RESNET® Programs Director Ryan Meres is a frequent contributor to The Builder’s Daily newsletter. His recent article, “A Majority of New-Home Markets are Water Stressed” addresses how outdoor and indoor water use in new construction will be key to reducing the stress on U.S. water resources and strategies for homebuilders to achieve more efficient water use. He notes that according to the World Resources Institute, 25 of 50 states in the continental U.S. are under medium-high to extremely high levels of water stress. Putting more pressure on the already-strained water resources is that 41 of the 50 hottest markets for new-home construction are in these areas. The EPA launched the WaterSense label for homes program in 2009 to improve the water efficiency of new homes. In January 2022, version two of WaterSense-labeled homes took effect, and it became a performance-based program. One way to achieve the WaterSense label for homes is through RESNET’s HERSH2O®, whole-house water efficiency rating. Based on a scale from 0-100, where a lower score means less water consumption, the rating system considers both indoor and outdoor water uses. In 2023, more than 4,000 homes received a WaterSense label through RESNET. “Builders committed to reducing their homes’ impact on the environment and humanity must consider water efficiency paramount to their operations. Achieving the WaterSense label for homes will require new strategies and practices, but it demonstrates a builder’s commitment to ensuring water availability for future generations.” Read the full article at https://www.thebuildersdaily.com/a-majority-of-new-home-markets-are-water-stressed/
