falconuser, Author at Falcon Water Free

FALCON’S TRIP TO BRAZIL

Last month our team member, Michelle Khalatian (read more about her here) made a trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil to welcome the team and see what they have been up to. With our new acquisition, we continue our strategic goal to be the leader in providing the most comprehensive water conservation technologies. Falcon’s existing technology has saved an estimated total of 20 billion gallons and now we have the opportunity to go beyond and reach different territories.

Here are a few interesting things in the restroom department, Michelle saw along the way.

This urinal functions as a sink and as a regular bowl below.

How much are you really saving when you use a low-flow toilet?

RAIN, RAIN, RAIN. SNOW!

With El Niño all over the media, it’s hard not to reminisce about the rain. Thunderstorms and summertime go so well together.

Afternoon thunderstorms become a common thing if you grow up in a wet region. It gives you a feeling of relief after a long hot summer day, almost as if the weather has given you time out to sit and relax indoors, finally allowing yourself to take that overdue nap you have been contemplating all day long.

Living in California and enduring the driest of all seasons, gives us a whole new meaning to rain. Whenever we experience a thunderstorm it looks prettier than anything you have ever set eyes on before. Can we then blame how overly attached we are to rain, to this phenomenon? Maybe because of how ephemeral it is, Californians have transformed rain into this higher figure where we all pray for it to come our way.

We want it to rain as much as anyone else, nonetheless might we be heading off track when it comes to holding it responsible for curing the water scarcity? Many places in California get to experience summer thunderstorms often, however it doesn’t keep quite as snow does.

So, we should be praying for snow. Not rain.

It’s the snow that holds the water through the winter season and come spring melts into healthy rivers and streams that fill most reservoirs we rely on. In fact, melted snow counts for 30% of California’s water supply.

The snowpack this year was the lowest on record, and many didn’t even make it to the count because they hit the zero percentage. The state didn’t even bother with the last survey of the season because there wasn’t enough snow on the ground to measure.

Perhaps, someday the memories we have of winter days skiing down mountain tops will become as nostalgic as those summer thunderstorms. But for now, let’s pray for snow.

Contractor Mag Features Falcon’s New Hybrid Urinal Technology

Contractor Magazine reviews our new Hybrid Urinal Technology, available through Sloan Valve Company. Read the full article here.

JASON GORE IN THE MEDIA

Last weekend was a pretty exciting time in the PGA Tour – and for Falcon as well! If you’ve been reading our blog for a while now, you probably know that Jason Gore is our guy. And by that we mean, that since January he has been Falcon’s ambassador.

We want to wish our local CA guy lots of luck this Labor Day weekend as he continues to move up the FEDEX Cup points. Should be great weather in Boston and will be great to watch him go low and end his winning drought.

NEW INSTALLATION: PARK IN TAICHUNG

Welcome back! Today we will be featuring a new international installation. Let’s get right to it, shall we?

This eco-friendly bathroom facility is located in Taichung. Taichung is an industrial city on the western coast of central Taiwan, however because of it’s surrounding it also plays as a gateway for exploring the island’s mountainous interior and nature.

Designed by the Environmental Integration Group, it’s purpose is to bring nature back into our everyday lives. Using environmentally friendly design concepts, the architecture firm, installed our waterfree urinals in addition to dry toilets. Not only do the waterfree fixtures save water, but they also reduce carbon emissions.

In addition to water efficiency, the design brings the outside in – with bamboo walls. With the gaps through each bamboo, you can see the natural light streaming in, without loosing privacy.

We love the overall design of the facility, as well as the environmental value of the construction. Great job guys!

Falcon Welcomes Liam Dow to Our Team

LOS ANGELES, September 1, 2015 – Falcon Waterfree Technologies announced today that Liam Dow has joined the company at its Los Angeles headquarters as Falcon’s Governmental Affairs Coordinator, responsible for managing government data and working with government entities towards water conservation in key markets with initial focus on the California drought situation.

Falcon Waterfree is the global leader in manufacturing and distribution of waterless urinals. Falcon has offices throughout the world and affiliates in over 50 countries, including marketing partnerships with some of the world’s best known urinal and washroom products manufacturers such as Sloan Valve Company, Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Caesar Vietnam, Corona (aka Compañia Colombiana de Ceramica), Ideal Standard, INAX, Vitra and others.

Liam Dow recently completed the Coro Fellowship program in public affairs where he received hands-on, collaborative learning in public, private, and nonprofit settings. During his time in Coro, he worked for Los Angeles City Council District 13, the Los Angeles City Controller, MWH, United Farm Workers Foundation, Yellow Cab, and the California Community Foundation. His training and experiences were focused on working across traditional boundaries to tackle complex social, economic, and political challenges. Prior to Coro, Liam served as Student Body President at UC Riverside. In this capacity, he was appointed to the Chancellor’s Cabinet and multiple Search Advisory Committees. Liam’s Involvement includes work with University Advancement and for a urban sustainable agriculture non-profit based in San Francisco. Liam lives in East LA and enjoys playing soccer on the weekend.
“Liam Dow brings tenacity and passion for change to our team and the industry. His background is truly exemplary in his ability to tackle complex socio-economic and environmental issues. We could not be more excited to have him join our team. ” stated Simon A. Davis, President and CEO of Falcon.

