3. water conservation domestic & review landscaping pracitces

Water Conservation Water Conservation

So we have it….So we have it….

When We Need ItWhen We Need It

OBJECTIVES – OBJECTIVES –

•Learn to work with owner and Learn to work with owner and design team to use water efficientlydesign team to use water efficiently

•Learn Green Guidelines and Learn Green Guidelines and PracticesPractices

•Get familiar with LEED, Green Get familiar with LEED, Green Points & other criteria related to Points & other criteria related to Water EfficiencyWater Efficiency

Home Water Usage Home Water Usage OpportunitiesOpportunities

4%

27%

16%16%

22%

14%

Other

Toilets

Showers

Faucets

Clothes Washers

Leaks

Domestic Water EfficiencyDomestic Water Efficiency

• Distribute Hot Water EfficientlyDistribute Hot Water Efficiently– Insulate Water HeaterInsulate Water Heater– Insulate Hot Water PipesInsulate Hot Water Pipes– Install On Demand Circulation PumpsInstall On Demand Circulation Pumps– Locate Water Heater Within 12’ of Locate Water Heater Within 12’ of

FixturesFixtures• High Efficiency ToiletsHigh Efficiency Toilets• Water Efficient FixturesWater Efficient Fixtures• No Plumbing LeaksNo Plumbing Leaks

Distribute Domestic Hot Distribute Domestic Hot Water EfficientlyWater Efficiently

• Locate Water Locate Water Heater within 12 Heater within 12 Feet of All Feet of All FixturesFixtures

DistributeDistribute Hot Water Hot Water EfficientlyEfficiently

Insulate Water HeatersInsulate Water Heaters

Insulate Accessible Hot Water PipesInsulate Accessible Hot Water Pipes

Distribute Hot Water Distribute Hot Water EfficientlyEfficiently

Distribute Hot Water Distribute Hot Water EfficientlyEfficiently• Install On-Demand Circulation Control PumpsInstall On-Demand Circulation Control Pumps

High Efficiency ToiletsHigh Efficiency Toilets• Dual-Flush or maximum 1.28GPFDual-Flush or maximum 1.28GPF

Water Efficient FixturesWater Efficient Fixtures

– Toilets less than 1.28 gpf (use dual Toilets less than 1.28 gpf (use dual flush)flush)

– Showers use max 2.0 gpmShowers use max 2.0 gpm– Faucets use max 1.5 gpmFaucets use max 1.5 gpm

Water Efficient FixturesWater Efficient Fixtures• Water savings from low flow lavatory Water savings from low flow lavatory

faucets, used for hand washing. faucets, used for hand washing. • Faucet aerators and laminar flow Faucet aerators and laminar flow

devices conserve water by restricting devices conserve water by restricting the water flow at the fixture outlet.the water flow at the fixture outlet.

ShowersShowers• High efficiency shower heads may reduce High efficiency shower heads may reduce

demand for hot water and reduce energy demand for hot water and reduce energy use for water heating by up to 20%.use for water heating by up to 20%.

Water HeaterWater Heater• The water heater must be strapped.The water heater must be strapped.

Plumbing System Integrity Plumbing System Integrity and and

No No PlumbingPlumbing Leaks Leaks• Conserve water and prevent damage Conserve water and prevent damage

from leakagefrom leakage• Aspects of basic plumbing integrity Aspects of basic plumbing integrity

include addressing plumbing leaks, include addressing plumbing leaks, the installation of water heaters and the installation of water heaters and backflow devices.backflow devices.

• Unknown plumbing leaks can damage Unknown plumbing leaks can damage the home and promote bacterial the home and promote bacterial growth and waste resources and growth and waste resources and money.money.

• Water heaters which are not strapped Water heaters which are not strapped can result in significant damage in a can result in significant damage in a seismic event.seismic event.

Testing for Plumbing LeaksTesting for Plumbing Leaks• Verify there are no leaks between Verify there are no leaks between

the meter main at the street and the the meter main at the street and the main shut off at the home.main shut off at the home.

Visibly Examine the Visibly Examine the Plumbing System for Overall Plumbing System for Overall

IntegrityIntegrity• Look for small leaks and water stains that Look for small leaks and water stains that

indicate current not historic issues indicate current not historic issues throughout house.throughout house.

• Look for excessive corrosion on pipes that Look for excessive corrosion on pipes that would constitute a leak or potential leak.would constitute a leak or potential leak.

• Conduct a toilet tank dye test.Conduct a toilet tank dye test.

• Check the irrigation system for missing Check the irrigation system for missing heads or other system leaks.heads or other system leaks.

SITE DESIGN SITE DESIGN & &

WATER WATER CONSERVATIONCONSERVATION

REVIEWREVIEW

Impervious Surfaces

Pervious Paving

BioswalesBioswales

Permeable paving

Permeable pavingPermeable paving

RESOURCE - EFFICIENT RESOURCE - EFFICIENT LANDSCAPESLANDSCAPES

• Shade Trees PlantedShade Trees Planted

• Non Invasive SpeciesNon Invasive Species

• No Species Require ShearingNo Species Require Shearing

• Drought-tolerant SpeciesDrought-tolerant Species

• Minimal Turf AreasMinimal Turf Areas

• Plants Grouped by Water Needs Plants Grouped by Water Needs (Hydronizing)(Hydronizing)

Shade TreesShade Trees

Drought-tolerant landscaping

Landscaping…..Landscaping…..

