Jamie (who is based in Novato, CA) has gone above and beyond by collaborating with community partners to install water catchment systems in two local schools for watering gardens and flushing toilets. Jamie calculated that he has saved 2.4million gallons of water this year in the Bay Area alone and has also promoted water conservation by serving on local job-building boards and green employment councils.

The Green Plumbers program is a partner of the EPA WaterSense program, Alliance for Water Efficiency, the California Center for Sustainable Energy, the California Urban Water Conservation Council, as well as other industry leaders that share its mission of bringing environmental training to plumbers. More information about Green Plumbers can be found atwww.greenplumbersusa.com.

Rogers Remodel is the go-to green Northern California building company for: Green Building, Water Audits, Green Plumbing, Rainwater Harvesting, Design/Build, Project Management, New Construction, and Remodeling. Rogers Remodel Inc specializes in green building and individual water audits, in particular, kitchen and bathroom remodels. Further information on Jamie Rogers and Rogers Remodel can be found atwww.rogersremodelinc.com.

Come and meet Simon Dominguez at the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) 2011 National Conference in Portland Oregon September 27 - 29. Simon can tell you how the Rainwater HOG can provide a solution for you for rainwater capture and storage, storm water management, potable water supply and grey water storage.

• Research in Rainwater Catchment
• Agricultural Rainwater Systems
• Rainwater Harvesting and Low Impact Development
• Water Treatment for Potable Uses
• Stormwater Mitigation
• Codes and Standards
• Rainwater Harvesting Education
• Technical Tours to residential, large agricultural, municipal applications and more

Visit the ARCSA website www.arcsa.org for more information

Please join Imagine H2O on March 16th to celebrate the winners and finalists of their Water-Energy Nexus Prize. Selected from a global field of over 50 companies, these 10 startups represent some of the most promising water businesses with energy innovations. Meet these visionary entrepreneurs and network with a select group of public agency leaders, investors, industry experts and other people committed to turning water problems into opportunities.

Timothy Brick, former Chairman of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, will be sharing his insights on innovation in the water sector. In addition to music and hors d’oeuvres, Napa Green Vintners returns to this year’s event with a selection of wines from their leading vineyards.

Early-Bird tickets available for a limited time Tickets on Sale.

Get your tickets today!
http://ih2o-showcase.eventbrite.com/

This event is 21 & Over

Ironically, we are also seeing the highest levels of water conservation and lowest water use in decades. Combined averages of wholesale and retail sales in San Francisco, which have historically hovered around 250 Million Gallons per Day (MGD) are down to a low of 215 MGD and water use is down almost 4 percent from last year.

Why, you may ask, is water use so low when water supply is so plentiful? Good question, and one that municipalities across the state are grappling with. Most agree that it is one of three reasons. First is good-old fashioned conservation. Poll after poll has shown how much we love our environment here in California, we continue to invest in and promote a variety of water efficiency measures. Surprisingly, one of the few benefits of our weakened economy is more office vacancies, which means fewer toilets flushed, which in turn means more water saved. And in this economic climate, people are ever more price sensitive, tightening their belts and saving wherever they can. If lower water use means a lower water bill, darned right I am going to use less water. And then there is the rainy weather. More rain means less watering — landscape use accounts for 15% of San Francisco’s water use.

Whatever the reason, we have not seem this kind of drop in demand since times of drought. Hallejulah is what I say, and may the rain continue. But woe is he who is lulled into a false sense of security or protracted state of complacency. Climate change, dry spells and water scarcity are getting worse, and fast. How easy we forget California’s long periods of drought, when we are awash in rain.

2006-’07 was a dry winter for California — the Sierra snowpack was the lowest in nearly 20 years, while Southern California logged its driest year on record. The situation was further complicated that year by a judicial decision to reduce water deliveries from the state’s two largest water delivery systems, the State Water Project (SWP) and Central Valley Project (CVP), in order to protect an endangered fish species, the Delta smelt. The combined effect of these factors created the equivalent of a multi-year drought for the State.

