50L Home Coalition and USGBC-CA Reduce Indoor Water Usage by Over 20% With Whole-Home Approach
The 50 Liter Home Coalition (50L Home) and the U.S. Green Building Council California (USGBC California) – convened by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and the World Economic Forum (WEF) – announced the preliminary results of a two-year pilot program, showing how existing products on the market, including plumbing fixtures, faucets, appliances, and consumable products designed to help save water and energy can achieve notable savings in domestic water and energy consumption, while consumers continue to enjoy a positive experience. This program is providing insights vital to water-stressed places like Los Angeles and enabling people to use less water at home while enjoying their daily routines.
According to USGBC California, In addition to lower water and energy bills, a majority of participants in the pilot reported a positive impact of the combination of provided products, appliances and fixtures on their quality of life at home, including the feedback:
- “[The pilot] has made my life easier and more pleasant to do the things I really didn’t enjoy before. I like laundry now!”
- “There’s an added value [in] understanding that we’re actually saving water, even though it doesn’t feel like we’ve really changed a lot of our behaviors.”
The results of this initial two-year pilot showed a reduction of 21% in indoor water use overall vs. the control homes, translating to an 18% reduction in energy use. More than 250 million data points across 31 single family homes enrolled in the pilot provided an assessment of both hot and cold water consumption, at time and point of use. The results included a 23% reduction in overall hot water use, including a 44% reduction in hot water use from kitchen faucets, vs. prior water consumption.
