green

From March 17 to 23, 2014, WaterSense partners held more than 50 events across more than 15 U.S. states and Canada in celebration of EPA’s sixth annual Fix a Leak Week. The national awareness campaign encourages Americans to help put a stop to the more than 1 trillion gallons of water lost annually due to household leaks. In honor of this year’s “Chasing Leaks” theme, partners held a variety of road races and race-themed events, inspiring consumers to chase down water-wasting culprits.

From coast to coast, WaterSense partners set the pace for water savings by educating hundreds of homeowners about the importance of nipping drips inside and out. Here are a few examples of how partners helped consumers catch running toilets and compete for water savings:

• To kick off Fix a Leak Week, the City of Santa Rosa, California, hit the ground running with the city’s third annual St. Patrick’s Day 5k . Adding a little extra “green” to the race, the city’s Water-Use Efficiency Team hosted a booth with giveaways, activities, and water efficiency tips.
• The Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA) held its fourth annual One for Water 4-Miler  race on March 22, 2014. Runners raced alongside AMWUA’s life-sized toilet mascot, Leaky “Loo” McFlapper and Flo the WaterSense spokesgallon.  The event also featured a family fun festival, which promoted finding and fixing leaks indoors and out.
• The City of Charlottesville, Virginia, once again hosted the Fix a Leak Week Family 5k , featuring activities, water-saving tips, and a prize for catching its own running toilet mascot. To help participants learn how to do it themselves, the event held a demonstration on how to fix leaks.
• In Utah, the City of St. George and Washington County Water Conservancy District partnered with the Spectrum 10k  and entered a runner dressed in a toilet costume. Race packets contained Fix a Leak Week information, and the two organizations hosted an informational booth where participants could pledge to fix household leaks.
• The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District’s second annual Water Drop Dash 5k Race and Water Festival  offered a children’s fun run and a 5k race along the Chattahoochee River. The festivities culminated with water conservation education and activities at the Water Festival.
• Colorado Springs Utilities’ water conservation mascot Dewey the Drop hosted an educational booth  at the local Jack Quinn’s running club weekly 5k run. Participants and visitors received toilet leak-detection dye tablets and information about fixing leaks around the home.
• WasteWater Education in Benzonia, Michigan, held a “virtual” Golden Plunger Relay Race  on Twitter. Users formed Twitter “teams” competing to see which online group could achieve the highest number of retweets, or the greatest Twittersphere distance covered, for a prize. The Twitter user posting the most original screenshot of where a Golden Plunger was sighted also won a prize. The inaugural winners  were AMWUA’s “Fix a Leak Week Arizona” campaign and the Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.

The EPA WaterSense Facebook map  tracked these events and more. Learn ways you can continue to chase leaks year-round by checking out tips for finding and fixing leaks inside

Pentair earns award for protecting the environment through manufacturing energy-efficient products  

Sanford, N.C., April 3, 2014 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named Pentair Aquatic Systems as a 2014 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for its outstanding contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by manufacturing energy-efficient products and educating consumers about energy efficiency. Pentair’s accomplishments will be recognized in Washington, D.C. on April 29, 2014.

Pentair, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2013, will be honored for its leadership in manufacturing products that earn the ENERGY STAR, the government-backed symbol of energy efficiency.

“Pentair Aquatic Systems continues to be a leader in swimming pool industry innovation,” said Karl R. Frykman, President, Pentair Aquatic Systems. “Pentair was the first manufacturer to earn ENERGY STAR certification on its pool pumps. Additionally, it was the first manufacturer to introduce variable speed technology to the pool industry, years ahead of any other manufacturer. We are constantly working to develop more products which allow our customers to enjoy the pool lifestyle while being energy efficient.”

To earn the ENERGY STAR certification, pool pumps must be at least 30-72 percent more energy efficient than typical pumps. In 2013 all Pentair variable speed pump models and most two-speed models earned ENERGY STAR certification. Currently, 53 Pentair pool pump models carry the ENERGY STAR.

Through 2013, with help from ENERGY STAR, American families and businesses have saved $297 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 2.1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

The 2014 Partner of the Year Awards are given to a variety of organizations to recognize their contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through superior energy efficiency. Award winners are selected from the 16,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

“Pentair is helping consumers save money and reduce harmful carbon pollution by producing energy-efficient ENERGY STAR products,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe. “This outstanding effort in product manufacturing demonstrates a commitment to reducing our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.”

Thursday, January 5, 2012, EPA Administrator and Obama Cabinet member, Lisa P. Jackson traveled to Miami to meet with local green business leaders and she toured the Brownsville Transit Village, a new environmentally sustainable building project in an underserved community that incorporates water and energy-saving features.

The project, set to open in March, is being developed by Carlisle Development Group, which creates environmentally sustainable affordable housing. Carlisle is working in partnership with Alterna Corp., an EPA WaterSense^® partner and leading distributor of green building products. Alterna Corp. supplied plumbing fixtures by Sustainable Solutions International (SSi™): Caroma^®’s Smart 305 Round Front dual-flush, low-flow toilets and fluid™’s lavatory and kitchen faucets to the project. Caroma and fluid products installed, contribute to the estimated water savings of Brownsville Transit Village – over 5 million gallons per year and roughly $50,000 per year in utility savings (i.e., compared to standard plumbing fixtures).

EPA’s WaterSense initiative brings together local water utilities, governments, product manufacturers and retailers to promote water efficiency, and enhance the market through innovation and product design for water efficient products, programs and practices. EPA and its WaterSense partners have helped Americans save 125 billion gallons of water and more than $2 billion in water and energy bills. By reducing water consumption, the program has reduced 6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, protecting the health of Americans.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named Pentair Aquatic Systems as a 2014 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for its outstanding contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by manufacturing energy-efficient products and educating consumers about energy efficiency. Pentair’s accomplishments will be recognized in Washington, D.C. on April 29, 2014.

Pentair, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2013, will be honored for its leadership in manufacturing products that earn the ENERGY STAR, the government-backed symbol of energy efficiency.

“Pentair Aquatic Systems continues to be a leader in swimming pool industry innovation,” said Karl R. Frykman, President, Pentair Aquatic Systems. “Pentair was the first manufacturer to earn ENERGY STAR certification on its pool pumps. Additionally, it was the first manufacturer to introduce variable speed technology to the pool industry, years ahead of any other manufacturer. We are constantly working to develop more products which allow our customers to enjoy the pool lifestyle while being energy efficient.”

To earn the ENERGY STAR certification, pool pumps must be at least 30-72 percent more energy efficient than typical pumps. In 2013 all Pentair variable speed pump models and most two-speed models earned ENERGY STAR certification. Currently, 53 Pentair pool pump models carry the ENERGY STAR.

Through 2013, with help from ENERGY STAR, American families and businesses have saved $297 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 2.1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

The 2014 Partner of the Year Awards are given to a variety of organizations to recognize their contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through superior energy efficiency. Award winners are selected from the 16,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

“Pentair is helping consumers save money and reduce harmful carbon pollution by producing energy-efficient ENERGY STAR products,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe. “This outstanding effort in product manufacturing demonstrates a commitment to reducing our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.”