Page 43 - Green Builder Magazine Sept-Oct 2017

CREDIT: ALIGN3D

controller might suspend the irrigation program today.
“[We spend] thousands of gallons of water on landscaping and “Giving homeowners the ability to
irrigation; it accounts for over 50 percent of the water consumption
in many homes,” says Miles. “If you can skip weather events, or if reuse onsite water resources is the
it’s overcast and cool; if you can take advantage of the different
characteristics of different zones, you can save an average of 30 single most-effective way to reduce
percent and even up to 60 percent.”
fluctuations. Most schedules are created around peak need—usually the environmental impact of new and
The controller also automatically compensates for seasonal
mid-to-late summer, when solar radiation is most intense. However,
water needs are typically lower in the “shoulder seasons” of spring remodeled homes. Water recycling
and fall.
The EPA estimates that replacing a standard clock timer with a allows architects and builders to
WaterSense-labeled irrigation controller save an average home nearly
8,800 gallons of water annually. Rachio’s was the first controller to offer clients the landscapes they
be certified by the WaterSense program, in 2014. It can be controlled
through an app from anywhere, and users can share access. want, and protect those landscapes

Putting It All Together
We use water to produce energy, and we use energy to treat, transport against future drought restrictions.”
and heat water. Consequently, reducing potable water use almost
certainly also cuts energy use, even if it’s not necessarily reflected —Tom Wood, CEO, Nexus eWater
in a utility bill.
There is a growing awareness of the “water-energy” nexus—
the complex interdependencies between energy use and water.
In our next article on The Flex House, we’ll explore how envelope
construction, efficient HVAC and appliances and renewable energy
come together to make The Flex House a net-zero home. GB

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