{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"EP154 Every Drop Counts: The Evolution of HERSH2O\u00ae (June 2026)","description":"\u201cWater efficiency is moving from a nice feature to a development necessity.\u201d \u201cHERSH2O\u00ae helps turn water conservation into something builders can measure, verify, and communicate.\u201d \u201cWater is a precious resource\u2014and unlike energy, we cannot simply produce more of it.\u201d Water efficiency is becoming an increasingly important part of homebuilding, particularly in regions facing drought, rising tap fees, and development restrictions. In this episode of RESTalk, Bill Spohn speaks with Ryan Meres and Jacob Atalla about the continued evolution of HERSH2O\u00ae and the expansion of the standard to include multifamily housing. Ryan explains how HERSH2O\u00ae evaluates both indoor and outdoor water use, including fixtures, appliances, irrigation, landscaping, and emerging strategies such as graywater recycling. He also discusses how the rating works alongside a traditional RESNET\u00ae HERS\u00ae rating and supports qualification for the EPA WaterSense label. Jacob shares the builder\u2019s perspective, explaining how water availability can affect land acquisition, permitting, infrastructure costs, and customer value. Together, the guests make the case that water efficiency is no longer merely an environmental consideration\u2014it is becoming an important operational, financial, and market issue for builders and raters. Jacob\u2019s LinkedIn: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jacobatalla\/ Ryan\u2019s LinkedIn: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ryan-meres-58977110\/ The US EPA WaterSense study we mentioned: Assessing Water Use WaterSense Labeled Homes Quantifying Savings  https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/system\/files\/documents\/2022-08\/ws-Journal-AWWA-2022-Assessing-WaterUse-WaterSense%E2%80%90Labeled-Homes-Quantifying-Savings.pdf &amp;nbsp; To the RESNET\u00ae community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us. For more info on this topic, contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US &amp;nbsp; ","author_name":"RESTalk","author_url":"http:\/\/www.resnet.us\/","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/41980830\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/021c40\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/item\/41980830"}