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The City of Mesa’s free “Living Green” workshop series continues Saturday, May 14, at 1:30 p.m. with a seminar on Green Remodeling: The Greenest Building is the Existing One, presented by Philip Beere, Founder of GreenStreet Development. The program will take place at the Mesa Red Mountain Branch Library, 635 N. Power Road in Mesa.

When building or remodeling your home, there are many ways to be more green, and saving water is one of them. Easy green principles to follow include resource conservation, indoor environmental quality, livable communities, energy efficiency and water conservation.

To save water incorporate these tips into your home:

•Incorporate EPA’s WaterSense labeled toilets, showerheads and faucets.
•When buying a clothes washer or dishwasher, check the Consortium for Energy Efficiency Web site (www.cee1.org) to compare water use between models.
•Use Xeriscape principles for your landscape including low-water using plants and efficient drip irrigation to reduce outdoor use.
•Don’t forget to consider gray water or rainwater harvesting systems for landscape irrigation as well and permeable pavement for surfaces.

To learn more about this program or other Living Green workshops, visit our site or call (480) 644-4400 for more information.

Mesa is one of fifteen Water – Use It Wisely regional partners, many of whom offer water-wise workshops. Check out all of the partner programs at the Water – Use It Wisely calendar on our home page.

Thinking about purchasing a new toilet? Start by searching EPA’s WaterSense website for WaterSense labeled toilets that have undergone rigorous performance testing. Listed below are some frequently asked questions on purchasing and maintaining toilets.

• Q.  What is WaterSense?
  A. WaterSense is a program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that helps consumers identify high performance, water-efficient devices and services that can help reduce water use.
• Q.  How much water does an EPA WaterSense labeled toilet use?
  A. The average water use for an EPA WaterSense labeled toilet is 1.28 gallons per flush. Old toilets use as much as 7 gallons per flush. Current plumbing standards require 1.6 gallons per flush or less.
• Q.  Where can I get more information on WaterSense labeled high-efficiency toilets?
  A. The links below provide information on toilet efficiency and performance.
  EPA WaterSense high-efficiency toilets
  • EPA WaterSense labeled toilets
  • Specifications for High-Efficiency Toilets
  • Maximum Performance (MaP) testing
• Q. Can I get a rebate?
  A. A handful of cities in the valley area offer a rebate on toilets. Visit the WaterSense website for a listing of cities who offer rebates.
• Q. Do you have more information on purchasing toilets?
  A. The city of Mesa has developed a great information sheet called The Toilet Papers and it will give you more facts on how toilets have changed and improved since 1994.
• Q. Once I purchase a new toilet am I done?
  A. Not really. As toilets age, their parts fail and they can start to leak. It is recommended that you check your toilets twice a year for leaks. The City of Chandler has a brochure on leak detection.  In this brochure you will find information on checking and repairing toilet leaks.