By Julie Thibodeaux

The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center wants to help homeowners see how easy it is conserve water. That’s why they opened the WaterSense Home, located on the AgriLife Extension Center campus in Dallas. 

The 1,500-square-foot building is the first home in North Texas to receive the WaterSense certification, a program launched by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2006. According to the EPA, there are 129 WaterSense labeled homes in Texas. The AgriLife facility is only the second retro-fit WaterSense home in the nation.

"We tried to go as green and as energy conservative as possible," said Patrick Dickinson, Urban Water program coordinator for Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center.

Built in 1987, at one time, the building served as a residence for employees. Having phased out on-site living, they decided to turn the building into a teaching tool. The home was renovated last year in partnership with the U.S. EPA Region 6 and the city of Dallas Water Utilities. A grand opening was held in March.

Some of the features of the home include hot water on-demand systems, water-efficient faucets and fixtures, water-efficient landscaping and irrigation systems, rainwater harvesting and rain garden design.  

According to the EPA, WaterSense labeled homes save a family of four 50,000 gallons a year by using 20 percent less water than the average home.

Dickinson estimated that upgrading the basic fixtures in an existing home -- faucets, shower heads and toilets -- would cost a homeowner about $200-$500 and save over 40 gallons per day, per person. In addition, residents of Dallas can take advantage of the Throne for Your Home program, which offers free WaterSense toilets to residents with homes built before 1992.

Tours of the WaterSense home are available by appointment for groups of 10 or more. The home’s interior also features sustainable materials, including a recycled glass countertop, LED lighting and faux wood tile flooring. Year-round, the location serves as a educational facility for other AgriLife classes. 

Soon, visitors will be able to see the WaterSense model applied to a multi-family dwelling. Currently, the AgriLife Extension office is remodeling two apartments next door to the WaterSense Home with water conserving features. One will showcase a low-budget remodel; the other a high-end. They are set to open March 2014.

Dickinson said they’re seeing a growing interest about water conservation among area cities, home builders and residents.

“People realize that the water shortage is a serious issue. The word is out there -- people are catching on,” he said.