Community Archives - Page 4 of 8

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.

SPOTLIGHT: BOBRICK’S NEW CORPORATE OFFICE

On Monday, August 10th we had the pleasure of attending Bobrick’s ribbon cutting ceremony for their new corporate office and factory. Eric Garcetti, the mayor of Los Angeles, was there to support local businesses and we were excited to be a part of it!

We have featured our partner on the blog before (click here for the interview) and were very excited to be a part of their new accomplishment. One of Bobrick’s core mission is to continuously improve what they do and sustainability initiatives have been undertaken company wide.

After the ceremony, Bobrick took everyone around the office structure and we were thrilled to see our waterless urinals installed in the men’s restroom!

CALIFORNIA WATER BOARD UPDATE

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced two new rebate programs to help Californians replace inefficient toilets and tear out water-guzzling lawns, further conserving water during the state’s historic drought.

The “turf and toilet” rebate program is financed by the Proposition 1 water bond approved by voters in 2014. The program will help carry out Governor Brown’s April 1 Executive Order on drought to further reduce water use in homes by replacing more than 10 million square-feet of lawn and upgrading more than 60,000 water-wasting toilets.

DWR will oversee the two rebate programs, which provide a $100 consumer rebate to replace one old toilet per household and up to $2 per square foot for lawn replacement. Californians can visit www.SaveOurWaterRebates.com to apply for the rebates.

With $24 million in Proposition 1 funding, the turf replacement program will rebate $2 per square foot of turf replaced, up to $2,000 per household through state or local turf replacement programs. Consumers are eligible to replace turf that is living or dead at the time of the rebate application. (Bare earth areas with no sign of turf are not eligible for a rebate.)

The $6 million toilet rebate program, also funded through Proposition 1, will help Californians replace approximately 60,000 old, inefficient toilets by offering a $100 customer rebate per household to replace with a high-efficiency toilet.

California has been dealing with the effects of drought for four years. To learn about all the actions the state has taken to manage our water system and cope with the impacts of the drought, visit Drought.CA.Gov. Every Californian should take steps to conserve water; find out how at SaveOurWater.com.

Glad to see things moving in the right direction for water saving! We are all in this together. Have a great weekend.

Original article publish on the California Water Board newsletter.

WE LOVE THIS APP: USGBC

The USBGC has a new mobile and iPad app and it is nothing short of amazing!

The new app enables you to read articles on your mobile device and iPad through a well designed, and easy-to-use interface. With it you’ll have access to the latest news and articles published on usgbc.org. You are also able to sign in to your usgbc.org account, in case you have one, and search within your personal library for a specific article you’re looking for, or search within a publication for a specific topic. Additionally, the app allows you to highlight passages, bookmark locations, and easily read in low light with “night” mode.

USGBC just made our green building reading a whole lot better! Download the app here.

CALIFORNIA WATER USE EXCEEDS 25% MANDATE FOR JUNE

Despite being the hottest June on record, California’s urban water suppliers reduced water use by 27.3 percent, a savings of 59.4 billion gallons, as compared to the same time in 2013. June conservation efforts put the State on track to achieve the 1.2 million acre-feet savings goal by February 2016, as called for by the Governor in his April 1 Executive Order. Water suppliers have made significant Investments in their education and outreach programs to communicate the need to conserve to their customers. June’s enforcement statistics highlight the growing awareness of how water is used locally as a result of these programs. Water suppliers reported that their compliance and enforcement programs saw an almost two-fold increase in the number of complaints of water waste which resulted in a big jump in reported penalties.

Go California!

For more information on the June 2015 statewide conservation report (including individual supplier data), conservation compliance information and other supporting documents are available on the State Water Board website at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/conservation_portal/conservation_reporting.shtml

Original article published by the State Water Board of California.

WHAT WE’RE READING: LET MY PEOPLE GO SURFING

In his long-awaited memoir, Yvon Chouinard – legendary climber, businessman, environmentalist, and founder of Patagonia, Inc. – shares the persistence and courage that have gone into being head of one of the most respected and environmentally responsible companies on earth. In Let My Poeple go Surfing, Chouinard tells the story of how the success of his company has forced him to invent a whole and balanced way of doing business. He takes a longer term view focused on real sustainability and in doing so he does away with conventional business paradigms where the goal is growth at any cost.

Patagonia, a fellow B Corp, is an example for the rest of the world with a dedication to the highest level of quality and the lowest amount of side-effects, environmentally and socially. The principles that drive Chouinard’s company are really his own. He focuses on quality, durability and doing more with less. He is a committed environmentalist and believes businesses should be responsible for the damage they do to the Earth.

Our favorite quote: How you climb a mountain is more important than reaching the top.

Have a great weekend!

5 GROWING TRENDS IN WATER CONSERVATION

Facing growing challenges with freshwater availability due to drought and other factors, people throughout the world are focusing on new ideas for conserving water resources. Here are five trends that will play a significant factor in the future of water conservation in California and other regions.

Water Recycling

According to the 2012 United Nations World Water Development Report, 80 percent of the world’s wastewater is not collected or treated. However, recent severe freshwater shortages in some areas is driving governments to develop water recycling programs that produces water that is clean enough to drink.

Desalination
Although it is expensive and energy intensive, governments from San Diego to Dubai are investing billions of dollars in ocean water desalination. The introduction of membrane-based desalination has increased the affordability and decreased the energy requirements. As of 2013, Dubai was sourcing over 98% of its potable water supply from desalination.

Water Fines
California made headlines in 2014 when they started imposing expensive fines to people caught wasting water. Offenses like allowing landscape watering to flow into streets and hosing driveways were subject to fines. As water resources become more stressed due to the drought, more local governments are starting to impose fines to discourage water waste.

Efficient Irrigation Techniques
With farm irrigation amounting to about 70% of global freshwater use there is a lot of opportunity for farm water conservation. Irrigation systems that accurately measure usage with water flow meters can minimize overwatering which accounts for a significant amount of water waste in farm and golf courses alike.

Efficient Technology for Home and Business Conservation
New tools for saving water are constantly being introduced for consumers and businesses alike. There are High Efficiency Toilets, Waterfree Urinals and shower heads available to help owners and managers decrease water consumption and save money on water bills.

WEEKEND LINKS AROUND THE WEB

Hooray for the Friday! We are sure to expect another hot summer weekend ahead of us, so if you catch yourself in the mood to run inside in search of the A.C here are a few links that will keep you occupied.

The L.A Times is hitting it out of the ballpark with the drought coverage. See what happens when two journalists and one dog take a road trip through California.

#DroughtShamming takes a whole new level.

Still on the drought topic, here are 11 things you should know about it.

Have you considered taking the B Corp assessment? If you haven’t heard of it or the idea just hasn’t crossed your mind, this will clarify a few things.

Until Monday, folks!