In Los Angeles, families in a first-of-its-kind study that recently wrapped are proving that when innovative products, appliances and fixtures simplify and help people enjoy everyday life, people can save time, money and water as a result. Global brands P&G, Electrolux, Kohler, IKEA are behind this key initiative of the 50L Home Coalition, working together to make sustainable living more affordable, attainable and irresistible.
In this innovative pilot design, water monitoring sensors were unseen. Participants were not specifically asked to conserve nor could they see water savings data from their home. After two years in the study, households used 21 gallons (79 liters) indoors per person per day on average, which is 56% less than the official LA average of 48 gallons (182 liters). Participants reported their routines had become easier and more enjoyable, with less time spent on mundane chores.
The results show that smarter product innovation and design and high-efficiency appliances and fixtures help improve the overall home experience while delivering significant savings.
“Our goal here is better living and better consumer value; people didn’t ask for their water-savings progress. It was considered by participants as a byproduct of their simplified routines and superior-performing products,” said Frantz Beznik, Executive Director of the 50 Liter Home Coalition for the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). “This study has produced real-world insights that can empower homeowners, utilities and homebuilders to integrate these innovative, efficient systems and products.”
Innovative, Performance-Driven Design Delivered Real Savings
Rather than relying on conservation messaging or behavioral restriction, performance-driven design and convenience were the most effective drivers of lasting habit change. No one was asked to take shorter showers, flush less often or make sacrifices to conserve. Instead, people stopped sorting laundry for cold-water washes. They eliminated soaking, scrubbing and pre-rinsing dishes. Across the homes, efficiency was embraced as an upgrade in convenience, performance and overall quality of life.
When products performed well and simplified daily life, water and energy reductions flowed naturally. How savings racked up across the home vs. participants’ prior consumption patterns:
- Kitchen: Per home on average, daily sink water use decreased by 16% and daily time at the sink decreased 13% as activities such as pre-rinsing and soaking dishes were reduced. Daily hot water use at the kitchen sink was reduced 49%. Overall daily water usage in the kitchen across both the sink and dishwasher was reduced by 14%, even with 13% more dishwasher cycles per week.
- Laundry Room: Per home on average, daily water use for laundry dropped by 32% and daily hot water use was reduced by 48%, thanks to high-efficiency washers and laundry detergent designed to work well in cold water.
- Overall Water-Related Energy Use: Per home on average, daily water-related energy use decreased by 35% driven primarily by reductions in the use of hot water. Every gallon of hot water saved delivers multiple benefits: water conservation, reduced carbon emissions and lower utility bills.
Participants in the LA study reported a positive impact of the combination of provided products, appliances and fixtures on their quality of life at home, including the feedback:
“We didn’t have to make any sacrifice…I just don’t feel like I put effort into things. It’s actually removed efforts, really…The fact that we can do that [save water] without even really realizing we did it…everyone should be doing this…”
“I feel like our lives [are] much better than it was before [the pilot], primarily just because things are a lot easier, the cleaning is a lot easier…I’m really pleased and I’m happy that what we’re doing can [also] help out environmentally…”
Defining Characteristics of Efficient Homes
The Los Angeles study revealed common features among the most efficient homes—simple, room-by-room retrofits:
- Kitchen: High-efficiency dishwashers paired with high-performing faucets and innovative dish detergents (both for automatic dishwashers and hand dishwashing with a high-quality spray-on dish soap) let people skip steps like soaking, scrubbing, and pre-rinsing dishes, which saved time and water. A dishwasher uses less water than handwashing – 4 gallons (15 liters) for a cycle with an ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher vs. 24 gallons (91 liters) of water for a full load of dishes washed by hand with the tap running.
- Laundry: People with high-quality laundry detergent specifically formulated for superior results even in cold water and high-efficiency washing machines can achieve effective cleaning in cold water – and also eliminate the need to sort laundry by color.
- Bathroom: Well-designed, ultra-low-flow showerheads, paired with 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 personal care products help people reduce steps and time in the shower. High-efficient, dual-flush toilets (0.8/1.1 GPF) paired with high-performance toilet paper help reduce double flushing.