Then we have The National Climate Data Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s recent announcement that 2010 was the hottest year on record worldwide (tied with 2005), that seven of the eight warmest years on record have occurred since 2001, that all 10 of the warmest years have occurred since 1995. Global Trends predicts that nearly half of the world will live in water-stressed countries by 2015 and Noah Knowles from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography predicts that by 2090, 20% of California’s water supply will be lost as a result of melting snowpack caused by global warming. “Just a few degrees’ rise in temperature could mean less snow in the mountains, depriving the state of badly needed water in the spring and summer” says Knowles. “By 2060, we see a loss of about a third of the state’s snowpack. And by 2090, we see a loss of about half of the [state of California’s] snowpack. And that’s about 20 percent of the state’s water supply.”

Water experts don’t think that California’s water roller coaster is a temporary ride. Changing precipitation patterns and drought, diminishing snowpack, decreases in river flows, severe declines in populations of fish species like salmon and the Delta smelt, and rising sea levels in the San Francisco Bay are just a few of the challenges before us. Water agencies face the added conundrum of lost revenue as people conserve and sales decrease.

What are we going to do? Well let’s start with the agricultural sector in California, which uses the vast majority of our state’s water supply at 80% of the 44.3 million acre-feet of water used in the year 2000. The agricultural sector needs to transition to the more efficient water systems possible, as soon as possible. No more flood irrigation, bring in the drip systems.

Then there is the rest of us. The remaining 20% of our state’s water goes to residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial uses. Flushed toilets account for most residential water use (29%), followed by washing machines (22%), shower/bath (17%), kitchen/bath faucets (16%), leaks and drips (14%) and dishwashers (2%). That means, if you have not yet invested in a high efficiency toilet or washing machine, now is the time to do so. For you San Franciscans, the SFPUC is offering $200 rebates on high efficiency toilets through June. It will be one of the best investments you can make — for your pocketbook and for the planet.

Cities and countries need to implement a “no-regret” water conservation and efficiency strategy immediately. We need to diversify our water supply so that we are not so dependent on diminishing upstream water sources. We need to get off the rivers and reduce river diversions, in order to protect threatened fish populations and our ecosystems. We need to continue to invest in emerging and innovative technologies, including recycled water plants, conjunctive use projects, water efficiency measures, low impact design, grey water systems and rainwater catchment. We need more conservation education from water agencies, in schools and from ourselves. Tell your neighbor what you know about how to save water.

We live in a time and land of plenty. The future is shaping up to be a time of scarcity. The time to conserve is now.

by Francesca Vietor, President of The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). The SFPUC sets policy for the City and County of San Francisco’s water, wastewater and municipal power services.

5 Hillcrest Drive, Mill Valley, CA 94941
December 18 & 19, 2010
11:00 am - 4:00 pm (open house)
Light refreshments will be served.

Local architect Geoff Butler will tour guests through a fascinating green home remodel. He will present the extensive energy and water efficient strategies he is using to create this tranquil, healthy home. The new Mill Valley project is striving for the LEED for Homes Platinum certification, the most ambitious LEED Green Home rating available. It is currently the only LEED Platinum home (upon certification) on the market in Marin County.

This remarkable eco-showcase property features:
- innovative grey water system
- reclaimed and reused wood
- radiant floor heating for comfort, excellent indoor air quality
- pervious landscape pavement for onsite water infiltration
- LED lighting
- superior insulation for maximum energy savings
- solar electric system
- 220 volt electric vehicle recharging station
- Energy Star appliances
- High-end sustainable finishes and materials.

The Rainwater HOG will be used to store rainwater for flushing toilets and for capturing grey water from the house for irrigation.

Geoffrey Butler Architecture
Mill Valley resident Geoff Butler has been specializing in residential and commercial architecture in the Bay Area since 1986, with a recent emphasis in green building design. Previous projects include San Francisco Toyota, MArin Suites Hotel in Corte Madera, and numerous homes throughout Marin, San Francisco, Napa and Sonoma. For more information: www.gebarch.com.