The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association (SNHBA) announced a new Water Smart Home program. The program is the first of its kind in the nation. It certifies qualifying new homes and neighborhoods as Water Smart, ensuring that homebuyers are purchasing a home that can save as much as 75,000 gallons of water per year.
Water Smart homes will include water-efficient landscaping and irrigation systems, hot water recirculation systems and water-efficient appliances. Builders will have the option of building individual homes or entire neighborhoods that qualify as Water Smart. The result is a home that exceeds current drought and plumbing codes, helping the community to conserve water.
"The drought made everyone rethink what it means to be water-efficient," said SNWA General Manager Pat Mulroy. "Water Smart homes show that water-efficient doesn't mean doing without the comforts of a new home. It simply means creating a quality home and landscape using less water. These homes model the life of the future here in the West."
"The Water Smart Home program is one more way home builders are helping to enhance the quality of life that Southern Nevada residents enjoy," said Irene Porter, SNHBA Executive Director. "The program will provide homebuyers with a more water-efficient new home and it will assist the community in conserving water. Southern Nevada's home builders are proud of their involvement in water conservation efforts in our community."
Water Smart homes may be available as early as Spring 2005.
The Southern Nevada Water Authority is a regional agency that manages water quality, water conservation and water resources. Member agencies are: Big Bend Water District (Laughlin), the cities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City, the Clark County Water Reclamation District and the Las Vegas Valley Water District.
The Southern Nevada Home Builders Association is the oldest and largest local trade organization representing the residential construction industry with some 750 members working in all facets of the homebuilding industry. SNHBA members build 90 percent of the new housing constructed annually in Southern Nevada.
Source: Southern Nevada Water Authority
