Toilets are one of the main source of water use in the home, accounting for nearly 30 percent of an average home’s indoor water consumption. Domestic hot water represents roughly 40 percent of a multifamily building’s energy use. When combined with energy efficient upgrades, water saving measures can significantly reduce property water and gas bills. Here’s how.

Many multifamily buildings use electricity or gas to heat water, so using less hot water requires less energy. Consider using water-saving faucets and showerheads, and insulate water heaters and pipes.

Recent advancements in technology allow high-efficiency toilets (HETs) to use 1.28 gallons or less per flush, while still providing equal or superior performance. Rebates of up to $50 per toilet are available for multifamily properties.

For information on water rebates and programs, visit watersmartsd.org. To search for water-efficient products, visit the EPA’s WaterSense program website here.