Troy, Mich. — Water conservation will be more important and requested by clients in the next two years, according to the recently-released Environmental Design + Construction magazine Commercial/Institutional Water Conservation Specifying Trends Study. Results consisted of the opinions of architects and specifiers on the subject of water conservation in today’s market, ranging from the use of faucets to water closets. Eighty-one percent of respondents stressed the growing importance of water conservation in the next two years.

Currently, 90 percent of respondents’ projects currently feature “green” design specifications. However, respondents said that about 70 percent of building owners and managers are “not very knowledgeable” regarding water-conserving products. Nearly 90 percent of respondents also reported that commercial and institutional clients are currently willing to pay more upfront to install water-conserving products, however most (80 percent) would not be willing to pay more than a 10 percent premium.

Federal law requires the installation of showerheads with a maximum flow rate of 2.5-gpm. According to this survey, commercial clients are “rarely” aware (44 percent) of these flow rate laws and 15 percent are “never” aware. Thirty-six percent answered “sometimes,” but only 5 percent of respondents said their clients are “always” aware of these laws. Results were similar when asked about the 0.5-gpm faucet flow rate laws.

On the topic of low-consumption toilets, flushing performance was the No. 1 factor that influenced water closet choices, following by brand reputation, aesthetics and price. When asked about urinals that do not use water to flush, most everyone agreed (99 percent) — “they save enormous amounts of water,” however only 13 percent of respondents have specified a waterless urinal.

When asked how well fixture and faucet manufacturers educate them on water-conserving technologies, nearly 90 percent of respondents said they do a “poor” or “hit-and-miss” job.