Built Green Canada’s Partnership with Green Builder® Coalition Brings First Performance-Based Water Rating to Canada

Built Green CanadaBuilt Green Canada has partnered with the Green Builder® Coalition to bring performance-based water efficiency to Canada through its third-party certification programs’ water conservation section.

Though parts of Canada, and the world, are increasingly experiencing droughts, and freshwater ecosystems are shown to be under stress, water conservation in the residential building industry has not received the attention energy efficiency has, though they are both connected and significant; in this respect, the Water Efficiency Rating Score (WERS)® is a step forward.

WERS is based on measurable parameters, along with a scoring scale of zero to 100, zero being the most desirable. Indoor water use considers the main plumbing fixtures of toilets, showers, lavatory and kitchen sinks, clothes washers and structural waste. Those who run the shower for a while before getting hot water are familiar with structural waste: it refers to the amount of water wasted before usable hot water arrives at the furthest hot-water using fixture.

Meanwhile, WERS includes the ability to account for all outdoor water use, as well as reuse via rainwater, greywater and blackwater catchment calculations. Depending on the verified filtration methods for rainwater and greywater, they can be used to offset indoor water use. Additionally, any remaining unused rainwater, greywater and/or blackwater (if applicable) can be credited to potential outdoor use.

“Industry and all orders of government increasingly are focused on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and in the residential building sector, the emphasis is on improving the energy performance of buildings,” says Built Green Canada’s chief executive officer Jenifer Christenson. “While energy efficiency is an essential component of sustainable building practices—and our programs—we want to broaden the conversation and shine a light on a more balanced approach that also includes indoor air quality, waste management, and water conservation—some of the key areas of our programs. Despite Canada’s water endowment, we are not immune to water shortages and periods of drought. Moreover, reductions in water usage will save energy, further contributing to the decrease in GHGs.”

Built Green Canada recognizes the pressure on municipalities to supply water to households: managing water demand and financing, building and repairing water infrastructure is a priority. The reduction in water usage can help lessen a number of challenges, including water shortages and increased energy consumption to pump and treat water, pollutants in water bodies, and the expansion of water and wastewater infrastructure. A focus on water conservation helps reduce the load on civic infrastructure: a reduction that can result in a significant financial savings while supporting climate mitigation targets.

WERS logo“Water shortages and droughts don’t adhere to boundaries, so taking WERS beyond the borders of the United States is a natural progression for the program,” said Mike Collignon, executive director of the Green Builder® Coalition. “I’ve long felt that the policies and incentives that can be linked to WERS are equally applicable, and potentially more essential, outside the United States. We’re excited to partner with Built Green Canada on this journey.”

The WERS tool will be Canadianized in the coming months, verifier training will occur in the spring, and Built Green is encouraging trials through 2019. Builders will earn points toward their BUILT GREEN® home certification, while being able to understand the overall performance of their projects’ water use and make smart choices on the products they incorporate into their builds—and pass along the associated benefits to their customers.

The BUILT GREEN® Single Family and Renovation programs already utilize Natural Resources Canada’s EnerGuide label, which calculates the build’s energy efficiency and helps builders and homeowners understand how the home’s energy is being used—much like WERS does for water usage.

Built Green Canada is an industry-driven, national, non-profit organization offering third-party certified programs for single family, renovations, and high density projects. Since its inception, builders have worked with Built Green to complete over 31,280 certified homes represented in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Ontario—including the units in multi-story projects, the total is over 34,135.

Registration Now Open for Next Generation Water Summit

Next Generation Water Summit logoEarly bird registration has officially opened for the Next Generation Water Summit. Through March 31st, attendees can register to attend the Summit for $249. This will allow admittance to any Sunday, Monday and Tuesday session, regardless of track. Just as important, attendees will be able to network with a broad spectrum of stakeholders while working towards solutions for their respective challenges.

