WaterSense

Jun 21, 2012

Saving Water and Energy – the Trickle Down Effect on Your Wallet

Area of Concern, Buildings, drinking water, Drinking Water Use, Energy Production & Reduction, energy star, Green Infrastructure, Green Solutions, In Your Backyard, Local Community, Technology, Wastewater, water conservation, Water Efficiency, Water Quality, WaterSense, What you can do 4 Comments

By Matt Colip and Walter Higgins

Just like homeowners, wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities have to control their energy usage because their budgets are so tight. While you and I can install attic insulation or turn off lights when they aren’t in use to lower bills, plans for reducing energy use can be a little more complicated at water and wastewater treatment facilities. Still, there are many strategies available to reduce energy usage at water treatment facilities. Oh, and you can help too.

One way a treatment facility can trim down its energy use is to start from the source and reduce the overall community demand for drinking water and waste water to be treated. Less water used in communities means a lower cost to you on your water and sewer bill. By promoting the use of water efficient WaterSense products and water conservation practices by the citizens within their service area, water utilities can reduce energy use significantly. Just think about how much less water facilities would have to treat and the energy that could be conserved if all of us used even a little less!

Have you ever driven by a waste water plant and noticed a large flame coming off one of the stacks? That’s gas that is produced in the operations of the plant and is typically burned off. Instead of flaring, it can be beneficially used to run turbines that can generate heat and electricity for the plant (otherwise known as Combined Heat and Power). Also, some facilities are beginning to install solar photovoltaic panels on the plant grounds to offset the total electricity used by the plant.

On May 8^th, EPA, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, hosted an Energy Roundtable Conference in Harrisburg for wastewater treatment operators interested in reducing their facilities’ energy costs and ultimately their carbon footprint. This conference highlighted several areas related to energy efficiency along with innovative solutions to wastewater treatment.

Interested in hearing more about what happened at the conference? The presentations can be found on our website. For additional information, please contact Walter Higgins at Higgins.walter@epa.gov, or by phone at 215-814-5476.

About the Authors: Matt Colip works in the region’s NPDES Enforcement Branch and focuses primarily on enforcing wastewater and stormwater regulations. Originally a Texan, turned Pennsylvanian, Matt graduated from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., with a BA in Special Studies – Public Health and is currently working on an MS in Environmental Protection Management at Saint Joseph’s University. Walter Higgins is in Region 3′s Water Protection Division where he manages grants that fund water quality and drinking water projects. He is also involved in working with water and wastewater facilities on energy efficiency and has been with EPA since 2010. Prior to EPA he was a soil scientist with the Montgomery County Health Department, in Pa.

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Apr 5, 2012

Fix a Leak: Little Effort, Lots of Savings

Energy Production & Reduction, Green Solutions, In Your Backyard, leaks, Local Community, Partnership, Philadelphia, Residential, water conservation, WaterSense, What you can do 1 Comment

By Tom Damm

2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the nation’s law for protecting our most irreplaceable resource. Throughout the year, EPA will be highlighting different aspects of the history and successes of the Clean Water Act in reducing pollution in the past 40 years. The month of April will focus on Water Conservation.

Barbara (B.J.) McDuffie of the ECA installs faucet aerator during Fix a Leak event.

Consider this: The average American home leaks more than 10,000 gallons of water a year – about the amount of water needed to wash 280 loads of laundry or take more than 600 showers. A faucet that leaks at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year.

Though my family cringes when I volunteer to fix things, knowing that I’m likely to do more damage than good, even I could handle this one:

Unscrew the end of the faucet spout, pop out the existing rubber washer and filter screen, install a low-flow aerator and its washer, reattach the end of the spout.

That’s it. Time involved? About 30 seconds. Watch this video of how to install the aerator if you don’t believe me.

