New WaterSense Label

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a new label to address the need to conserve water. The new label is called WaterSense and its goal is to protect our water supply by promoting water-efficient products and services. You'll find the label on a variety of products, including bathroom and kitchen faucets, toilets and showerheads.

Since its inception in 2006, WaterSense has partnered with some of the biggest and most trusted names in the business, like Kohler, Delta, American Standard, Moen, TOTO, Speakman and many more.

The WaterSense label is the equivalent to the EPA's ENERGY STAR® rating system for energy-efficient appliances. Look for the WaterSense label on toilets, kitchen and bath faucets and showerheads.

Here is some helpful information to understanding WaterSense labeled products:

1. High-Efficiency Toilets (HETs): With the average toilet consuming at least 3.5 gallons of water with every flush, installing HETs will have one of the biggest water-saving impacts on your new home. WaterSense approved toilets offer exceptional flushing performance by using the least amount of water. The standard for HETs is 1.28 gpf (gallons per flush), which can reduce water consumption by 20% and save up to 22,000 gallons of water a year. Thanks to new technology like pressure-assisted flushers and design advancements these low flow toilets flush better than their first-generation models, meaning double flushing and clogging isn't an issue anymore.
2. Water-Conserving Showerheads and Handshowers: Look for water-conserving showerheads and handshowers that offer optimal performance of 1.75 gallons per minute (gpm). These fixtures will help save 30% on water usage compared to fixtures with a flow rate of 2.5 gpm.
3. Only Use Faucets with Low-Flow Aerators: Your bathroom and kitchen faucets should be equipped with 1.5 gpm low-flow aerators, which will save you hundreds of gallons of water each month. Faucets with low-flow aerators save water by reducing the rate of flow from you faucets without reducing their efficiency. In order to earn the WaterSense label, faucets and faucet accessories have to demonstrate both water efficiency and the ability to provide adequate flow.

Did you know...

• According to the EPA, letting your faucet run for five minutes not only wastes water, but energy. In fact it wastes as much energy as it takes to keep a 60-watt light bulb lit for 14 hours.
• The average American home uses more water for flushing the toilet than running a shower. A family of four could save 16,000 gallons of water a year by installing high-efficiency toilets.
• Bathrooms account for about half the water use in most homes, and installing both an efficient toilet and efficient faucets can save the average American family 11,000 gallons of water per year.

For more information about the WaterSense program, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.

	After you've decided on what style and design you want for your water-efficient fixtures in your bathroom, you might want to consider some additional green touches. Use a PVC-free shower curtain like one made from hemp. This new fabric will spice up your décor and keep water in the shower without the need of a plastic liner. Be sure to cover your walls with eco-friendly paints and/or wallpaper, which are now made from water-based inks and materials from sustainable forests. For added personal comfort, consider using organic cotton bath towels because they are extremely absorbent and naturally hypoallergenic.