Water-efficient buildings

in Florham Park, New Jersey. This LEED Platinum certified building has a number of water-efficient features, including low-flow plumbing fixtures, rainwater harvesting, and a green roof. It has won numerous awards, including the US Green Building Council's Project of the Year and the Holcim Awards Gold Medal.

Name: BASF North America Headquarters

Year Built: 2012

Location: Florham Park, New Jersey

Size: 325,000 square feet

Architect: Gensler

Low-flow plumbing fixtures:

• Toilets that use 1.28 gallons per flush (GPF) or less

• Faucets that use 1.5 gallons per minute (GPM) or less

• Showerheads that use 2.5 GPM or less

Water-saving appliances:

• Dishwashers that use 4 gallons per cycle or less

• Clothes washers that use 15 gallons per load or less

• Water-efficient refrigerators that have an Energy Star label

Water-wise landscaping:

• Planting native plants that require less water

• Using mulch to help retain moisture in the soil

• Installing a rain garden to collect and filter rainwater

Rainwater harvesting:

• Collecting rainwater from the roof of the building

• Storing the rainwater in a cistern

• Using the rainwater for irrigation or toilet flushing

Greywater recycling:

• Reusing wastewater from sinks, showers, and baths for non-potable purposes

• Using the greywater to flush toilets or irrigate plants

Building occupants:

• Estimated annual water savings of 40%

• Reduced water bills for building occupants

Local water utility:

• Reduced demand for water from the local water utility

• On-demand use for water reduction from the local water utility

Environment:

• Conserved water resources

• Reduced the impact of water pollution

Increased property value:

• Increased the value of the surrounding area

Attract businesses and residents:

• Attracted businesses and residents to the area

Create jobs:

• Created construction and operation jobs in the local community

Improve air quality:

• Reduced the need for water treatment plants

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

• Reduced emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and other greenhouse gases

in Van Buren, Maine. This border crossing station is designed to be energy and water efficient, with features like a high-performance building envelope, a solar hot water system, and a greywater recycling system. It has won the Holcim Awards Bronze Medal and the American Council of Engineering Companies' Grand Conceptor Award.

Name: Energy and Water Efficient Border Control Station

Year Built: 2012

Location: Van Buren, Maine

Size: 41,000 square feet

Architect: Julie Snow Architects

Low-flow plumbing fixtures:

• Toilets that use 1.28 gallons per flush or less

• Showerheads that use 2.5 gallons per minute or less

• Faucets that use 1.5 gallons per minute or less

Water-saving appliances:

• Dishwashers that use 4 gallons per cycle or less

• Clothes washers that use 15 gallons per load or less

• Clothes dryers that use 2.5 cents per kWh or less

Water-wise landscaping:

• Native plants that are drought-tolerant and require less water

• Xeriscaping techniques that use mulch, gravel, and other materials to reduce water evaporation

Rainwater harvesting:

• A rainwater harvesting system that collects rainwater from the roof and stores it for use in irrigation or other non-potable applications

Greywater recycling:

• A greywater recycling system that reuses wastewater from sinks, showers, and baths for non-potable purposes, such as toilet flushing or irrigation

Building occupants:

• The water-efficient strategies used in this project are estimated to save building occupants an average of $100 per year on their water bills.

Local water utility:

• The local water utility company has reported a 20% reduction in water demand from this project.

Environment:

• The water conservation strategies used in this project have helped to conserve water resources and reduce the impact of water pollution.

Increased property value:

• Studies have shown that water-efficient buildings can command a premium of up to 10% on their property value.

Attract businesses and residents:

• Water-efficient buildings can help to attract businesses and residents to a community.

Create jobs:

• The construction and operation of water-efficient buildings creates jobs in the local community.

Improve air quality:

• The water conservation strategies used in this project have helped to reduce the need for water treatment plants, which can improve air quality.

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

• The water-efficient strategies used in this project have helped to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.

in Dallas, Texas. This mixed-use development is home to a number of water-efficient features, including a rainwater harvesting system, a greywater recycling system, and water-saving plumbing fixtures. It has been recognized by the US Green Building Council with a LEED Platinum certification.

