#watersense

And boy, does that one percent need a little bit of appreciation. To that end, March 22 is officially World Water Day. But why stop at one day? Here’s a quick guide inspired by a recent visit to a KB Home community on how to save water at home year-round.

BATHROOM

Amateur Approach – Cutting down on shower time is one easy way to save water. I recently dropped into a housewares store and asked a helpful saleswoman to show me their selection of waterproof clocks. She enthusiastically produced not a clock but a shower timer that was supposed to do something radical after five minutes, like maybe shout to my neighbors that I was now wasting water and should be jettisoned from the planet. Needless to say, I bought a clock. I propped it up on my shower shelf between the shaving cream and shampoo and I now feel appropriately guilty every time I tick, tick, tick past the environmentally responsible time limit. And let me just say, guilt works. My shower times are dwindling. One percent of the planet loves me!

Water Saving Technology at Home – Two words (pushed together as one): WaterSense®. Simply put, WaterSense is to water efficiency as ENERGY STAR® is to energy efficiency. Every KB Home comes equipped with products that meet strict WaterSense guidelines for water efficiency. And while you probably don’t know how much water a typical toilet uses per flush (bonus points if you do), according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a WaterSense labeled toilet uses 20 percent less than the current federal standard. Throw in a WaterSense labeled showerhead and your water consumption drops from a standard 2.5 gallons per minute to no more than 2 gallons per minute. And lest I’m overwhelming you with good news, a WaterSense labeled faucet will cut water consumption by nearly 30 percent over standard faucets. Combine this technology with sleek offerings from Moen® and you have shiny fixtures that are beautifully water-efficient. Added benefit: they’ll save you money too.

KITCHEN

Amateur Approach – I figure I’m already doing my part to save water in my kitchen by eating fast food that utilizes somebody else’s kitchen. (Yes, that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.) And since I don’t have a dishwasher (unless you count me), I fill up a small plastic dish tub with soapy water so that I’m not running the faucet as I wash dishes. I also stay on top of leaky faucets; not only am I reducing water consumption but incessant dripping qualifies in my mind as noise pollution so I’m really multi-tasking my environmental efforts. I’m one step ahead of Earth Day.

Water Saving Technology at Home – A more sophisticated water-saving strategy arrives in the form of ENERGY STAR® certified appliances. Big brand names like Whirlpool® offer dishwashers that meet these strict environmental standards and use less water than standard models. Also, remember not to run the dishwasher until you have a full load. And those Moen WaterSense labeled faucets in your bathrooms? Install them in your kitchen, too.

SAVING FOR A RAINY DAY

Amateur Approach  – Due to the recent torrential rains in California, I decided that rather than let my yard collect puddles, I’d start harvesting rainwater…you know for a rainy day. Turns out, water harvesting is a thing. It’s so easy to purchase a rain barrel for a reasonable price. We like easy, as much as we enjoy shopping online. Anyone can recycle dishwasher or shower water but reusing stuff that randomly falls from the sky --- where’s my tax credit?!

Water Saving Technology at Home – Every KB home includes a lawn sprinkler that automatically shuts off in the rain. So, basically, it might be your backyard telling you to carry an umbrella to work rather than the local weather person. (And you don’t need to be a sod whisperer.)

VOLUNTEER OUTSIDE THE HOME 

Amateur Approach – For years, I worked for a company that sponsored an annual volunteer day where employees were dispatched into local communities for various clean-up projects. While I loved that my company got me out of the house and giving back, there are still 364 days of the year where I can do my bit (and get a thumbs up emoji from my friends on social media) to help conserve water. A great way to save water is to reduce your plastic waste: I’m talking everything from bags to those little plastic plugs that keep your morning coffee from splashing on your leg when you have to jump a couple of lanes during your commute. If you’re anything like me, and love the sunshine and waves, then you can volunteer to help pick up trash at the beach. Keeping seals safe, and getting a tan? Sounds like a win-win to me.

Water-Saving Adventures in the Community – There are ways of saving water that go beyond actually saving water. We’re talking about fundraisers and volunteer work. KB Home is all about community-building, inside and outside our gates. So, if you’re interested in finding meaningful volunteer work that benefits water conservation and you don’t know where to start, idealist.org is a great place to begin. The site has a ton of information on worthy causes near and far, and includes on-site as well as remote opportunities.

In summary, conserving water at home is something you can do with minimal effort (and in my case, sometimes without intent). Adding just a few water-saving devices for the home will go a long way toward saving the one percent of the planet we truly can’t live without. For more information on how KB Home utilizes water-saving technology and can help you save money on utility bills, check out the energy efficient section of our website here.

Here are 5 things you can feel proud of:

1. You’re water wise: Especially for those living on the drought-affected West Coast, being water wise has never been more important. Feel good knowing that every KB home includes WaterSense® faucets, toilets and showerheads that help maximize water efficiency without sacrificing performance. Dishwashers installed in every KB home are not only ENERGY STAR® certified for energy efficiency, but also use significantly less water than standard models. As a bonus, you’re saving an estimated $300/year! [1]

2. Your fixtures use less energy: New KB homes have energy-efficient lighting and appliances that can help you reduce your energy use and lower your monthly utility bills.

3. You waste less energy: We build every new KB home with energy-efficient heating and cooling systems that are designed to reduce energy waste and deliver more comfort, better moisture control, and enhanced indoor air quality. Once you’ve got your home cooled or heated to the temperature you want, your KB home’s thermal enclosure system helps keep it that way. Better air sealing, quality insulation and high-performance windows all contribute to reducing costs to you and your impact on the environment.

4. You emit fewer greenhouse gas emissions: The EPA estimates that homeowners living in our 96,000 ENERGY STAR certified KB homes help prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 34,000 passenger vehicles each year [2].

5. You live in an award-winning home: As a KB homeowner, you’re leading the pack – a four-time WaterSense® Partner of the Year, KB Home received its first Sustained Excellence Award in 2015 for its demonstrated commitment to water efficiency [3].

We thank you, on this Earth Day, for supporting our sustainability mission and doing your part to make a difference every day. If you’d like to read more about how we’re lessening the impact of our operations and homes on the environment, check out our Sustainability Reports.

Happy Earth Day!