The Summit will occur June 4-6, 2017 at the Santa Fe Convention Center in Santa Fe, NM. Confirmed educational sessions include:

  • WaterSense at 10: The Past, Present & Future
  • WERS®: Today & Tomorrow
  • Panel Session: Making Regional Water Groups Work
  • Rainwater: Inside & Out
  • Case Study: Santa Fe’s Adoption of WERS®
  • WaterSense for New Homes: Why Certify?
  • Stormwater Analysis with WERS®

10’ x 10’ exhibit booths are available starting at just $499! Sponsorships start as low as $500. Full event information is available on the Summit website.

The overarching theme of the event will be how to sustain the building/development industry in western states with declining water resources, even as the next decade experiences surging growth from retiring Baby Boomers. The first day (Sunday) will have a Green Expo at the Convention Center, with local experts presenting seminars in the break-out rooms. Three educational tracks, targeting Builders & Designers, Policymakers, and Water Conservation Experts, will span three days. There will be 12 sessions on Sunday afternoon, followed by a full slate on Monday & Tuesday. Keynote speakers will open Monday & Tuesday’s proceedings. Pre-conference courses, including QWEL training, ARCSA AP training and WERS® Verifier training, are scheduled.

Hosts of the event will be the Santa Fe Green Chamber of Commerce (lead host), Green Builder® Coalition, City of Santa Fe, and the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association. Santa Fe Community College is the official education sponsor, and Green Builder® Media is the national media sponsor.

Ecovie Brings Rainwater, Greywater Systems to WERS – Manufacturer Program

One of the best methods for lowering your WERS is to implement water reuse strategies. Thanks to Ecovie® Water Management Systems, those strategies just got a lot more appealing.

Ecovie is offering a 20% discount on their AQUALOOP greywater recycling systems and PURAIN rainwater collection components. “The financial savings that Ecovie is offering is incredibly significant. If projects utilize this discount, it will more than cover the cost of a WERS certification,” said Green Builder® Coalition Executive Director Mike Collignon.

Ecovie logoThe AQUALOOP greywater system produces water that is bacteria and virus free, with input water from household greywater, rainwater, surface water, or groundwater. It allows the property owner to recycle greywater from showers and laundry easily and economically. You can then use the AQUALOOP greywater to irrigate, flush toilets, and run laundry. AQUALOOP is certified to NSF 350. This means that greywater treated with the AQUALOOP process is suitable for indoor use for applications like toilet flushing and laundry. It also means that Aqualoop treated water can be stored for extended periods and used for spray irrigation. Unlike other processes which require greywater to be used within 24 hours and then only for subsurface drip irrigation, AQUALOOP water is free to be used for a much wider variety of applications.

The PURAIN rainwater filter, also known as the hydraulic jump filter, can accommodate roof areas ranging from 1,000 square feet to more than 70,000 square feet.  Using a design that comes from nature, this hydraulic jump technology cleans itself automatically, with the highest capture efficiency of any self-cleaning filter.

“We are very happy to support the WERS Program. One of the first ways to water management is to quantify the effects of the steps you are taking. WERS does just that,” stated Ecovie founder Bob Drew. To obtain the discount, make sure to mention you’re working towards WERS certification when you call (404) 824-9266 or e-mail Ecovie to place your order.

“If you’re thinking of installing a rainwater or greywater system, it makes a lot of sense to choose an Ecovie system and couple it with a WERS certification,” said Collignon. “You’ll be financially ahead, and you’ll also be able to identify where and how much water you’re using, in case you want to consider additional efficiency measures.”

Discussions with other manufacturers are ongoing, with agreements and corresponding announcements anticipated in the near future. The Coalition continues to seek additional manufacturer partners. To join the program, please contact Mike Collignon.

Since February 2014, The Coalition has helped develop the WERS Program for new and existing residential properties. The WERS Tool was first used in November 2015 to help a New Mexico homebuilder save significant time and money on his pursuit of a building permit.

About Ecovie
Ecovie is your rainwater collection and greywater recycling partner for your business, public building, or home.

At Ecovie, we believe our water supply challenges can be solved with smarter water management. We have assembled an innovative array of products and services to better manage our fresh water with rainwater collection, stormwater management, and greywater recycling. We apply our expertise to developing innovative, cost-efficient solutions for your new or existing building, be it for commercial or residential-sized projects. Our product line has been selected with the highest performance at the right price in mind. These products are integrated into our overall system design.