News

• 06.01.11
  PMI presents Legislator of the Year Awards to supporters of Reduction of Lead in Water Act –

  Members of the Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) Executive Committee and PMI Executive Director Barbara C. Higgens traveled to Washington, D.C., to present Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and James Inhofe (R-OK) and Congressman Tom Petri (R-WI) with the Legislator of the Year awards. These elected officials were recognized for their leadership and support of the PMI-supported Reduction of Lead in Water Act signed into law Jan. 4 by President Barack Obama (P.L.111-380). The bill harmonizes the 0.25% maximum lead content of plumbing products and provides a 36-month implementation period.

• 06.01.11
  LEED for Homes re-opens for public comment –

  The second period for public comment on LEED for Homes (LEED-H) will run from July 1 through Aug. 15, 2011. A projected release of revised LEED requirements is set for November 2012. According to ecohome magazine, "specific proposed changes to the LEED-H rating system include ...adding 10 new credits including those for trades training, WaterSense Homes certification, solar-ready rough-ins, and HRVs and ERVs."

• 05.02.11
  Where UNICEF’s money goes –

  All the funds raised through the UNICEF Tap Project has gone toward UNICEF’s water, sanitation and hygiene programs. Since 2007, the UNICEF Tap Project has raised nearly $2.5 million for water and sanitation programs for children in Belize, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Guatemala, Haiti, Iraq, Togo and Vietnam. UNICEF is committed to finding cost-effective and environmentally sound solutions to all child survival threats, including those connected to water and sanitation. Read stories about how UNICEF has helped children gain access to lifesaving clean water and sanitation.

• 04.29.11
  Prevent Costly Water Bills This Summer –

  A quick fix or minor update can prevent large water bills and wastage in the summer. In spite of increased snow pack and total precipitation in the Cheyenne, Wyo., the Board of Public Utilities advocates water conservation techniques for its residents. They are asking residents to locate leaks in their houses and consider upgrading their plumbing. According to the utility, running toilets, dripping faucets and other household leaks waste, on average, more than 10,000 gallons of water per home per year. Fixing these leaks will allow residents to lower their water bills and conserve the precious resource. Click here for tips on how to locate leaks and conserve water.

• EVENT:
  PMI’s Barbara C. Higgens accepts Lifetime Achievement Award –

  Barbara C. Higgens, Plumbing Manufacturers International’s (PMI’s) executive director, was recognized with a Crystal Vision “Robert P. Atkins Life Time Achievement Award.” World Vision presented the award during the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show on April 26 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Higgens is the third person ever to receive the Life Time Achievement Award. The award honors individual dedication to World Vision’s mission of ‘working with children, families and their worldwide communities to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.”
  
  For more than 10 years, Higgens has championed The Storehouse of World Vision, which addresses the needs of Americans suffering from disaster, personal crisis or economic hardship by providing families with supplies, including building products and materials. Companies donate excess inventory or produced-to-give products to The Storehouse’s warehouses. The Storehouse, in turn, partners with other nonprofit organizations to install these much-needed products and materials in homes, shelters, rehabilitation facilities, schools, daycares, churches, and other community centers.

  See video of the acceptance speech by clicking here.

  Read the news release by clicking here.

• 04.25.11
  Water for the Ages –

  How much water is used to create the foods we eat? If you are serious about water conservation, you may look to your diet for changes. As it takes more water to grow a cow than to grow corn, for example, the diets consisting of fresh vegetables and fruits use far less water than a carnivore diet. Visit "Water for the Ages" to check your water footprint and review a list of water totals for food.

• EVENT: August 21 - August 27, 2011
  World Water Week, Aug. 21-27 –

  World Water Week is hosted and organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute and takes place each year in Stockholm. The theme for 2011 is "Water in an Urbanising World." A number of distinguished guests, including the 2011 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate, will deliver presentations, workshops, seminars and more. World Water Week also features several prestigious, world-renowned award ceremonies: Stockholm Water Prize, Stockholm Junior Water Prize, Stockholm Industry Water Award, Swedish Baltic Sea Water Award and Best Poster Award. Learn more by clicking here.