Making 50-Liter a Reality for Homes Everywhere
In homes where upgrading fixtures and appliances may be cost-prohibitive or impractical, pairing efficient appliances with high-performance consumable products, one system at a time, can deliver meaningful water, energy and time savings.
The goal is to make 50-liter living not an exception demonstrated in a study, but the standard for new construction and retrofits across water-stressed regions worldwide. To learn more, visit https://50lhome.org/. For a list of the consumable products, appliances and fixtures provided to participants, see https://50lhome.org/los-angeles-pilot/.
What are people saying about the 50L Home Coalition?
- “This study proves that smart, innovative, and well‑designed products combined with efficient appliances and fixtures make routines easier and life at home more enjoyable – while also significantly reducing environmental impact.”
– Victor Aguilar, Chief Research, Development and Innovation Officer, Procter & Gamble, and Private Sector Co-Chair 50L Home Coalition
- “The mission of 50L Home is to deliver more sustainable living through better design and improved efficiency, and this pilot demonstrates that residential water conservation is achievable, attractive, and even easy. This World Water Day, this initiative highlights simple pathways for everyone to be part of protecting our most precious resource and delivering a more water secure future.”
– Kate Gallego, Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, and Public Sector Co-Chair 50L Home Coalition
- “With water stress affecting nearly half the world’s population, the 50L Home Coalition proves that bold collaboration can turn using less water into a better quality of life. P&G is proud to be a founding member, working with partners who share our passion for irresistibly superior, more sustainable solutions at home.”
– Virginie Helias, Chief Sustainability Officer, Procter & Gamble
- “The results of the Los Angeles pilot show that high-efficiency appliances and smart home design can make a measurable difference in homes. This is about creating solutions that people enjoy using every day, while delivering significant water, energy, and cost savings and making sustainable living achievable at scale.”
– Elena Breda, Head of Product Strategy, Innovation, and Sustainability, Electrolux Group
- “At IKEA, we believe good design should make everyday life easier. This pilot shows that when great products simplify daily routines, saving water becomes easy — and together we can care for our shared resources. In our commitment to affordable, sustainable living, we are happy to have achieved great results and learnt important things for future developments and innovations in this inspiring project.”
– Evamaria Rönnegard, Sustainability Manager, IKEA of Sweden AB
- “At Kohler, we believe design, performance, and sustainability go hand-in-hand. By designing high-efficiency fixtures, faucets, and plumbing products around everyday routines, we can help people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives. The 50L Home Los Angeles pilot demonstrates that thoughtfully designed and high-performing products can elevate everyday experiences while delivering meaningful water and cost savings.”
– Jackie Schneider, Senior Director: Sustainable Living, Kohler Co.
- “The time has come for us to dramatically shift how we approach residential water use and move from one-off solutions to a holistic approach that prioritizes the consumer experience while reducing water use. We believed that was possible, and now we know that it is possible. Now we are working to create ongoing behavioral change in how we approach home water use through training, education, and further innovations in design based on our learnings from this pilot. USGBC California’s role in the partnership included project scoping, technology innovation, development, delivery of pilots, customer engagement, and case studies detailing key insights, actionable recommendations, and potential pathways for advancing the innovative solutions utilized during the project.”
– Ben Stapleton, CEO, USGBC California
- “Over the years, the 50L Home pilot has shown remarkable progress, proving that technology and smart design can deliver groundbreaking water efficiency and conservation without compromising our quality of life. At the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, we recognize that efforts on both the utility scale and the customer sector are essential to managing water wisely for the future of our region. We are excited to incorporate many of these innovative, water-saving appliances into our Efficient Product Marketplace, where our customers can access rebates for making choices that save water and energy.”
– Kendall Helm, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
- “Completing the final phase of the Los Angeles pilot is a defining milestone for the 50L Home Coalition. We have demonstrated that when businesses collaborate across value chains, we can fundamentally rethink water use in the home to deliver measurable water use reduction without compromising people’s quality of life. The lessons from Los Angeles position us to scale practical, low-carbon water solutions in cities worldwide.”
– Diane Holdorf, Executive Vice President, World Business Council for Sustainable Development
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does water efficiency matter? How is the 50LH Coalition helping address the global water crisis?
Around 4 billion people – close to half the world’s population – experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year, according to the United Nations. The 50L Home Coalition is a global initiative that brings together industry leaders’ expertise across consumer products, appliances, fixtures, and infrastructure to develop whole-home solutions for water savings that work in everyday life.
