Water Efficiency Rating System by Resnet

Published on by in Business

Water Efficiency Rating System by Resnet

In a significant move, the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and a coalition of water efficiency experts, homebuilders, environmental organizations and home energy professionals is developing the nation's first Water Efficiency Rating (WER) Index

The WER Index will show consumers at a glance how efficiently a home uses water by assigning it a numerical score based on performance. RESNET proposes to have the WER Index ready for use across the United States by the end of this year.

"In many parts of the nation, water is fast becoming an ever increasingly expensive commodity," observed Steve Baden, Executive Director of RESNET. "At least one county in every state in this country experiences a drought each year. There is clearly a need for a system to rate a home's efficiency in water use. The WER Index Score will allow homebuyers to know how efficiently water is being used in the homes they are considering to buy. It will also provide an opportunity for homebuilders to monetize the efficiency of their homes in the same fashion that the HERS®Index plays for energy efficiency."

The WER Index will work in the same way as the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index - also developed by RESNET - which scores a home based on its energy performance. A lower HERS Index Score indicates a more energy efficient home, with 100 being set as the baseline for an energy efficient home (one that conforms to the latest International Energy Conservation Code [IECC] requirements). The baseline score for the WER Index will also be 100, but with a lower score indicating a more water efficient home.

RESNET's effort is being led by a committee composed of experts in the field of water efficiency, home building and home energy performance. The co-chairmen of the committee are:

"A residential water efficiency index creates many important benefits for homeowners and consumers," said Ed Osann, a senior water policy analyst for the NRDC. "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."

RESNET's WER Index Score will be for water what its cousin the HERS Index Score is for energy - a performance indicator for homes in the same way as the miles-per-gallon (MPG) sticker is for cars. The combination of a WER Index Score and a HERS Index Score will provide consumers with a comprehensive picture of how efficiently a home operates, thus enabling them to make better informed buying decisions.

Source: Resnet

Read More Related Content On This Topic - Click Here

Media

Taxonomy