Eco-friendly design is the way of the future when it comes to creating and constructing a new home. When designing a new build, it’s common for people to focus primarily on ways to increase electrical, heating, and cooling efficiency.
However, water efficiency is also an essential element to consider. Focusing on ways to reduce your home’s water consumption from the very beginning will play a crucial role in creating a truly sustainable home. Here are six simple ways to reduce water wastage and save money when building a new house.
1. Minimize Water Consumption with a Shower Timer
Winding down in a warm shower can be a therapeutic experience. However, these long, luxurious showers can waste immense amounts of household water. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the average American citizen uses between 80 to 100 gallons of water each day. A lot of this water usage comes from lengthy showers.
An easy solution is to install a shower timer. This device will monitor the amount of water used during each shower. If a shower is taking too long, the timer will sound an alert before automatically shutting off the water supply.
2. Collect and Reuse Rainwater
Rainwater tanks are a fundamental component of any water-efficient home. If you’re building in a climate that is prone to heavy rainfall, collecting and reusing this sustainable water source is especially important.
While rainwater is not potable water, it can still be useful in your new home. It can be used for bathing pets, washing cars, and even flushing your toilet. Rainwater is also a fantastic option for garden irrigation. If you live in a region with seasonal drought conditions and regular water restrictions, rainwater is the perfect substitute to keep your garden alive and well.
Just note that some locations do restrict rainwater collection. Be sure to check your local council regulations before incorporating rainwater storage into your home design plans.
3. Install a Dishwasher
There’s no denying that hand-washing dishes is the least enjoyable part of a good meal. For this reason alone, a dishwasher is a superior choice. But beyond the obvious convenience that these kitchen appliances offer, dishwashers can also deliver impressive water savings.
Many modern dishwashers are equipped with innovative water-efficient features. These include improved water filtration, increased water jet efficiency, and smart dish rack designs. Together, these impressive features can reduce your household’s water consumption.
Automatic dishwashers often use less water than hand-washing methods. In fact, a standard-sized dishwasher can, on average, save 3,870 gallons of water throughout its lifespan. So, when designing your kitchen space, be sure to make room for this water-efficient appliance.
4. Instant Hot Water System for Water Efficiency
Instant hot water systems work as the name suggests: instantly. These tankless, on-demand systems can come in either electric or gas models and will heat your water immediately. So, instead of letting your tap run continuously until the water heats up, it’s ready to go straight away. This may not seem like much, but it will equal long-term savings on your water bills. Are you hooked? You can check electric on-demand water heater reviews here
During the build phase of your new home, Upside Down recommends contacting a qualified professional to handle your hot water system installation. This will ensure that it is installed properly so that you can enjoy long-term water efficiency and low water bills.
5. Choose Low-Flow Fixtures for your Bathroom
Showers and toilets are the most significant sources of water consumption in any household. To improve the water efficiency of these fixtures, design your new bathroom with low-flow taps, toilets, and showerheads.
Installing these water-efficient fixtures can significantly reduce your daily water consumption. To qualify as low-flush plumbing fixtures, your toilet’s flush volume shouldn’t exceed more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush, and water-efficient showerheads should use less than 2.5 gallons per minute.
6. Reduce Irrigation for Impressive Water Savings
The United States EPA says that residential irrigation systems account for almost 8 billion gallons of water used each day. A large amount of this water is wasted due to poor irrigation strategies.
When designing a sustainable home, opt to plant drought-resistant grass over installing an irrigation system. Your lawn might not look as lush and green as your neighbors’, but you’ll be compensated with a lower water bill and other environmental benefits.
If you do need to water your lawn, just be sure to:
- Water your grass early in the morning to avoid midday evaporation
- Ensure your irrigation system has been adjusted to only water the areas in need
- Minimize evaporation loss by using methods that apply water directly to your grass instead of spraying
Thanks for mentioning dual-flush toilets. For most people, a dual-flush toilet that uses around 1.0 gallon for liquid waste and 1.28 gallons for solid waste is a good choice.
Great tips on water efficiency! Another aspect to consider is how cooling systems can impact overall water use. For instance, evaporative coolers use significant amounts of water to cool homes. Opting for high-efficiency air conditioners (ACs) or using ceiling fans can reduce water consumption. Additionally, consider integrating a greywater system to reuse water from sinks and showers for cooling tower make-up water. This not only conserves water but also reduces energy consumption, contributing to a more sustainable and efficient home.
One more tip for designing and building a water-efficient house is to opt for a recirculating pump system for hot water. This system keeps hot water constantly circulating through the pipes, ensuring instant hot water at every tap without the need to run the faucet while waiting for the water to heat up. This not only conserves water but also saves energy.
Another valuable tip for designing and building a water-efficient house is to incorporate a greywater recycling system. Greywater systems reuse water from sinks, showers, and laundry for purposes such as irrigation and toilet flushing. This reduces the demand for fresh water and minimizes wastewater. By installing a greywater system, you can significantly lower your home’s overall water consumption, promoting sustainability and efficiency in your household’s water use. Ensure the system is properly designed and maintained to meet local regulations and health standards.
Thank you for your valuable input, Gilman! Incorporating a greywater recycling system is indeed an excellent addition to the tips for designing and building a water-efficient house. It plays a significant role in reducing fresh water demand and minimizing wastewater. Proper design and maintenance, as you mentioned, are crucial to ensure the system meets local regulations and health standards.
Another important consideration for designing a water-efficient house is to install a rainwater harvesting system. This system collects and stores rainwater for non-potable uses such as irrigation, toilet flushing, and laundry. Not only does this reduce reliance on municipal water supplies, but it also helps manage stormwater runoff, providing an eco-friendly solution to water conservation.
Absolutely, KC! Incorporating a rainwater harvesting system is indeed a fantastic addition to designing a water-efficient house. By collecting and storing rainwater for non-potable uses, homeowners can significantly reduce their reliance on municipal water supplies and contribute to stormwater management. This eco-friendly solution not only conserves water but also promotes sustainability.
Thanks for the tips! Checking your plumbing for leaks and fixing them quickly is also really important. Even small leaks can waste a lot of water and make your bills go up.
A leaking toilet is one of the most common reasons for using too much water, and sometimes, there is no clear sign of a leaking toilet – not all leaks are that obvious. One thing you can try is adding some food coloring to the tank before you go to bed. When you use it in the morning, check if any of the colored water has seeped into the bowl. If it has, there’s a hidden leak that needs to be fixed.
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