Consumer News & Events

03.16.11
Student founds clean water organization –
The inspiration for Walu International began when founder Zack Parker traveled to Lido, Papua New Guinea as a graduate student on a surf trip.

Throughout his stay, Parker was struck by Papua New Guinea's natural beauty and the extreme generosity and kindness of the native people. However, he was also dismayed by the lack of sanitation and prevalence of illness. As a result of his travel experience, Parker founded Walu International, a non-profit dedicated to improving sanitary conditions in the coastal communities in Papua New Guinea. As the website explains, "Instead of using a subsidized approach where villagers are given 'hand-outs,' Walu International uses the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach. CLTS educates and empowers the local people with the information to identify their own problems and come up with their own solutions. The use of local labor and local resources gives the villagers a sense of entitlement over their projects."

Learn more about Walu's inspiration, approach and successful efforts.
03.15.11
Living Green Week Emphasizes Water Conservation –
Students at West Virginia University had the opportunity to learn more about "living green." The Student Government Association, SustainU and WECAN hosted events and an expo. "We really want to make students more aware of how easy these changes can be, such as filtering your water instead of drinking bottles or just taking shorter showers in the morning," said Isabelle Shepard, a student and host. For more on the events please click here.
EVENT: March 14 - March 20, 2011
Fix Leaks, Get Rewards in SoCal –
It’s Fix a Leak Week at the Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) in southern California. In honor of their 50th Anniversary, IRWD will offer a chance for customers to win up to $50 who locate and repair water leaks on their property. According to IRWD: Repairing a leaky toilet can save 30 to 50 gallons of water per day, while fixing a broken sprinkler can save up to 500 gallons per month for the average consumer. These savings translate into lower water bills and more conservation. On average, more than 10,000 gallons of water is wasted every year due to running toilets, dripping faucets and other household leaks. That equates to more water than a family of four uses in a month.
03.14.11
Indoor Water Conservation –
Five quick ways to reduce water use by 5 gallons a day for $5.00, plus other ways to conserve water for the bathroom, kitchen and laundry - from Nature's Voice Our Choice.
EVENT: March 20 - March 21, 2011
South Africa celebrates World Water Day –
The main World Water Day 2011 event ,"Water for cities: responding to the urban water challenge," will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, March 20-21, 2011 in South Africa. It will be hosted by the Government of South Africa, in collaboration with United Nations-Water, the African Ministers' Council on Water, the United Nations Secretary General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Click here for more information on the event.
03.09.11
AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust Promotes Green Building –
The AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust (HIT) is helping to finance a number of energy-efficient and water-efficient development projects registered to earn the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED®) certification. To date, the HIT has provided $274 million of financing for 11 projects that have received or are expected to receive LEED designation. The projects have created 1,653 housing units and approximately 4,100 union construction jobs, while leveraging more than $660 million of development activity for communities in Minnesota, California, New York and Massachusetts. Please read the news release for more information.
03.07.11
WECalc - water, energy, climate - free, online calculator –
WECalc is a free online tool from the Pacific Institute that estimates home water use and water-related energy use – and the associated greenhouse gas emissions. It also calculates savings and gives suggestions on ways to achieve these savings. Users are taken through a series of questions and then given estimated consumption based on their location. WECalc compares the user's home with the national average and also compares it to an efficient home. Solutions suggested can be as simple as installing a faucet aerator that costs only $1-4, but saves $47 per year and reduces carbon emissions by 310 pounds per year. Or, solutions such as shortening showering time by one minute, a free way to save more than 100 pounds of carbon per year.
03.04.11
NYC shares info on drinking water quality, supply, more –
More than 1 billion gallons of fresh, clean water is delivered from large, upstate New York reservoirs – some more than 125 miles from the city – to the taps of 9 million customers throughout state. New York City remains one of only five large cities in the U.S. that is not required to filter its drinking water. Learn more about NYC's water supply, quality, monitoring and consumption.
03.02.11
Saving Water at Home –
The average U.S. family uses 260 gallons of water per day, not all of it effectively. We brush our teeth, flush the toilet, water the pets and plants, and rinse off fruits and vegetables for our meals and snacks. By making some simple changes at home, we can begin saving water - and money on water bills - and help prevent water shortages. Try these tips to help with water conservation.
03.01.11
Don’t be a water monster –
New West Basin Children’s Water Conservation Video Game makes saving water fun! The Water District is using water-wasting monsters to engage children and families in water conservation in a new video game available online. With a collection of water-wasting monsters, the player works through a string of home environments: kitchen, bathroom, laundry room and yard, and find clues leading them to the water-wasting culprit. There are tips for being more efficient with water use, such as using a shower timer to help you take shorter showers, turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth, and using a hose nozzle to keep water from running down the pavement outside and into storm drains. Players get to be “Water Star” detectives, sleuthing out clues to determine who is wasting water and identifying tools to be more efficient. Play the free video and other games by clicking here.
02.25.11
Online tools to calculate and balance water use –
"On average, U.S. households use 127,400 gallons of water each year," according to Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF). Calculate and balance water use with online tools from BEF. The Foundation supports the development of renewable energy and watershed restoration, while empowering people to shrink their carbon footprint. BEF;s Water Restoration Certificates return an equal amount of water back to critically dewatered rivers and streams. Learn more here.
02.24.11
25 Ways to Conserve Water in the Home and Yard –
Water conservation and efficiency have become crucial practices in all parts of the United States, even in areas where water seems abundant. Along with saving money on utility bills, water conservation assists in preventing water pollution in nearby lakes, rivers and local watersheds. Simple actions, such as using a broom to clean driveways and sidewalks instead of a hose, can go a long way to reduce water consumption. Click here for all 25 water-conserving ideas.
EVENT: March 20 - March 20, 2011
San Diego Walk for Water, March 20 –
World Water Day is March 22, 2011, and the world water crisis is one of the most significant public health issues of the time. One-third of the world’s population lives in “water-stressed” countries and that number is expected to rise dramatically during the next two decades. PCI’s San Diego Walk for Water is inspired by the three- to six-mile journey women and children make every day to obtain water in order to ensure survival for their families. Participants in this 5k walk will be asked to carry water jugs in an effort to provide a symbolic and educational experience for the walker, and proceeds got to helping Tanzania with access to clean water. Click here to register and to read more.
02.21.11
Ask a Pro about green kitchens –
The U.S. Green Building Council's "Green Home Guide" provides expertise, ideas and advice for homeowners and residents. Visitors can search for products, services and professional recommendations, as well as post their own questions about greening their kitchens and other topics.
EVENT: March 22, 2011
World Water Day: March 22 –
International World Water Day is held annually on March 22 to focus attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. Click here to explore a global, interactive map of World Water Day events, read the latest water statistics compiled by the United Nations, and download tools to help share the message.

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