Precious Water: Sustainable Indoor Water Systems
The EPA's WaterSense program
While low-flow designs are well established, the drive to encourage their use is still new. In 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched its WaterSense partnership program. Similar to its sister program EnergyStar, the voluntary program aims to educate private and commercial end-users about existing water-saving technology. Furthermore, as with EnergyStar, the EPA will begin to provide a labeling system for water-using products. The products to be labeled will include, but not be limited to:
- Bathroom faucets
- Weather-based irrigation controllers
- Soil moisture sensors
- Drip irrigation
- Commercial toilets, faucets, laundries, and the like
- Autoclave water valves
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It is important to note, as with MaP testing and voluntary conservation standards like UNAR, EPA's WaterSense program creates no requirements for manufacturers, their products or the consumers who use them. In fact, some green-building advocates have criticized the EnergyStar program for misleading consumers about the energy used and saved by the products wearing its label; once again, a single rating or score is not enough information on which to judge the performance of a product as it relates to conservation and sustainability. The design professional should be fully aware of the weaknesses and pitfalls of such programs.
Conversely, programs like WaterSense and EnergyStar have the benefit of educating the broad consumer population about efficiency and conservation. According to Treehugger.com, "the WaterSense site has numerous practical tips available for anyone looking to reduce their water consumption (and, perhaps, their water bill). As water conservation is becoming a critical issue for many U.S. communities, it's good to see the EPA adding this resource." So WaterSense, it is hoped, will help educate clients to be more responsive about water efficiency-an elevated consciousness that will only increase as the WaterSense label is applied to more products.
"Architects who want to specify for water conservation should definitely familiarize themselves with WaterSense," says Al Dietemann, a board member at the Alliance for Water Efficiency. "The WaterSense label is already appearing on high-efficiency toilets and high-efficiency urinals, and will soon appear on some faucets and aerators.
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