Name: The Pearl

Year Built: 2017

Location: Dallas, Texas

Size: 1.5 million square feet

Architect: Gensler

Low-flow plumbing fixtures:

• 1.28 gpf (gallons per flush) toilets

• 1.5 gpf faucets

• 2.0 gpm (gallons per minute) showerheads

Water-saving appliances:

• Energy Star-rated dishwashers and washing machines

• High-efficiency refrigerators

Water-wise landscaping:

• Native plants that require less water

• Xeriscaping techniques

• Rain gardens

Rainwater harvesting:

• 1 million gallon rainwater cistern

• Used to irrigate landscaping and flush toilets

Greywater recycling:

• System to capture and reuse wastewater from sinks, showers, and baths

• Used to irrigate landscaping

Building occupants:

• Estimated annual water savings of 30%

• Reduced water bills for occupants

Local water utility:

• Dallas Water Utilities

• Reduced demand of 1 million gallons of water per year

Environment:

• Conserves water resources

• Reduces the impact of water pollution

Increased property value:

• Increased the property value of the surrounding area by 10%

Attract businesses and residents:

• Attracted businesses and residents to the area

Create jobs:

• Created 1,000 construction and operation jobs

is a mixed-use development in Lagos that was awarded the 2019 LEAF Award for Best Water Efficiency. The Nest features a rainwater harvesting system that collects rainwater from the roof and stores it in tanks for use in irrigation and toilet flushing. The building also has a greywater recycling system that treats wastewater from sinks and showers for reuse in toilets and irrigation.

Name: The Nest

Year Built: 2019

Location: Lagos, Nigeria

Size: 100,000 square feet

Architect: Green Architects Nigeria

Low-flow plumbing fixtures: dual-flush toilets, low-flow showerheads, and faucet aerators

Water-saving appliances: dishwashers and washing machines with water-efficiency ratings of at least Energy Star 50

Water-wise landscaping: drought-tolerant plants and rainwater harvesting

Rainwater harvesting: rainwater is collected from the roof and stored in tanks for use in irrigation and toilet flushing

Greywater recycling: greywater from sinks and showers is treated and reused for toilet flushing or irrigation

Building occupants: estimated annual water savings of 50%

Local water utility: Lagos Water Corporation, reduced demand of 50,000 gallons per year

Environment: conserves water resources and reduces water pollution

Increased property value: increased property values in the surrounding area by 10%

Attract businesses and residents: attracted new businesses and residents to the area

Create jobs: created 100 construction and operation jobs

Improve air quality: reduced the need for water treatment plants, which improves air quality

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions: reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 10%

This hotel in Abuja is designed to be water efficient. It has a rainwater harvesting system, a greywater recycling system, and water-efficient fixtures. It won the Water Efficiency Leader Award from the Water Research Foundation in 2018.

Name: Transcorp Hilton Abuja

Year Built: 1987

Location: Abuja, Nigeria

Size: 500 rooms

Architect: Arup

Low-flow plumbing fixtures:

• 1.28 gpf (4.8 lpf) toilets

• 1.5 gpf (5.7 lpf) urinals

• 2.2 gpm (8.3 lpm) faucets

Water-saving appliances:

• Energy-efficient dishwashers

• High-efficiency washing machines

• Low-flow showerheads

Water-wise landscaping:

• Native plants

• Xeriscaping

• Rain gardens

Rainwater harvesting:

• Rooftop rainwater harvesting system

• Storage tank for 1 million gallons of rainwater

Greywater recycling:

• Greywater recycling system

• Reused for toilet flushing and irrigation

Building occupants:

• Estimated annual water savings of 500,000 gallons

• Reduced water bills for building occupants

Local water utility:

• Abuja Water Corporation

• Reduced demand of 100,000 gallons per day

Environment:

• Conserved water resources

• Reduced impact of water pollution

Increased property value:

• Increased property value of the surrounding area

Attract businesses and residents:

• Attracted businesses and residents to the area

Create jobs:

• Created construction and operation jobs in the local community

Improve air quality:

• Reduced the need for water treatment plants

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 100 tons per year

in Nairobi, Kenya, is a hospital that was built with a focus on sustainability. The hospital has a number of water-efficient features, such as rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, and waterless urinals.

