With many communities in the U.S. now enforcing water restrictions, homeowners in locales across the nation increasingly face the question of how to ensure a clean, reliable water supply for their homes. Home builders can play an important role in helping homeowners reduce water demand and ensure water quality by installing fixtures and fittings that use water wisely.
The water-saving technologies and appliances below provide a range of options that can help homeowners ease the burden on their local water supply and ensure the water in their homes is free of contaminants, while saving money in the process.
Smart dishwasher from Beko
Beko’s 24-Inch Smart Built-In Dishwasher is Wi-Fi enabled and features nine wash cycles, an EverClean Filter, and interior lighting. The DDT39434X dishwasher is Energy Star certified and uses just 47% of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) recommended gallons per wash, amounting to hundreds of gallons saved annually, the company says.
Water-saving toilets by Icera
Icera’s Malibu Suite collection features six toilet configurations designed with the company’s patented EcoQuattro gravity flush technology, which conserves water and is low maintenance. Like Icera’s other toilets, Malibu Suite toilets use less than 1.28 gallons per flush and are certified as EPA WaterSense compliant.
Kohler digital shower valves for total control
Anthem Digital Valves from Kohler act as the control center for the company’s Statement Shower Collection, offering users complete control over temperature, pressure, and sprays. Anthem Digital allows for total personalization of any combination of shower sprays, rainheads, showerheads, hand showers, and body sprays. Its precision-control feature allows homeowners to create 10 programmed presets, and the digital display also provides information about water consumption at the end of each shower.
Bosch dishwasher with leak protection
Bosch’s 800 Series 24-Inch Built-In Bar Handle Dishwasher is designed for water efficiency with a 1-hour run time, an AquaStop leak protection feature, and an energy output of just 269 kWh per year. The unit is Energy Star certified and uses 55% of the DOE’s recommended number of gallons of water per wash cycle.
Energy-saving tankless water heater from Rheem
Rheem’s ProTerra Hybrid Electric Water Heater draws heat from the air around it to work like a standard electric water heater when the air is too cold, ensuring hot water year round, the company says. The unit protects the home from water damage with a leak detection and prevention system that limits leaks to no more than 20 ounces of water, and as one of the most efficient water heaters on the market with up to a 4.07 Uniform Energy Factor (UEF)*, Rheem says the ProTerra Hybrid heater can save homeowners up to $491 per year in energy costs.
*Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) is the latest measure of water heater overall efficiency. The higher the UEF value, the more efficient the water heater.
GE auto-cycle dishwasher
GE’s 24-Inch Smart Built-In Dishwasher connects to Wi-Fi for remote user control and includes an Autosense Cycle that measures soil levels and water temperature so it can adjust to the ideal cycle time and never use more water than needed. The GE Profile PDT785SYNFS unit offers both energy and water efficiency and is Energy Star certified.
Soake Pool's plunge pool for energy efficiency
Soake Pools’ plunge pools use about 80% less water than a typical large in-ground pool, the company says, and that smaller water volume reduces the amount of energy needed to heat the pool. The company’s plunge pools also exclusively use variable speed pumps for additional energy-efficient programming.
New color for the Oasense smarter showerhead
The Oasense Reva smart sensor showerhead is 100% water-powered and lets users enjoy a full-pressure, high-flow rate shower while saving 50% of the shower water, according to the company. Smart sensors in the showerhead automatically reduce water flow to 15% when the user isn’t actively rinsing, resuming full-pressure flow whenever the user steps back in, so the showering experience isn't compromised by saving water and energy. Now available in a Matte Black color option.
Under-sink water filtration from Kraus
The Purita 2-Stage Carbon Block Under-Sink Water Filtration System from Kraus minimizes water waste by providing purified water on demand at the kitchen sink. The unit removes impurities as small as 0.5 microns, reducing contaminants such as lead, select pharmaceuticals, and volatile organic compounds without any chlorine taste or odor. The eco-friendly filters provide as much clean water as 5,300 standard 16.9-ounce bottles, and their long-lasting cartridges filter up to 700 gallons of water and last up to six months before they need to be replaced.
Leak detection and water monitoring by Kohler
Kohler’s H2Wise+ water monitor is installed onto the main water line so homeowners can shut off the main water supply automatically and remotely when a leak is detected. The system runs regular diagnostics of the entire home’s plumbing to detect hidden issues, tracks daily water use by each fixture and faucet in the home, and provides pre-freeze warnings to help prevent burst pipes.
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Wi-Fi leak shut-off valve by Resideo
Resideo’s Braukmann L5 WiFi Water Leak Shutoff Valve connects to the main water supply and can automatically shut off the supply to the home if a water leak is detected either by a sensor cable or a paired Resideo WiFi Water Leak and Freeze Detector. The valve is easy to install and can be monitored using the Resideo App.
Vacuum-assist toilet from Niagara
The Phantom One Piece toilet from Niagara includes the company’s patented Stealth Technology for a water-efficient flush with a vacuum-assist pull and a noise-canceling tank. The new Phantom One Piece is MaP Premium rated, WaterSense certified, and surpasses all industry drain line carry standards, the company says.
Signature Kitchen Suite dishwasher with steam
Signature Kitchen Suite’s PowerSteam Stainless Steel Dishwasher saves time and water by eliminating the need to pre-wash thanks to its multiple steam cycles, which help to dissolve caked-on food, the company says. QuadWash technology features four multi-motion wash arms that rotate back and forth while spinning to power-clean dishes from multiple angles throughout the wash process, and the Energy Star–rated unit uses an average of just 2.9 gallons per cycle.
Kohler double-cartridge water purifier
Aquifer, Kohler’s double-cartridge water filtration system, is designed with filters made from ground coconut shells for an eco-friendly filtration process. The Aquifer system effectively reduces contaminants including lead, mercury, chlorine, and pharmaceuticals without compromising the faucet’s performance, according to the company.
Push-to-connect pipe fittings by Uponor
Designed for use with PEX, PE-RT, CPVC, and copper piping systems, TotalFit is Uponor’s newest engineered polymer (EP), push-to-connect fitting solution ideal for service repair, maintenance, remodels, and retrofits for potable hot-water and cold-water distribution piping systems. The TotalFit line includes 33 push-to-connect fittings in sizes from 1/2-inch to 1-inch diameter.
Leak and flood detection from Flowban
Flowban’s leak and flood detection device monitors the water level in sinks and bathtubs and automatically shuts off the water to bathroom faucets before an overflow occurs. The Flowban system reacts when the water reaches a certain level in the tub to prevent flooding and resets itself automatically as soon as the faucets are turned off.
Neoperl water-pressure limiter
Neoperl’s Pressure Limiters regulate and reduce downstream pressure for showers, washing machines, and dishwashers. With the Pressure Limiter DS, Neoperl now offers a solution for water efficiency for pressure-sensitive applications both in dynamic mode (open outlet/water flows) and in static mode (closed outlet/static pressure).
A customized showering experience from Brizo
The SensoriPlus Digital Thermostatic Custom Shower from Brizo gives users complete control over their showering experience, automating everything from temperature and music to water flow. The system includes four user profiles, with multiple presets for a more comfortable, efficient shower.
