GREEN BUILDING MANUAL NEW RESIDENTIAL UPDATED 2-MAY-11

Water-Efficient Landscape Design

What is Water-Efficient Landscape Design?

Water-efficient landscaping has many different terms associated with it but most rely on the

same basic principles. Xeriscape landscaping, for example, is defined as “quality landscaping

that conserves water and protects the environment.” Most water efficient landscaping approaches

incorporate the following suggestions:1

o Group plants according to their water needs

o Use native and adapted plants (see Native and Adapted Plants strategy)

o Limit turf areas to those needed for practical uses

o Use efficient irrigation systems

o Schedule irrigation wisely

o Make sure soil is healthy

o Remember to mulch

o Provide regular maintenance

1 US EPA. Water-Efficient Landscaping: Preventing Pollution & Using Resources Wisely.

http://www.epa.gov/watersense/docs/water-efficient_landscaping_508.pdf (accessed April 15, 2010). Denver Water

welcomes the use of the term Xeriscape in books, articles, and speeches promoting water-conserving landscape.

Rutgers Center for Green Building is using this term with permission from Denver Water. For permission to use

“Xeriscape” in your publications, call Denver Water at 303 628-6330.

Figure 1 - Non-Xeriscaping (left) and Xeriscaping (right)

(Source: US EPA – Water-Efficient Landscaping)

GREEN BUILDING MANUAL NEW RESIDENTIAL UPDATED 2-MAY-11

Water-efficient landscaping reduces water consumption and protects water quality. The US EPA

estimates that the average family of four uses about 400 gallons of water per day, 30 percent of

which is dedicated to outdoor use. Landscape irrigation accounts for more than one third of all

residential water use nationwide. Water use is dependent on location and climate but in some

areas, up to 50 percent of water used to irrigate may be lost to evaporation, wind, and improper

system design or overwatering.2 Minimizing or eliminating the use of potable water for irrigation

can conserve clean water for the benefit of the environment and the community.

How to Implement Water-Efficient Landscapes

Natural rainfall is the best source of water for plants in the landscape and one way to conserve

water is to design landscapes that need only natural rainfall to survive. These landscapes

generally only require supplemental irrigation during the plants’ initial establishment period.

Climate-based controllers for irrigation systems can also decrease water used for irrigation.

Consider using non-potable water for irrigation (see Rain Barrels and Cisterns and On Site

Greywater Treatment strategies).3

For more extensive information on water efficient landscaping, refer to

US EPA’s Water-Efficient Landscaping: Preventing Pollution & Using Resources Wisely

Voluntary programs, like US EPA’s Greenscapes Alliance, help guide the implementation of

more eco-friendly landscapes, including water efficient landscaping.

Benefits

Economic:

o Lowers water bills – careful design and choice of appropriate plants can reduce outdoor

water use by 20 to 50 percent4

o Increases home values – attractive, water-efficient landscaping may increase property

values

o Saves money spent on landscape maintenance because many water-efficient plants

require less care

o Reduces tax burden because water resource infrastructure is less burdened

2 US EPA. Outdoor Water Use in the United States. http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pubs/outdoor.html (accessed

December 10, 2010). 3 Sustainable Sites Initiative. Hydrology. http://www.sustainablesites.org/hydrology/ (accessed November 20, 2010).

4 US EPA. Outdoor Water Use in the United States. http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pubs/outdoor.html (accessed

October 20, 2010).

GREEN BUILDING MANUAL NEW RESIDENTIAL UPDATED 2-MAY-11

Environmental:

o Conserves natural resources

o Protects habitat and biodiversity when existing habitats are preserved and/or new native

plant communities introduced

o Lowers energy use due to less pumping and treatment of water

o Reduces stormwater and irrigation runoff that carry top soils and pollutants into

waterways

Personal Wellness:

o Saves time spent on landscaping

Costs

The cost of water efficient landscaping does not exceed the cost of conventional landscaping.

The cost and cost-savings of water efficient landscaping will vary depending on the local cost of

water. Converting irrigated turf lawns to ground covers or mulched areas can result in

considerable cost savings. Changing watering schedule and landscape management without

making any physical changes in the landscape may save water. A study by the NC Cooperative

Extensive Service notes that converting 1,000 square feet of irrigated area to a non-irrigated area

may save up homeowners up to $60 per year.5

Incentives for homeowners may be available through the US EPA’s WaterSense program. The

program assists homeowners in improving water efficiency and reducing costs by promoting

efficient irrigation technologies such as weather-based irrigation controllers and soil moisture

sensors.

Resources

US EPA Water-Efficient Landscaping: Preventing Pollution & Using Resources Wisely

http://www.epa.gov/watersense/docs/water-efficient_landscaping_508.pdf

NJ DEP Creating Sustainable Communities – A Guide for Developers and Communities

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/opsc/docs/Sustainable_Landscape.pdf

5 NC Cooperative Extension. How to Plan & Design a Wise-Water-Use Landscape

http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/publicat/wqwm/ag508_2.html (accessed November 20, 2010).

GREEN BUILDING MANUAL NEW RESIDENTIAL UPDATED 2-MAY-11

Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Landscaping for Water Conservation: A Guide for New Jersey.

http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.asp?pid=E080

Rutgers NJ Agricultural Experiment Station – Low Water Use Landscaping

http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.asp?pid=fs595

Sustainable Sites Initiative

http://www.sustainablesites.org/

Delaware River Basin Commission

http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/drbc.htm

NJ Drought Information: Ideas for saving water

http://www.njdrought.org/ideas.html