Does It Mean to “Use Water”?
Explainer
The difference between consumptive and non-consumptive water use is like night and day in the world of policy and regulation.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Kohler Enters the Waterless Urinal Market
Product Review
The Kohler Company has introduced two stylish, vitreous-china waterless urinal models.
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Zurn Offers Urinal With a Pint-Sized Flush
Product Review
The new EcoVantage urinal from Zurn flushes with an eighth of a gallon of water.
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Innovation in Urinals from Caroma
Product Review
Caroma has introduced two new urinals, one with a pint-sized, fluid-sensing flush mechanism and the other a waterless unit with a diaphragm rather than a trap.
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Beneficial Bacteria Reduce Urinal Water Use
Product Review
The Ecoblue Cube uses beneficial bacteria to convert conventional flushing urinals to virtually waterless operation without significant installation costs, and avoiding the common pitfalls of waterless urinals.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Soy-Based Composite Introduced in Waterless Urinal
News Analysis
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EPA WaterSense Label Enters Commercial Building Market
News Analysis
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Clearing the Way for Water Savings in Plumbing Codes
News Analysis
A new green supplement to the Uniform Plumbing and Mechanical Codes will enable more creative water-savings strategies while allowing jurisdictions to regulate their safety.
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DOE To Ban Multi-Spray Showerheads
News Analysis
DOE has issued a ruling limiting shower systems to 2.5 gallons of water per minute total, shocking plumbing manufacturers and water conservationists alike.
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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