WASHINGTON — In partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and a coalition of water efficiency experts, environmental organizations, homebuilders and home energy professionals, the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) is developing the first Water Efficiency Rating (WER) Index for the U.S., according to a press release.
The WER Index will demonstrate for consumers at a glance how efficiently a home uses water by assigning the home a numerical score based on performance, stated the release.
RESNET plans to have the index ready for nationwide use by the end of the year, continued the release.
A committee of experts in the field of water efficiency, home energy performance and home building, reported the release, is leading RESNET’s effort, and the co-chairman of this committee include: Jonah Schein of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense® Program, Jacob Atalla of KB Home and Ed Osann of NRDC.
“A residential water efficiency index creates many important benefits for homeowners and consumers,” said Osann. “A numeric water score will help homebuyers understand the water efficiency of a house the same way car shoppers use fuel economy labels to inform their purchases. The score will help expand green building programs and encourage new rebates and tax incentives for water efficient products in new and existing homes. Consumers who ‘know the score’ will save water and money when they buy a house or renovate their existing home.”
An American National Standards Institute (ANSI) consensus standard development process will be implemented in creating the standards for the index, noted the release.
Read the entire release here.
