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How are touchless faucets "green", exactly? Don't the sensors run on electricity? I've also noticed that a lot of touchless faucets in public restrooms waste water by turning on when you flash your hands in front of the sensor (even if you weren't going for the sink), and by taking a long time to turn off after you take your hands away.

Industry estimates touchless faucets reduce water consumption approximately 30% over standard faucets.

http://www.plumbingengineer.com/july_07/going_green.php
http://www.pmengineer.com/CDA/Articles/Feature_Article/4f642289d25dc010VgnVCM100000f932a8c0____

And, as with most technology, newer ones work better. Everything is a trade-off, what are ya gonna do.

LauraII, both of those articles refer to touchless faucets in public facilities, where (according to the articles, not just me!), there's a lot more risk of water waste due to the faucets being left running or vandalized in a way that leaves it running. I'm not sure anyone in their own home kitchen just leaves the water running and walks away, as people seem to do in public restrooms.

I agree, Wende - no way the reduction would be as much in a responsible person's home, but it may be something. And, in the home of someone who isn't diligent about things like turning off the water when they are brushing teeth or turn on the water and let it run too long to get warm, perhaps it would make a difference.

why would someone who doesn't care enough to be responsible about water use go out of their way to get a no-touch faucet in order to save water?

it's not so much that i don't think a touchless faucet could ever save any water, but that the resources used to build such a thing, the additional resources used to have it installed (I'd guess you'd need extra in-wall wiring done), the energy drain of the sensor, as well as the fact that it encourages unnecessary gut renovations, doesn't add up to the relatively small amount of water saved. especially when you can save the same amount of water by just being a little more conscientious.