WATER SMART |
Constructech Staff
June 2005 - More homebuilders are starting to dabble in providing smart homes. Yet, these homes are not equipped with efficient lighting, temperature controls, and audio/video systems. Rather, they contain ‘smart’ solutions applied to the use of water.
Leading the way is KB Home Nevada, part of KB Home, www.kbhome.com, Los Angeles, Calif., which built the first home in the Water Smart Home program from the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), www.snwa.com, Las Vegas, Nev., and the Southern Nevada Home Builders Assn., www.snhba.com, Las Vegas, Nev.
The program certifies new homes and neighborhoods as water-smart and participating builders may select from three designations, including Water Smart Home (a single-family home that meets SNWA standards), Water Smart Neighborhood (multi-family developments of single-family homes and common areas that meet SNWA standards) and Water Smart Builder (all single-family homes and common areas the builder constructs in Southern Nevada need to meet Water Smart Home Standards).
KB Home, which selected the designation of Water Smart Builder, expects to build 2,500 water-smart homes this year. From water-smart landscaping, to high-efficiency appliances, these homes will include standards that aim to reduce water use without altering a homeowners’ quality of life.
Don Delgiorno, executive vice president, KB Home Nevada, says the Water Smart Home program further extends our commitment to water conservation within its projects already in place at the company.
 Other builders embracing water-smart homes are doing so with some leading-edge technology. Shea Homes, www.sheahomes.com, Scottsdale, Ariz., is using sophisticated irrigation controllers built into the landscaping of more than of its 3,000 homes across six states.
The technology, WeatherTRAK from HydroPoint, www.hydropoint.com, Petaluma, Calif., helps eliminate landscape water runoff. The controllers automatically adjust schedules based on weather conditions. Users can also set the controller to water on specified days, which helps comply with common government water restrictions. |
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