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Tap Into Green Remodeling With Increased Water Efficiency
By Stephanie Thornton, EPA WaterSense Program
More and more home owners are realizing that water is not a limitless resource. With persistent droughts occurring in the Southeast and elsewhere this year, consumers are starting to rethink how they use water at home.
And well they should. At least 36 states are anticipating water shortages in the next five years.
As some of the biggest innovators in the home building industry, remodelers are uniquely qualified to help solve our country’s growing water dilemma.
There are more than 120 million homes in the United States. Considering that a family of four uses about 400 gallons of water every day, if you help your customers make a dent in their water use at home, both their pocketbooks and the environment will benefit.
Best of all, these water-saving solutions can be easily incorporated into your remodeling business and help attract new clients. Claiming a piece of the green building marketplace — expected to be worth nearly $60 billion by 2010 — could be just a flush away.
Look for the WaterSense® Label for Efficiency and Reliability
WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), aims to make saving water just that simple. The program seeks to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by promoting water efficiency and making it easy to identify high quality, water-saving products.
What this means for you as a remodeler is an easier way to find water-efficient plumbing fixtures that meet your clients’ water savings and performance expectations. To find them, just look for the WaterSense label.
In general, WaterSense-labeled products are at least 20% more efficient than conventional models but perform as well as or better than their conventional counterparts.
You can be confident that these products won’t result in call-backs because, in order to earn the label, they must be independently tested and certified to confirm they meet EPA’s rigorous criteria. With more than 125 models of high-efficiency toilets and 30 models of bathroom sink faucets or faucet accessories that have earned the WaterSense label so far, odds are good that you’ll be able to find an option to suit every job.
By incorporating WaterSense-labeled products into your offerings, you’ll fill a much-needed niche as a water-conscious remodeler and differentiate yourself among home owners.
What’s more, by offering a high-efficiency bathroom remodel with WaterSense-labeled fixtures, you can help a home owner save more than 11,000 gallons and about $70 in water bills annually.
For more information about WaterSense and a full list of labeled products, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.
Stephanie Thornton is the partner outreach coordinator for EPA’s WaterSense program. For more information, e-mail Thornton at the EPA. thornton.stephanie@epa.gov.
 Earn NAHB’s New Green Designation at the National Green Building Conference
The Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation teaches builders, remodelers and other industry professionals techniques for incorporating green building principles into homes using cost-effective and affordable options.
Both required courses for the CGP will be held at the National Green Building Conference, May 11-13 in New Orleans.
For more information, visit www.nahb.org/GreenBuildingConference.
 Increase Your Professional Credibility
The Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) designation emphasizes business management skills as the key to a professional remodeling operation.
Remodelers who earn the CGR become members of an exclusive national program and gain recognition as industry leaders.
To learn more about the CGR designation, visit www.nahb.org/CGRinfo, or call The Professional Designation Help Line at 800-368-5242 x8154.
 'How to Find a Professional Remodeler' Available at BuilderBooks.com
"How to Find a Professional Remodeler," available at BuilderBooks.com, promotes the professionalism of your remodeling business by offering valuable advice to your customers on the process of selecting a remodeler.
The brochure guides consumers from the dream to the reality of having their homes remodeled by skilled and trained professionals. Sections include what to look for in a professional remodeler and what questions to ask.
To view or puchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665 to order.
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