Barbara (B.J.) McDuffie of the Energy Coordinating Agency demonstrated how quick and easy it can be to save money and water during a recent EPA Fix a Leak Week event at the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia, where sets of new fixtures – aerators, showerheads and toilet flappers donated by the Delta Faucet Co. – were being installed throughout the building.

“Fix a Leak Week is a time for us to highlight the benefits of finding and fixing residential leaks,” said EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin, having just repaired a leaky fixture in his own home. “So we’re urging everyone to take three basic steps – check, twist and replace.”

Check for leaks. Toilet leaks can be found by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank and seeing if color appears in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to also check irrigation systems and spigots.
Twist and tighten pipe connections. To save even more water without a noticeable difference in flow, twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator or showerhead.
Replace the fixture if necessary. Look for the WaterSense label when replacing plumbing fixtures, which are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models.

Can’t wait to break out the tool box.

About the Author: Tom Damm has been with EPA since 2002 and now serves as communications coordinator for the region’s Water Protection Division. Prior to joining EPA, he held state government public affairs positions in New Jersey and worked as a daily newspaper reporter. When not in the office, Tom enjoys cycling and volunteer work. Tom and his family live in Hamilton Township, N.J., near Trenton.

Mar 8, 2012

Limpieza primaveral para lograr un hogar más saludable

aire interior, energystar, etiqueta DfE, hogar saludable, limpieza, plomo, WaterSense 1 Comment

By Lina Younes

A medida que vemos las primeras señales de la nueva temporada, es fácil entrar en el ritmo de hacer una buena limpieza primaveral alrededor de la casa. Con el buen tiempo, nos entusiasma la idea de abrir las ventanas para refrescar las habitaciones, así como guardar los abrigos pesados y los efectos de invierno. Durante el proceso, queremos hacer una limpieza completa por la casa y hasta pintar y hacer algunas renovaciones. ¿Cómo podemos asegurarnos que estemos logrando un entorno hogareño más saludable? He aquí algunos consejos verdes, para su consideración.

¿Está pensando en hacer una buena limpieza en la cocina y los baños? ¿Quiere asegurarse de que los productos químicos sean seguros y provechosos al medio ambiente? He aquí una sugerencia. Use productos de limpieza que tengan la etiqueta de Diseño por el Medio Ambiente (Design for the Environment, DfE, por sus siglas en inglés) ¿Qué significa esta etiqueta exactamente? Es un programa de consorcio con EPA. Los productos con la etiqueta DfE han sido estudiados rigurosamente para analizar posibles efectos a la salud humana y el medio ambiente para asegurar que sean formulados con los ingredientes más seguros posibles.

¿Pensando en otra práctica de limpieza primaveral? ¡Pintar la casa! Es una manera fácil de darle toda una nueva apariencia al hogar. Sin embargo, si su casa fue construida antes de 1978, es muy probable que tenga pintura a base de plomo. El plomo es un metal tóxico encontrado en pinturas y edificios construidos antes de 1978 y puede ocasionar efectos perjudiciales al cerebro, problemas de aprendizaje y hasta de audición. Si está pensando pintar en su caso o en hacer algunas reparaciones, infórmese sobre cómo hacer renovaciones de manera segura o conseguir un contratista certificado en el manejo seguro del plomo.

¿Está pensando en hacer algunas reparaciones importantes como cambiar los inodoros o comprar nuevos enseres eléctricos para su hogar? Vea los productos con la etiqueta Watersense que usan el agua de manera eficiente o los enseres Energy Star que le ayudarán ahorrar energía, dinero, y proteger el medio ambiente.

¿Durante el invierno, tuvo problemas con la nieve o tuvo filtraciones en el sótano? Asegúrese de corregir los problemas de humedad y moho a la mejor brevedad posible para asegurar una buena calidad de aire en su hogar.

Sólo unos consejos para un hogar saludable] ¿Ya tiene planes para la limpieza primaveral en su casa? Comparta sus ideas. Como siempre, nos interesa saber qué está pensando sobre estos temas ambientales. Saludos.