“I am delighted to join such a dynamic and innovative company. Falcon has created tools that empower people to take meaningful actions towards sustainability. I can’t wait to start working with governments, businesses, and communities to achieve significant water savings,” added Liam.

About Falcon Waterfree Technologies
Founded in 2000, Los Angeles-based Falcon Waterfree Technologies is the sustainability and technology leader in the development of water conservation solutions for the commercial restroom.

FIREFIGHTERS CONSERVE WATER IN CA DROUGHT

When fighting wildland or structural fires, it’s hard to overstate the value of water. However, the ongoing drought has created new challenges to firefighters, who are trying to conserve water while dousing flames. According to state water officials, firefighters are being extremely careful to account for the impact of the drought and are working with water managers to identify where water is still available to use. They have also felt the drought’s effect when they’re not fighting fires. Training exercises are now using less water, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The drought is also slowing firefighting response in some places, as lower water levels have made it impossible in some instances for helicopters to funnel water from lakes and ponds. In some cases, that means sending air tankers farther to a deeper water source, or using other tactics such as using dirt or flames retardants instead of water.

With wild fires raging across the West, the drought has come as a great challenge. What used to be a season has turned into a year-round battle. However, officials have been surveying water sources for months as the drought has changed many landscapes and are on board with adapting as necessary.

WHAT WE’RE READING: THE BIG THIRST

Open “The Big Thirst”, by Charles Fishman, to any page, plop your finger down at any spot at random, and you’ll probably come across something about water you didn’t know or hadn’t thought about. It’s well-reported and well-told and we hope that ultimately it’s going to have an effect on how readers think about water.

The thesis is straight-forward. The golden era of water is over. Abundant, cheap, clean water no longer will be available, even in developed nations. Even though it is the most vital substance in our lives, water is also more amazing and mysterious than we can appreciate. The author does a brilliant job at showing how we’ve left behind the century-long era where water was thoughtlessly abundant and have entered a new age of high-stakes water.

As dramatic as the challenges presented by Charles Fishman may seem, the ultimate truth is that we have more than enough water. We just don’t think about it, or use it, wisely. However that is rapidly changing. With places like Atlanta, California and Las Vegas going through major water crises, companies are making breakthroughs in water productivity. Knowing what to do is not the problem, ultimately the hardest part is changing and implementing our new relationship with water.

Our favorite quote: “Many civilizations have been crippled or destroyed by an inability to understand water or manage it. We have a huge advantage over the generations of people who have come before us, because we can understand water and we can use it smartly.”

SPOTLIGHT: WATERisLIFE

WATERisLIFE is a nonprofit that provides clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene education programs in schools and villages in desperate need. This seems all too familiar, right? Another organization trying to solve water issues around the world. It’s great that people are willing to devote their lives to helping others and we are all on the same page when it comes to the importance of water. However, what stood out to us when we came across WATERisLIFE, is how and where they focus on making an impact.

Through community-driven and community-engaging programs they are able to work closely with other partners and local governments. With that said, they use community to create change and to develop new technology that will ensure households, schools, orphanages and medical facilities access to safe water.

3.4 million People die each year of water related disease, but the real issue is that most of them don’t even know how dangerous it can be to drink unsafe water. This is why, we think WATERisLIFE’s new technological development is nothing short of amazing. In partner with scientists and engineers at Carnegie Mellon and the University of Virginia, they created a solution to solve both of these problems. The drinkable book is the first to teach safe water habits to people and is printed on technologically advanced filter paper capable of killing deadly waterborne diseases. The paper functions as a coffee filter could and they have found a reduction greater than 99.9% in bacteria count. Which is comparable to the tap water in the US. This is amazing when you think about countries that have little to no access to clean drinking water.

This invention is the first step in providing communities with a sustainable clean water source, nonetheless we love how they incorporate technology and science to tackle such issues. Innovation can come in a simple form, but with a force that changes an entire village in need. Kudos to WATERisLIFE!

Don’t forget to take a look at their website and YouTube channel to see how the technology works.

NEVER TOO OLD TO GO GREEN

Carnegie Hall, the world renowned concert hall that has stood at 881 7th Ave. in Manhattan since 1891, has turned green with sustainability. With the help of global technology company Siemens, Carnegie Hall recently obtained the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver Certification – making it one of the oldest and most notable buildings to achieve such distinction.

The technology company incorporated a vital feature that helped secure Carnegie Hall’s green stamp of approval: centralized control through its APOGEE building automation system. The system combines regulators for heating, venting, and air conditioning onto one platform that can be controlled both locally and centrally. (Click on the image to read the details)

In addition to all the technology provided by Siemens, Carnegie Hall earned additional points toward certification with the addition of low-flow plumbing fixtures, LED lighting and occupancy sensors. However, the greening of the iconic property didn’t stop with interior upgrades; they created a 10,000-square-foot terrace allowing to decrease the building’s overall carbon footprint through the use of pavers and plantings.

What a great project overall! It was probably a challenge retrofitting a nearly 125-year old building that had no original blue prints with technology that would modernize its energy efficiency, fire and safety systems, and plumbing fixtures. However, as a result of all the efforts, Carnegie Hall is now one of the oldest buildings to receive a LEED Silver Leadership certification. Pretty impressive indeed!

Read the full article here.