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September 9, 2008
Water, Water... Not Everywhere
I wrote recently about Iowa's flooding. But if I click the GoogleMaps "-" sign on my world view, I notice some parts other areas that are desperate for H20. And, if my imagination wanders, Mad Max looks less post-apocalyptic joy-ride and more Nostradamus in leather chaps.
Two well-researched pieces, one I read National Geographic a few years back , and more recently called Peak Water in Wired Magazine www.Wired.com each point water crisis. And without a cool drink, say good-bye to a civilized economy my friends.
We're not running out of water, according to these articles. Rather we ("we" being: industry, agriculture, rising population) are consuming it faster that it's replenished. Eyeballing the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, then again in LA you'll notice this trend: one is water, one is dirt.
Kohler www.Kohler.com not surprisingly, is hitting hard on the water-front with a conservation program called WaterSense in partnership with the EPA and innovative new products—and a message aimed at us.
Kolher's "closets" (toilets) are lower-flow than industry standards they say and their waterless urinals make sense in some residential apps (man-caves, bar areas). Lower flow shower heads/aerators consume less—which adds up.
How green are you? Are your customers requesting water savings? Is it an upsell? Are you learning products to weave a green strand into the black of your bottom line?
Kohler—a company that does Super Bowl add for heaven's sake—is reaching out to contractors big and small, notably The Remodeling Show (where I'll be on assignment) www.TheRemodelingShow.com to get their water—and product—message across.
I know its business, but it also seems…well…right. I bet Max would like it.
Posted by Mark Clement at September 9, 2008 9:23 AM
Comments
you are so right, water is and will become more and more the oil of the future-with the difference we can not live without water. But as you stated, everyone can do much for it while not doing a lot-simply turn off the faucet when shaving, hose down driveway with spray nozzle etc.
Waterless urinals are the easiest and most hygienic way to save up to 40,000 gal of drinkling water in facilities. One company Waterless co LLC, has been around since 1991, 15 years before Kohler. We will see a lot more water efficient products from smaller companies first until the larger ones get smart to it. Just hope they make them as good as the smaller companies.
Posted by: Klaus Reichardt at September 9, 2008 5:24 PM
How about NOT drinking bottled water??? I've read it takes 3 gallons of water to make 1 gallon of drinkable water! Now that is what I call a huge waste.
I've recently read that because of the huge amount of water being wasted that $4.00 a gallon water is right around the corner. The only things I'm reading here is replacing what I have with something else. Supporting big business instead of using common sense is NOT the way to correct today's problems. Simply cutting back a little can save millions of gallons of water per day. The hard part; getting today's complacent society to do it. And don't get me wrong; it's fine to replace something when you can afford it but think of all the waste that will be thrown out. I don't care what it is: fuel,water,electricity,a/c,heat,etc. if you cut back you are saving.
Posted by: Mike at September 14, 2008 6:28 PM
love to read the responses, and hope to be able to use some of it in my home to. thanks
Posted by: james jones at December 31, 2008 11:20 AM