• 04.20.11
  First LEED-certified building in Valdosta, Ga. –

  A new building at Veolia Evergreen Landfill, Inc. is the first LEED certified building constructed in Valdosta, Georgia. The Veolia building was designed and built to achieve certification through U.S. Green Building Council's LEED® Rating System™. Certification was based on a number of green features, including operating with 35% more water efficiency than a similar non-LEED building. Click here for a news release on the building and its conservation tactics.

• 04.18.11
  CA encourages residents to Be Water Wise –

  The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California shares a video with its Top Ten Tips for Saving Water. Other tips and tools for saving water - indoors and outdoors - also are listed on its website.

• 04.15.11
  Fast food restaurant turns green –

  A quick service restaurant chain that specializes in chicken menus is now going to the greener side of the food industry. The Chick-fil-A location in Fort Worth, Texas, is seeking a LEED certification from the U.S Green Building Council. Green features in the location include storm water collection for landscape irrigation, low-flow plumbing fixtures in the bathrooms and kitchen, and energy-efficient light system with light sensors. The fast food restaurant could save up to 14% on electric costs and 40% on water. Click here for more on the project.

• EVENT:
  Plumbing Manufacturers International Spring Conference summary –

  Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) hosted its Spring Conference, March 27-30, 2011 at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans, LA. "Let the Good Times Roll…Again" was the theme for this meeting. The theme captured the idea that as the economy picks up speed and member companies see their business expand, the good times will come back to manufacturers. Click here to continue reading.

• 04.11.11
  Water Conservation Tips for the Home –

  With water conservation efforts under way in parts of Oklahoma, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has compiled a list of water conservation tips for residents. According to DEQ: the most substantial reduction in personal water use can be made in the bathroom. Two-thirds of the water used in the average home is used in the bathroom, because many people take long showers or flush the toilet unnecessarily. Water conservation not only saves water, it saves energy used to heat the water.

• 04.07.11
  PMI Statement on Johns Hopkins Study –

  Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) became aware of the Johns Hopkins study on the use of hands-free faucets in hospitals via the news media on March 31. We have reached out to Dr. Lisa Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H., senior study investigator and infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins, to obtain a copy of the study for our review and input. Without having seen the study, it is difficult for us to identify how, if at all, their findings apply to the products our members manufacture. We can say with confidence, however, that our products meet the highest industry standards and that hands-free faucets have been safely in use around the world for decades, and have provided many benefits, including water conservation and minimizing the spread of germs from contact. We constantly seek to improve industry standards and performance and look forward to working with the team at Johns Hopkins to review and discuss their findings.

  Read the letter from PMI to Dr. Maragakis. (pdf)

• EVENT:
  World Vision honors Barbara C. Higgens –

  Barbara C. Higgens, Plumbing Manufacturers International’s (PMI’s) executive director, will be recognized with a Crystal Vision “Robert P. Atkins Life Time Achievement Award.” World Vision will present the award during the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show on April 26 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Higgens will be the third person ever to receive the Life Time Achievement Award. The award honors individual dedication to World Vision’s mission of ‘working with children, families and their worldwide communities to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.”
  
  For more than 10 years, Higgens has championed The Storehouse of World Vision, which addresses the needs of Americans suffering from disaster, personal crisis or economic hardship by providing families with supplies, including building products and materials. Companies donate excess inventory or produced-to-give products to The Storehouse’s warehouses. The Storehouse, in turn, partners with other nonprofit organizations to install these much-needed products and materials in homes, shelters, rehabilitation facilities, schools, daycares, churches, and other community centers.

  Read the news release by clicking here.

• EVENT: May 1 - May 7, 2011
  Drinking Water Week: May 1-7 –

  An opportunity for both water professionals and the communities they serve to join together to recognize the vital role water plays in our daily lives. YouTube video contest entries due May 30. Additional promotional tools and educational materials available through AWWA. 

« Older Posts Newer Posts »