Acerca de la autora: Lina M. F. Younes ha trabajado en la EPA desde el 2002 y se desempeña la persona encargada de alcance público y comunicaciones multilingües en la Oficina de Asuntos Externos y Educación Ambiental de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de EE.UU. Antes de integrarse a la labor de la EPA, trabajó como periodista dirigiendo la oficina en Washington de dos periódicos puertorriqueños y ha laborado en varias agencias gubernamentales.

Mar 8, 2012

Fix a Leak Week 2012: What I Do to Save Water

drinking water, Drinking Water Use, Ecological Services, Green Solutions, Local Community, Partnership, water conservation, Water Efficiency, Water Quality, WaterSense, What you can do 2 Comments

By Elona Myftaraj

WaterSupply_049

I lived in Albania until I was about six years old, and one of the few things I remember is how scarce water was. There was very little indoor plumbing, and every Saturday was spent walking up the mountain carrying water, an all day trip. All water was stored in huge barrels, each specified for drinking, bathing, farming, or household chores. The water had to be carefully rationed so it didn’t run out.

When we moved to the United States, my sisters and I were fascinated with the indoor water systems. Since water was now abundant, we started to get carried away with our usage. We could control the temperature of the water instead of waiting for the sun to warm it up, and we could finish the dishes unbelievably quickly. There were no more trips up the mountain and, seemingly, no need to conserve. We had all of the water we wanted, whenever we wanted it… that is, until our dad saw the water bill. He reminded us of the way we used to live and explained to us how important conserving water was, even if we live in a place where its supply is not scarce. We learned to do simple things to save water, like not letting the sink run when we brush our teeth, and remembered that we didn’t need to waste so much.

Working as a student at the EPA has taught me a great deal about how important water is, along with many ways to conserve. I learned that a toilet leak can waste as much as 200 gallons of water every day, and that washing your car with a bucket and sponge instead of a hose saves a lot of water. Replacing old or broken showerheads, sink faucets, and toilets with the WaterSense labeled products can be a big help. Just taking a few simple steps can help save a lot of water.

That’s how I learned to save water. What’s your story? Share it with us in honor of Fix a Leak Week (March 12-19, 2012).

Jan 19, 2012

Water Widgets for the Web!

In Your Backyard, Lakes, Technology, WaterSense, Watersheds, What you can do 1 Comment

By Trey Cody

Do you have a blog, website, wiki, social media profile, or other form of a web page? EPA has something that you might be interested in to jazz up your site! They’re called widgets (sometimes referred to as gadgets), and they are an easy way to keep your viewers interactive and entertained on your page.

“What’s a widget?”, you might be wondering. A widget is small piece of Web programming code that makes something interesting appear on your blog or Web page. Widgets can feature updated information (like a clock, countdown, or news ticker) or let the reader perform an action (like use a search box). EPA’s widgets allow users to see or search for environmental concepts.

Some cool water widgets offered by EPA are:

WaterSense Tip – Get a new tip on water efficiency each month and get more information from the WaterSense Web site.
Natural Lakeshores – This widget provides a series of ten tips for improved lakeshore stewardship, focusing on natural lakeshores – lakeshores with plenty of native trees, shrubs, and overhanging vegetation. Native vegetation along lakeshores provides food, shelter, habitat and shade for fish and protects the lake from the damaging effects of erosion and polluted stormwater runoff. This contributes to improved water quality, which can in turn help increase the value of lakefront property.
Find Your Watershed – Enter your ZIP code to get information about the watershed(s) in that area.

If you’re interested in EPA’s widgets, check out the widget page containing more fun environmental widgets for everyone!

Do you have any environmental widgets on your blog or page that are not from EPA? What other kinds of widgets have you seen around the web that you’d like to see EPA create? Let us know about your experience with them!