• 30-60% of an average home’s fresh water is 30-60% of an average home’s fresh water is used for watering the yard.used for watering the yard.

• Good Practices:Good Practices:

High-efficiency Irrigation SystemsHigh-efficiency Irrigation Systems– Drip, Bubblers or Low-flow SprinklersDrip, Bubblers or Low-flow Sprinklers

This……This……

Not this…..Not this…..

Other Good Landscaping Other Good Landscaping Practices:Practices:

• Mulch All Planting BedsMulch All Planting Beds

• Soil Amended with CompostSoil Amended with Compost

• Rainwater HarvestingRainwater Harvesting

• Greywater SystemsGreywater Systems

MulchingMulching

Water Catchment Filter

Rainwater Harvesting

Domestic Water UseDomestic Water Use

Greywater SystemsGreywater Systems

Greywater SystemsGreywater Systems

• Benefits of Greywater Recycling For IrrigationBenefits of Greywater Recycling For Irrigation• Reduce fresh water useReduce fresh water use - - When the weather is warm, about half of the water When the weather is warm, about half of the water

consumed by the average household in North America is for outdoor use. Capturing consumed by the average household in North America is for outdoor use. Capturing the indoor greywater for use outdoors can cut water usage in half. the indoor greywater for use outdoors can cut water usage in half.

Reduce strain on septic system or treatment plantReduce strain on septic system or treatment plant - Greywater makes up the - Greywater makes up the majority of the household wastewater stream, so diverting it from the septic system majority of the household wastewater stream, so diverting it from the septic system extends the life and capacity of the system. For municipal systems, decreased input extends the life and capacity of the system. For municipal systems, decreased input means more effective treatment coupled with cost savings. means more effective treatment coupled with cost savings.

Develop otherwise unsuitable real estateDevelop otherwise unsuitable real estate - - A greywater recycling system, along A greywater recycling system, along with the use of composting toilets, can enable the development of property that is with the use of composting toilets, can enable the development of property that is unsuitable for a septic system. unsuitable for a septic system.

Groundwater RechargeGroundwater Recharge - Greywater recycling for irrigation replenishes - Greywater recycling for irrigation replenishes groundwater, helping the natural hydrologic cycle to keep functioning. groundwater, helping the natural hydrologic cycle to keep functioning.

Plant growthPlant growth - Greywater can support plant growth in areas that might - Greywater can support plant growth in areas that might otherwise not have enough water. otherwise not have enough water.

Maintain soil fertilityMaintain soil fertility - The nutrients in the greywater are broken down by - The nutrients in the greywater are broken down by bacteria in the soil and made available to plants. This helps to maintain soil bacteria in the soil and made available to plants. This helps to maintain soil fertility. fertility.

Enhance water qualityEnhance water quality - The quality of groundwater and surface waters are - The quality of groundwater and surface waters are much better preserved by the natural purification processes the greywater much better preserved by the natural purification processes the greywater undergoes in the top layers of the soil than by any engineered water treatment. undergoes in the top layers of the soil than by any engineered water treatment.

SatisfactionSatisfaction - The greywater user gets the satisfaction of direct participation in - The greywater user gets the satisfaction of direct participation in the responsible management of global nutrient and water cycles. the responsible management of global nutrient and water cycles.

Flow-ThroughFlow-Through PlantersPlanters

Other Good Landscaping Other Good Landscaping PracticesPractices

• Fire-Safe Landscaping TechniquesFire-Safe Landscaping Techniques

• Use Environmentally-preferable Use Environmentally-preferable MaterialsMaterials

• Compost and Recycle Trimmings on Compost and Recycle Trimmings on SiteSite

• Minimize Light Pollution Minimize Light Pollution

Green Rating Systems Green Rating Systems and Water Conservationand Water Conservation

Total Possible Points – LEED Total Possible Points – LEED NCNC

LEED Category Prerequisites Possible Points

Sustainable Sites (SS) 1 14

Water Efficiency (WE) 0 5

Energy & Atmosphere (EA)

3 17

Materials & Resources (MR)

1 13

Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ)

2 15

Innovation in Design (ID) 0 5

Total 69

LEED for HOMES: LEED for HOMES: Water Efficiency - 5 pointsWater Efficiency - 5 pointsAll Design-based Points - All Design-based Points - No PrerequisitesNo Prerequisites

Green Point Rating:Green Point Rating:Minimum 50 points Minimum 50 points Required Required

Consumer label, tied to independent field verification

California grown & community based

Ratings reflect practices ABOVE code in CA

Plug-and-play resources for local govt. policies & incentives

Quantifies environmental benefits Green building market value Complementary to LEED for Homes

Green Point RatedGreen Point RatedSingle Family ChecklistSingle Family Checklist

Category Minimum Required Possible Points

Community 0 4

Energy 30 108

Indoor Air Quality – IAQ 5 45

Resources 6 66

Water 9 47

Innovative 0 20

Total 50 290

Green Points for Water Green Points for Water ConservationConservation

•Landscaping- 27 possible Landscaping- 27 possible pointspoints

•Plumbing - 12Plumbing - 12

•Appliances - 5Appliances - 5

•Site - 2Site - 2

•Other - 1Other - 1

REMEMBER……….REMEMBER……….The The pointpoint is not about getting is not about getting pointspoints. .

It’s about It’s about doing the right thingdoing the right thing!!

Conserving Water Makes Sense

Every Drop Matters