The NAHB Remodelers of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in collaboration with the NAHB Research Center, NAHB 50+ Housing Council, and AARP developed the Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS) program to address the growing number of consumers that will soon require these modifications.  A Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) has been trained in:
・The unique needs of the older adult population
・Aging-in-place home modifications
・Common remodeling projects
・Solutions to common barriers
Austin earned the CAPS certification in July and  is eager to talk to you about any modifications you’re thinking of making to your home. To learn more about what a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist can do for you, please go to the link below:
http://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?sectionID=717&genericContentID=46799

• Replace existing faucets & toilets with products bearing the WaterSense label.
• Re-use most household water by installing a grey water treatment system.
• Recycle rainwater by installing a rain barrel or cistern.
• Install a hot water recirculation system.
• Replace bathroom sink faucets with WaterSense labeled faucets which use no more than 1.5 gallons/minute will save 500 gallons/year.
• Waiting for warm shower water wastes 200-300 gallons/month;  attach the Shower Start Hot Water Saver.
• Install water-saving shower heads or flow retrictor (saves 500-800 gallons/month).
• Replace appliances with energy star appliances.
• Attach aerators to all faucets.- Faucets account for more than 15% of indoor household water use.
• Replace existing inefficient faucets with high efficiency faucets.
• Replace faucet washers with Drip Stop washers.
• Install a faucet foot valve and save 20-50%/year.
• Attach a water watch meter to your garden hose & don’t water on windy days.
• Fix leaky faucets & pluming joints (save 20 gallons/day for each leak).
• Replace your inefficient leaking toilet with a High Efficiency toilet & use less than 1.3 gallons/flush - save 4,000 gallons/year & $90 annually.
• Replace existing toilets with a flapperless toilet.
• Replace existing toilets with a waterless composting toilet.

Simple Ways Everyone Can Conserve

• Save 1000 gallons/month by covering your pool.
• Set lawn mower blades one notch higher. Longer grass means less evaporation (Saves 500-1,500 gallons/month).
• Place a plastic bottle or brick in your toilet tank (save 300 gallons/month).
• 17 % of indoor water use comes from showering (In the US, 1.2 trillion gallons of water are used showering each year).
• Shorten showers- A one or two minute reduction can save 700 gallons/month.
• Take your automobile to a car wash that recycles water.
• Turn water off while brushing teeth (saves 3,000 gallons/year).
• Toilets account for 30% of residential indoor water consumption.
• Turn off water while brushing teeth or shaving (saves 3 gallons/day).
• Check toilet for leaks & save 400 gallons/month.
• Put a layer of mulch around trees/plants to slow evaporation (Saves 750-1,500 gallons/month).
• Direct air conditioning evaporation to a flower bed.
• Dispose of hazardous materials properly (One quart of oil can contaminate 250,000 gallons of water).
• Use garbage disposer less often; even start composting.
• Wash your car on a lawn.
• Save 10 gallons/minute by not letting children play in the water.

Did You Know…

• Producing a car requires 50 times its weight in water (39,090 gallons).
• It takes 44 gallons of water to refine one gallon of crude oil.
• It takes 1,700 gallons of water to produce a gallon of ethanol.
• http://www.epa.gov/watersense/news/current/winter2008.htm