Jan 13, 2012

Go Green on Martin Luther King Day

Composting, Dr. Martin Luther King, energy star, environmental service projects, environmentally friendly cleaning products, Green Club, green living, Green MLK Day, Human Health, Jr., Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, MLK, neighborhood cleanups, OnCampus ecoAmbassadors program, Pick 5 for the Environment, urban greening efforts, WasteWise, WaterSense 7 Comments

By Administrator Lisa P. Jackson

“Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve.” Those words from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. have inspired millions of Americans over the years to step up and serve. And they’re the words that come to mind each January, when we honor Dr. King’s legacy on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Each year, people across the country come together for volunteer service, to strengthen their communities and make a difference for the people around them.

On Monday, January 16, the EPA is honoring Dr. King by calling on volunteers to participate in environmental service projects and help make it a Green MLK Day. In recent years, I’ve joined EPA employees and community volunteers for neighborhood cleanups, urban greening efforts and other environmental service projects. This year, we’re hoping you will mark the MLK Day of Service with a service project that protects health and the environment in your community.

One way to get involved is to participate in projects that help reduce waste, or cut water and energy use in your home and community. Take a look at our WaterSense, WasteWise and Energy Star websites for more information, or check our Green Living page for ideas.

Young people can help their communities raise awareness and address environmental issues through our OnCampus ecoAmbassadors program. This program helps students develop valuable leadership and project management skills as they improve the quality of their campuses and surrounding communities.

There are countless ways to be part of a Green MLK Day: Start using biodegradable and environmentally friendly cleaning products. Learn about composting and give it a shot in your own backyard. Pick up litter at a local park or field. Organize a “green club” in your workplace, school or community.

EPA’s Pick Five website can help you find simple ways to clean up the environment in which you live, work and play.

Finally – be sure to tell us about your Green MLK activities. EPA Staff will be tweeting live from various volunteer activities, and you can follow along through @EPALive and @lisapjackson on Twitter. Share your own service experience by tweeting with a #greenMLK hashtag. If you have any photos from what you’re doing, we invite you to share them on our Flickr page.

I look forward to hearing about how you spent this year’s MLK Day of Service taking on environmental challenges in your community.

Nov 30, 2011

Bay Website Focuses on Action

agriculture, Aquatic Health/Habitat Use, Area of Concern, Chesapeake Bay, Education, Green Solutions, In Your Backyard, Land, Local Community, Nutrients, Operator, Partnership, Prevention, Rain Barrel, rain garden, Recreational Use, Sediment, Storm Drains, Stormwater, TMDL, Toxics, trash, Wastewater, Water Efficiency, Water Quality, WaterSense, Watersheds, What you can do 1 Comment

By Tom Damm

There’s a new look to EPA’s Chesapeake Bay “pollution diet” website.

The pollution diet, or Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), was established by EPA in December 2010, based largely on action plans provided by the watershed’s six states and the District of Columbia.

The website now has a greater focus on activities at the local level happening around the 64,000-square-mile Bay watershed to reduce pollution impacting the Bay and its vast network of connecting rivers and streams.

One of the new additions is a brochure produced by the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Local Government Advisory Committee featuring examples of local actions to cut nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution.

Check out those case studies and the other new items on the site, and let us know what you think.

Sep 1, 2011

Home, Sweet WaterSense-Labeled Home!

Buildings, Drinking Water Use, Energy Production & Reduction, energy star, Water Efficiency, WaterSense 2 Comments

By Elona Myftaraj

Here in the U.S., the U.S. General Accounting Office estimates that by 2013 over 36 states will face water shortages. So, WaterSense, a voluntary partnership program led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been trying to improve water efficiency in new as well as existing homes.

In 2008, WaterSenselaunched the new homes program to reduce residential water use (a large portion of the total water use in the United States) both indoors and outdoors in new homes when they are built. With the WaterSense certification, houses can start off on the right foot and conserve water from the get-go, rather than going through more expensive retrofits later.

