As a recognized pioneer of the green building movement, Allen Construction of Santa Barbara, California, fields a lot of questions about water conservation.

Those questions have only increased as California's drought extends into its fourth year and the governor has issued a continued state of emergency that includes mandatory water restrictions. However, the silver lining to those non-existent rain clouds may be a renewed focus nationally on water efficiency.

"Water conservation in homes is finally getting the attention it deserves," says Karen Feeney, business development manager for Allen Construction. "Builders are paying more attention to reducing water use, and homeowners want to be more water efficient, too."

For many, that focus is long overdue, especially when you consider the average American family of four uses about 400 gallons of water a day, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) WaterSense® Program. Of that, 70 percent is used indoors, with the bathroom toilet alone using 27 percent. Clothes washers rank a close second, using 21 percent of a household's water.

After addressing leaks, installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances can cut consumption by as much as 30 percent, according to the EPA. Since the average household spends about $500 on water and sewer annually, that can translate into savings of $170 a year.

One simple way to ensure water efficiency is to look for WaterSense-labeled faucets, showerheads and aerators for existing faucets. Moen's full line of WaterSense-certified products not only help save water, they can earn points for LEED certification or other green building programs, too.

Among appliances, updating the family clothes washer can have a big impact. "Traditional models use an average of 41 gallons of water per load," Feeney says. "But new high-efficiency models use about 27 gallons."