In the weeks since California Gov. Gerry Brown (D) issued an executive order mandating a 25% reduction in water use for all urban water users to address what scientists predict could become the worst drought in 1,000 years, the state's energy commission approved water-appliance standards that would dramatically increase performance requirements for building components such as toilets, faucets and urinals.

"The technology is there, and we're eager to install more-efficient fixtures in buildings," says Courtney Lorenz, director of environmental management at Skanska USA. In her opinion, it's the responsibility of building owners and end users to discover which water-conserving technologies are available and how they would translate into real savings. "For contractors, we have [that] ability," she says.