August 2015 — Property Management Quarterly —
Page 11
P
roperty management involves
many competing needs,
which means water effi-
ciency hasn’t always been
a top priority. But for many
reasons, implementing effective
water-conserving upgrades can be
achieved successfully by using the
Environmental Protection Agency’s
WaterSense-approved fixtures, pro-
fessionals, programs and strategies.
WaterSense is not a brand or a
model. It is a sister program to Energy
Star and delivers high-performance
products that are at least 20 percent
more efficient than standard, code-
compliant versions. It is a designa-
tion of a product’s performance. The
program’s goal is to overcome some
long-held perceptions that low-flow
products don’t work and to provide
assurance that modern fixtures per-
form well, save water, save money
and do so consistently.
Some of the first versions of early
1990s lower-flow products didn’t
work as well as they could have, and
the market transition was difficult.
But like all products, with feedback
and development, progress was made
and new technologies were imple-
mented that allow these products to
work well, while using far less water
than previous, older versions. Major
manufacturers, such as Toto, Kohler,
American Standard, Home Depot,
Lowe’s, Rain Bird, Toro and more,
stake their reputation and busi-
ness on products that meet market
demands.
For years these manufacturers
have delivered high-quality, superior-
performing toilets, urinals, shower-
heads, faucets and irrigation control-
lers. Innovations in glazing, trapway
design, flushing
mechanisms and
fluid dynamics cre-
ated products that
exceed expecta-
tions.
The program
was accomplished
through partnership
and collaboration
of industry, govern-
ment, utilities and
other professionals.
Manufacturers are
a major contribu-
tor to the program,
demonstrating
their willingness to create products
that meet mutual needs. Nowhere
is this more important than in busi-
ness, where functioning facilities are
not a luxury but a requirement, and
any disruption is a major concern
that can be costly. To ensure perfor-
mance and provide confidence to the
community, WaterSense was formed
in 2006 and brings together a variety
of stakeholders to
• Promote the value of water effi-
ciency;
• Provide users with easy ways to
save water, as a label for products
and an information resource to help
people use water more efficiently;
• Encourage innovation in manu-
facturing, services and industry capa-
bility;
• Decrease water use and reduce
strain on water resources and infra-
structure; and
• Deliver performance metrics for
measurable savings and efficacy.
The program seeks to help property
managers make smart water choices
that save money and maintain high
environmen-
tal standards
without com-
promising
performance.
The
potential is
astounding. If
one in every
10 homes in
the U.S. were to install WaterSense
labeled faucets or faucet accessories
in their bathrooms, we could save 6
billion gallons of water per year, and
more than $50 million in the energy
costs to supply, heat and treat that
water.
It’s the same for businesses. In Col-
orado and other water-scarce states,
these savings represent important
components to state, city and utility
water conservation plans, existing
utility rebates and efficiency mes-
saging that is vital to our savings
goals. Utilities, suppliers, retailers,
organizations and services are pro-
moting conservation that works for
everyone. WaterSense is usually the
venue to communicate these savings
opportunities and has clear market
differentiation to make choices easy.
It has become the defacto standard
for replacement choices and recom-
mended upgrades.
For property managers, implement-
ing these changes is easy. The prod-
ucts are readily available through all
traditional procurement channels
– big-box stores, online suppliers,
catalog suppliers, local retailers and
plumbing supply shops. The prod-
ucts come in many shapes, sizes,
colors, fitments, styles and from vir-
tually all brands. Typically, there are
no additional costs associated with
certified products, and they can be
less expensive than the higher-use
counterparts. The products are desig-
nated by the WaterSense seal, which
is indicated on product detail sheets,
sometimes located in eco sections or
in environmentally friendly product
suites.
How are they different?
In toilets,
the maximum amount of water flow
in a certified toilet is 1.28 gallons
per flush. This is known as a high-
efficiency toilet. Standard toilets are
1.6 gallons per flush and are known
as ultra-low flush. The certified toilets
are 20 percent more efficient.
But you might ask, “How can these
products work with less water?”To
prove it, there is a scoring mecha-
nism to justify performance claims
and give purchasers a way to evalu-
ate flushing power. To ensure objec-
tivity, manufacturers submit products
to be tested against approved proto-
cols. Only products that meet these
standards receive the WaterSense
label. Test results, known as maxi-
mum performance scores, are avail-
able at Map-Testing.com.
This clearinghouse site provides
background on the evolution of the
water efficiency industry, showcases
the breadth of product options and
improvements for products and, most
importantly, the volume of wastes
the toilets move, as well as insightful
reports and studies. This topic always
involves a bit of humor, and some
terrific videos demonstrate how HETs
are tested and compare to ULFs. To
alleviate concerns, the scores actually
inform how much solid waste equiv-
alent all tested toilets process. The
videos are worth a look for education
and entertainment
s
Sustainability
Frank Kinder
Senior water
conservation
specialist, Colorado
Springs Utilities,
Colorado Springs