Compared with conventional design, WaterSense homes can save more than 10,000 gallons of household water use per year. And these are relatively minor changes, like WaterSense toilets and faucets, and Energy Star appliances… nothing as extreme as being without indoor plumbing. Find out more about what constitutes a WaterSense-certified home by checking out the specs here. Saving water does not have to be a painful process. Simply choosing WaterSense labeled products instead of conventional models, fixing leaks, and avoiding peak water use periods helps a great deal.

If your family is thinking of investing in a new home, consider WaterSense in your plans! Use this search tool to find builders that are WaterSense partners in your state. Not planning on building a new house at the moment? Learn how to make your existing home more water efficient. Wherever you live, share the steps you are taking to be more water efficient in your home in the comments section!

Aug 11, 2011

Sensing Water’s Worth

Drinking Water Use, Energy Production & Reduction, Green Solutions, In Your Backyard, Local Community, Partnership, WaterSense, What you can do 0 Comments

By Elona Myftaraj

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency created the WaterSense program in preparation for the future to address the issue of water conservation. WaterSense is a partnership program by the EPA to protect the future of the nation’s water supply, by promoting water efficiency and showing people simple ways to use less water with water efficient products, new homes, and services. WaterSense labeled products cover a variety of brands and models of bathroom sinks, kitchen faucets, toilets, flushing urinals, and showerheads that use much less water than conventional models. And they’re available at stores near you, in the Mid-Atlantic Region and beyond!

Services like professional landscape irrigation can also bear the WaterSense label, if the individual performing them has been verified as proficient in water efficient irrigation design, installation, and maintenance. What other water-based services can you think of that could be WaterSense labeled?

The WaterSense program has had great successes in water, energy, and dollar savings so far. EPA estimates that if the approximately 587,600 new homes that were built in the U.S. last year had met WaterSense criteria, five billion gallons of water and more than $50 million in utility bills would have been saved annually. Do you have any WaterSense labeled products in your house? You can calculate how much you would save if you did. Hopefully in a brighter future, programs like WaterSense can be implemented in areas and homes all around the world.

The WaterSense program is working hard to make sure that our future includes clean water, but something this complex can not be done alone. Please tell us something you’re doing to save water. Got a good idea? We’d love to know about it.

Aug 4, 2011

The Real Worth of Water

drinking water, Energy Production & Reduction, energy star, Green Solutions, In Your Backyard, water conservation, Water Efficiency, WaterSense, What you can do 0 Comments

By Elona Myftaraj

“When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.”

– Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), Poor Richard’s Almanac, 1746.

There are approximately seven billion people in the world and I am just one of those people. Born in one of the poorest countries in the world, Albania, I know what it feels like to have no direct access to clean drinking water. My family had to climb mountains for hours every weekend in order to fill up huge buckets, barrels and bottles with clean, fresh water in order to meet our basic needs. The Earth’s surface is covered with over 70% of water; however something many may not be aware of is that less than 1% percent of that water is clean enough to be used for human needs.

How much water do think you use each day? Estimates vary, but the average U.S citizen uses 158 gallons (600 liters) of water every day. To think of it another way, multiply that 158 gallons per day of use by the 311,763,576 million people living in the U.S., and then consider the rest of the world…

Plus, 10 percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more each day (for example, a showerhead leaking 10 drips per minute wastes enough water in a year to run a dishwasher 60 times). The amount of water leaked from U.S. homes could exceed more than one trillion gallons per year. That’s equivalent to the annual water use of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami combined!

Closer to home, retrofitting just 20% of households in the Mid-Atlantic with water-efficient fixtures could save more than 65 billion gallons of water and more than 215 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—that’s enough water to supply Philadelphia residents for more than seven months and enough electricity to power 243,000 households for one month.

That comes to my main point of thought: there is a limited amount of clean water to go around, and a constantly increasing population that demands it.

What is EPA doing to help us conserve this crucial resource? Tune in next week to find out!

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