The California Energy Commission (CEC) recently took measures aimed at saving the drought-stricken state billions of gallons of water.
The CEC approved new standards on toilets, urinals, and faucets that are sold in California. The new standards will be the most water-efficient in the country. Once the current stock of products is turned over, the CEC says the measure will save more than 100 billion gallons of water annually.
California is the first state to adopt standards that are more efficient than those set by EPA's WaterSense program. Next year, all urinals sold in California will use only 1 pint of water or less for each flush (the old standard was 1.0 gallons per flush, WaterSense is 0.5 gpf) and bathroom faucets will use no more than 1.2 gallons of water per minute (the old standard was 2.2 gpm, WaterSense is 1.5 gpm).
These standards go into effect on Jan. 1, 2016. The new standards do not require homes and businesses to replace plumbing fixtures. The CEC is working on a rebate program to make the purchase of more efficient appliances more affordable.
Related Stories
| Jan 8, 2013
Building-integrated PVs could help boost green standards over the next few years
A developing technology could begin to have an impact on sustainable standards over the next few years.
| Jan 8, 2013
Revamp of codes among nine low tech steps to raise community resiliency
Updating of local zoning and building codes is one of nine low-tech steps that can boost sustainability and storm resiliency, according to this article.
| Jan 8, 2013
Group releases safety and building codes from 24 countries
Public.Resource.Org released 10,062 public safety documents including building codes covering 24 countries and 6 regions.
| Jan 8, 2013
Montana developing high-performance building standards for state projects
The Montana Department of Administration is developing a single building standard for all state facilities, and hopes to have a plan in place this spring.
| Jan 4, 2013
AGC economist says "fiscal cliff" deal will give construction a boost
The deal in Congress to avoid going over the so-called fiscal cliff "should encourage many businesses to go ahead with projects they have held in reserve," said Ken Simonson, chief economist of the Associated General Contractors of America.
| Jan 4, 2013
California standards on furnishings, insulation to be revised
California is revising the state’s standards on interior furniture and insulation to maintain or improve fire safety while reducing or eliminating the use of toxic chemicals.
| Jan 4, 2013
Tilt-Up Concrete Association releases new temporary wind bracing guidelines
The Tilt-Up Concrete Association has released revised guidelines on Temporary Wind Bracing of Tilt-Up Concrete Panels During Construction.
| Jan 4, 2013
San Diego office tower to be America's biggest net-zero building
The 13-floor, 415,000 sf La Jolla Commons II office tower in San Diego will be the largest building in the U.S. built to the net-zero standard upon completion in 2014, according to real estate firm Hines.
| Jan 4, 2013
Manchester, England building achieves highest BREEAM rating in U.K.
One Angel Square in Manchester, England, is the highest scoring outstanding building for the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) in the U.K.
| Dec 27, 2012
Pentagon eases leasing standards established in 9/11 aftermath
The Pentagon has eliminated the stringent real estate leasing standards it put into place following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, reverting back to a version widely used by federal civilian agencies.
