Case Study: After Fire, New Home is Model for Water Efficiency
Southern California: San Diego County — After their home was destroyed in Southern California’s 1993 Cedar Fires, San Diego County residents Richard Caputo and Carol Nagy Jacklin rebuilt with an uncompromising eye to efficiency. Their new 1,712-square-foot home is a model for conservation inside and out.
The couple’s water-savvy solutions have slashed consumption by 33 percent and created a vibrant living environment that demonstrates how conservation can bring beauty — and a new brand of abundance — to any home.
“The need to rebuild presented us with an opportunity to do things right the second time around — from the ground up,” says Caputo.
Their in-home efforts include installation of low-flow toilets, faucets, and water-miser showerheads. The duo has populated their home with water-efficient appliances. Their front-loading washer cuts water use by 50 percent.
The need for plentiful hot water to shower, cook, and clean clothes can be a drain on anyone’s conservation plans. To eliminate the wasteful running of water to reach desired temperatures,
Caputo installed a circulating hot water system, which makes hot water almost instantly available. Highly efficient appliances use not only less water, but less energy to heat water.Caputo says saving energy is an important benefit of conservation. “It takes massive amounts of energy to pump and process San Diego’s water,” explains the retired aerospace engineer. “Water conservation is one of the cheapest — and easiest — ways for families to reduce both their water and their carbon footprints.”
Rich and Carol’s conservation efforts are bearing fruit in their garden as well. A gray water system captures 50 percent of the house water for use in a drip irrigation system. Rainwater is collected using gutters and barrels and gravity-fed underground pipes. The system runs on timers, which are adjusted seasonally.
“Effective conservation can be simple to execute,” says Jacklin, “but it requires a plan.” She proclaims lawns are out, unless space is needed for children to play. Creating paths with destination points using rocks, pots, trellises and benches add interest while reducing water demands. To prevent overwatering, all plants are grouped according to their water appetites and sun and wind tolerances. Adding organic material to the soil ensures water is retained where it’s needed most. The use of colorful, drought-resistant flowers and shrubs brings vivacity to any garden.
“Our holistic approach not only saves water,” says Jacklin. “It also creates a healthier environment for our plants — and a better living space for our family.”
“When you employ multiple strategies with a vision of how they might integrate into your home and garden, it’s amazing how effectively you can cut consumption — and costs,” says San Diego homeowner Rich Caputo. Master gardener in training Carol Jacklin says even the color and composition of gardening pots can impact water requirements. “Water evaporates more quickly in clay pots, and dark, heat-absorbent containers in direct sunlight can cook delicate roots,” she says.