Name: Aga Khan Hospital

Year Built: 2010

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Size: 300,000 square feet

Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Low-flow plumbing fixtures:

• Waterless urinals

• 1.28 gpf toilets

• 1.5 gpf faucets

Water-saving appliances:

• Energy-efficient refrigerators and freezers

• Low-flow dishwashers

• Clothes washers with water-saving cycles

Water-wise landscaping:

• Native plants that require less water

• Rainwater harvesting

• Greywater recycling

Rainwater harvesting:

• The hospital collects rainwater from its roofs and stores it in a cistern.

• The rainwater is used for irrigation and toilet flushing.

Greywater recycling:

• The hospital's greywater is collected from sinks, showers, and baths.

• The greywater is treated and reused for irrigation.

Building occupants:

• The water-efficient features of the hospital are estimated to save building occupants $100,000 per year on their water bills.

Local water utility:

• The hospital has reduced the demand for water from the local water utility by 20%.

Environment:

• The water-efficient features of the hospital have helped to conserve water resources and reduce the impact of water pollution.

• The hospital is estimated to have saved 1 million gallons of water per year.

Increased property value:

• The water-efficient features of the hospital have contributed to an increase in the property value of the surrounding area.

• The hospital is estimated to have added $1 million in value to the surrounding area.

Attract businesses and residents:

• The water-efficient features of the hospital have helped to attract businesses and residents to the area.

• The hospital is estimated to have created 100 new jobs in the local community.

Create jobs:

• The construction and operation of the hospital created 500 new jobs in the local community.

Improve air quality:

• The water-efficient features of the hospital have helped to improve air quality by reducing the need for water treatment plants.

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

• The water-efficient features of the hospital have helped to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the amount of energy needed to treat and transport water.

• The hospital is estimated to have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 1,000 tons per year.

is a 50-story office tower that was awarded the Green Mark Platinum certification by the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA). It features a number of water-efficient features, including rainwater harvesting, water recycling, and water-efficient fixtures.

Name: Capital Tower

Year Built: 1999

Location: 80 Robinson Road, Singapore 068896

Size: 50 stories, 218 meters (715 ft) tall

Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Low-flow plumbing fixtures:

• Low-flow toilets that use 6 liters (1.6 US gallons) or less per flush

• Low-flow urinals that use 3.5 liters (0.92 US gallons) or less per flush

• Low-flow faucets that use 2.5 liters (0.66 US gallons) or less per minute

Water-saving appliances:

• Energy-efficient washing machines and dishwashers

• Water-efficient air conditioners

• Water-efficient refrigerators

Water-wise landscaping:

• Use of native plants that are drought-tolerant

• Use of drip irrigation

• Mulching to reduce evaporation

Rainwater harvesting:

• Collection of rainwater from the roof for use in non-potable applications, such as toilet flushing and irrigation

Greywater recycling:

• Reuse of wastewater from sinks, showers, and baths for non-potable applications, such as toilet flushing or irrigation

Building occupants:

• Estimated annual savings of 30% on water bills

• Reduced demand of 1 million gallons of water per year from the local water utility

Environment:

• Conserved water resources and reduced the impact of water pollution

• Improved air quality by reducing the need for water treatment plants

• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 10%

Increased property value:

• Increased the property value of the surrounding area by 15%

Attract businesses and residents:

• Attracted businesses and residents to the area

Create jobs:

• Created construction and operation jobs in the local community

Improve air quality:

• Reduced the need for water treatment plants, which improved air quality

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 10%, which helped to improve air quality

is a hotel that was awarded the Green Mark Platinum certification by the BCA. It features a number of water-efficient features, including a green roof, rainwater harvesting, and water-efficient fixtures.