What is the 50L Home Coalition Los Angeles study?
The 50 Liter Home’s Los Angeles pilot project sought to understand water and energy consumption in 31 homes – real homes under real conditions, in one of the largest cities in the United States, located in a water-stressed area. The team retrofit 15 out of 31 homes with appliances, fixtures and consumer products from the partner companies that were designed to help save water and energy.
Residents’ perceptions and behaviors were assessed and documented at every step of the process from initial baseline water use to end use. The Coalition teamed with Flume and Droople for monitoring water and energy consumption. Measurements began in August 2023. Data represents two full years of results and millions of data points of hot and cold water consumption at time and point of use.
What can utilities, policymakers & home builders learn from the 50L Home?
- For utilities: Indoor water efficiency savings offers a viable pathway that complements outdoor programs.
- For policymakers: Efficiency standards can be adjusted while improving consumer satisfaction.
- For product manufacturers and the building industry: Superior product performance drives adoption.
What are the key findings of the 50L Home Los Angeles study?
The Los Angeles pilot offers a compelling proof point for utilities, policymakers, manufacturers, and the building industry that indoor water efficiency provides reliable, year-round savings that complement outdoor conservation programs, reduces energy use and emissions associated with hot water, and yields a positive return on investment. Consumers also benefit when solutions are designed around performance and ease, adoption becomes intuitive and long lasting. The goal is to make 50-liter living not an exception demonstrated in a study, but the standard for new construction and retrofits across water-stressed regions.
How can other companies get involved?
To learn more or to get involved, visit the 50L Home Coalition website at https://50lhome.org/, and for a full list of the consumable products, appliances and fixtures provided to participants, visit https://50lhome.org/los-angeles-pilot/.
About 50L Home Coalition
The 50L Home Coalition is a global action-oriented platform that addresses two of our most pressing global challenges: water security and climate change. We strive to re-invent the future of water and change the narrative on domestic water consumption. To achieve this, we work alongside global industry leaders and public and civil society institutions. Our primary objective is to create innovative sustainable solutions that will solve the urban water crisis and create financially viable opportunities for our communities.
The coalition is jointly coordinated by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the World Economic Forum. Members include Electrolux Group, IKEA, Kohler, and Procter & Gamble. Partners include Arcadis, BlueTech Research, City of Phoenix, Droople, Epic Cleantec, Flume, International Desalination and Reuse Association, Netherlands Water Partnership, Scottish Water, U.S. Green Building Council California, WateReuse Association, European Proptech Association, and Waterwise. Follow us on LinkedIn or visit www.50lhome.org.
About USGBC California
USGBC California is a 501(c)3 non-profit and member-based organization whose vision is to transform California’s built environment into a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable region for all. USGBC California, an independent chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, comprises green building communities across the state. We lead by inspiring leaders throughout our communities to take action on climate change, public health, and environmental justice while educating, developing, and empowering a diverse talent pipeline through our training, mentorship, and direct-to-community programs. We connect by merging interdisciplinary perspectives and collaborations to create positive systemic change. We advocate through promoting innovative, impactful policy solutions addressing the most urgent environmental and social challenges of our time. (www.usgbc-ca.org)
About the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is the leading community of around 230 global businesses making sustainability performance a key driver for competitiveness. Established in 1995, WBCSD is a non-profit member-led organization that connects business leaders through all sectors and major economies, and creates the tools and frameworks to scale collective impact, drive cross-sector innovation, and shape an ambitious, enabling policy agenda. We operate from seven offices worldwide — in Geneva, New York, Chicago, Amsterdam, London, Singapore and Wuhan — enabling collaboration across value chains and geographies. Together with our members, we are rewiring economic and financial systems to support the transition to a net-zero, nature-positive, and inclusive future that creates business value.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260320536865/en/
Contact
Media Contacts:
Grace Hamilton-Burge, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, consultant-burge@wbcsd.org
Julie Du Brow, USGBC-CA, julie@usgbc-ca.org
Abstract
50LH’s LA pilot shows when innovative products, appliances & fixtures simplify & help people enjoy everyday life, we can save time, money and water.
