Waterless Urinals Earn NGBS Green Certification

Waterless No-Flush urinals manufactured by Waterless Co. Inc., have earned National Green Building Standard Certification Green from Home Innovation Research Labs.

NGBS Green is a building certification program that focuses on new and existing residential structures. It is the only green building certification program recognized and approved by the American National Standards Institute.

The NGBS Green program is similar to the LEED for Homes program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Both programs rate and then recognize homes that are healthier, more sustainable and more energy and water efficient.

Like LEED, NGBS uses a cumulative point system to certify products. Based on the number of points earned, the NGBS Green program has four performance levels:

1. Bronze
2. Silver
3. Gold
4. Emerald, the highest certification.

“Both LEED for Homes and NGBS Green are strong residential rating programs,” says Klaus Reichardt, CEO and founder of Waterless Co.

“They are scientifically developed, consensus-based and provide guidance for builders and homeowners on ways to build or renovate homes so that they are more environmentally responsible. However, in some ways, NGBS Green goes even further.”

This is because of the NGBS Green “remodeling path.”

The remodeling path process requires an audit by an accredited inspector – known as a verifier – who records water and energy consumption before and after construction or renovation.

Based on the audit, the project is awarded certification depending on the percentage of water and energy that is reduced.

“This remodeling path certification is especially important to Waterless Co, because so many of our no-water urinals are installed in existing homes,” adds Richardt. “Many times, just by installing no-water urinals, water consumption is reduced enough that the project can be awarded certification.”

But, according to Reichardt, what is most important is that NGBS Green is encouraging builders and contractors to focus more of their efforts on reducing water consumption.