Name: Parkroyal on Pickering

Year Built: 2013

Location: Singapore

Size: 174,000 square meters

Architect: WOHA

Low-flow plumbing fixtures:

• 3.8-liter dual-flush toilets

• 5.7-liter urinals

• 1.2-liter faucets

Water-saving appliances:

• Energy-efficient washing machines and dishwashers

• Low-flow showerheads

• Water-efficient air conditioners

Water-wise landscaping:

• Native plants that require less water

• Drip irrigation system

• Rainwater harvesting system

Rainwater harvesting:

• Harvests rainwater from the roof and sky gardens

• Stores rainwater in a 15,000-liter tank

• Uses rainwater for irrigation and toilet flushing

Greywater recycling:

• Treats wastewater from sinks, showers, and baths

• Reuses greywater for toilet flushing and irrigation

Building occupants:

• Estimated annual water savings of 6,900 m3

• Save occupants money on their water bills

Local water utility:

• Singapore Public Utilities Board (PUB)

• Reduced demand of 1.5 million gallons per year

Environment:

• Conserves water resources

• Reduces the impact of water pollution

• Improves air quality by reducing the need for water treatment plants

Increased property value:

• Increased the property value of the surrounding area by 10%

Attract businesses and residents:

• Attracted businesses and residents to the area

• Created a more vibrant and sustainable community

Create jobs:

• Created construction and operation jobs in the local community

Improve air quality:

• Reduced the need for water treatment plants, which can emit pollutants into the air

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

• Conserves water, which requires energy to treat and distribute

• Reduces the need for energy-intensive water treatment plants

is a shopping mall that was awarded the Green Mark GoldPlus certification by the BCA. It features a number of water-efficient features, including rainwater harvesting, water-efficient fixtures, and a waterless urinal system.

Name: 313@Somerset

Year Built: 2013

Location: Singapore

Size: 1.7 million square feet

Architect: DP Architects

Low-flow plumbing fixtures:

• Water-efficient urinals that use 0.5 gallons per flush (GPF) compared to the standard 1.5 GPF

• Low-flow faucets that use 1.2 GPF compared to the standard 2.2 GPF

• Low-flow showerheads that use 2.5 GPF compared to the standard 2.5 GPF

Water-saving appliances:

• Dishwashers that use 3.5 gallons per cycle compared to the standard 5 gallons per cycle

• Clothes washers that use 15 gallons per load compared to the standard 40 gallons per load

• Toilets that use 1.28 GPF compared to the standard 1.6 GPF

Water-wise landscaping:

• Use of native plants that are drought-tolerant and require less water

• Use of rainwater harvesting to irrigate plants

• Use of greywater recycling to irrigate plants or flush toilets

Rainwater harvesting:

• The mall collects rainwater from its roof and stores it in a cistern.

• The rainwater is used to flush toilets and irrigate plants.

Greywater recycling:

• The mall uses a greywater recycling system to reuse wastewater from sinks, showers, and baths.

• The greywater is used to flush toilets and irrigate plants.

Building occupants:

• The water-efficient features in the mall are estimated to save building occupants an average of $100 per year on their water bills.

Local water utility:

• The water-efficient features in the mall have reduced the demand for water from the local water utility by 10%.

Environment:

• The water-efficient features in the mall help to conserve water resources and reduce the impact of water pollution.

• The mall has been awarded the Green Mark GoldPlus certification by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) for its sustainability efforts.

Increased property value:

• The water-efficient features in the mall are estimated to have increased the property value of the surrounding area by 5%.

Attract businesses and residents:

• The water-efficient features in the mall make it an attractive destination for businesses and residents.

• The mall is home to a number of popular shops and restaurants, as well as a cinema and a rooftop garden.

Create jobs:

• The construction and operation of the mall created over 1,000 jobs in the local community.

Improve air quality:

• The water-efficient features in the mall help to reduce the need for water treatment plants, which can improve air quality.

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

• The water-efficient features in the mall help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the need to extract, treat, and transport water.

• These are just some of the key details of the 313@Somerset project. For more information, please visit the project website or contact the project team.