Green Water Infrastructure

Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

As 2010 winds down we gear up for a new year, I will be conducting several presentation at conferences throughout the Midwest. You can find me in the following places:

• January 10, 2011 – I will be speaking at the National Green Centre Conference in St. Louis. Topics I will cover include sustainable landscaping concepts like Rain Gardens, Bioswales and Resource Efficient Landscape Irrigation. To find out more information, please click here.
• January 18, 2011- I will be speaking at the Green Industry Expo in Indianapolis.  I will focus entirely on Current Trends on Sustainable Site Development and the importance of landscapes in remediating the environment. To find out more information, please click here.
• February 4, 2011 – I will be at Walt Disney World, presenting Applying Smart Technologies to Rainwater Harvesting, Green Roofs, LEED Projects and Storm Water Issues at the Irrigation Association’s Point of Connection: Irrigation Contractor Leadership Summit.  To find out more information, please click here.
• February 15, 2011 – I will be presenting Brave New World: Current Trends in the Irrigation Industry for the Indiana Irrigation Contractor Council. For more information please click here.
• February 24, 2011 – I will be at the Chicago Center for Green Technology presenting Permeable Paving, New Tools for Sustainable Development. The second in a three part series on Sustainable Site Development.
• March 31, 2011 – I will be back at the Chicago Center for Green Technology presenting Constructing Rain Gardens and Bioswales. The third part of the Sustainable Site Development series.

I look forward to all of my upcoming presentations. I hope to see you at one of them!

Westfield, IN – Local environmental expert Tom Barrett has been selected to join a group of Hoosiers traveling to Washington D.C. next week (July 20-22) to talk with Indiana’s Congressional delegation about the importance of federal climate and energy legislation.

Barrett is traveling with the Indiana Businesses for a Clean Energy Economy. The IBCEE will be focused on building support for comprehensive climate and energy legislation on the federal level during their time in Washington D.C.

“I am honored the IBCEE has invited me to meet with Indiana’s Congressional leaders,” says Barrett. “Environmental issues are an important topic in Washington D.C. right now and I am looking forward to working with everyone.”

Carmel, Indiana Utilities promotes the EPA’S “Fix a Leak Week”

Because minor water leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of water wasted each year in U.S. homes, Carmel Utilities is promoting “Fix a Leak Week,” March 15 through 21, 2010. Fix a Leak Week is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense® program as an annual reminder to Americans to check household plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks.

“Leaks can add up to more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted at home every year—that’s enough to fill a backyard swimming pool,” said Sue Maki, Manager of Customer Relations and Education. “Carmel Utilities along with Delta Faucet are participating in Fix a Leak Week to help homeowners save money on their utility bills and to help save water in our community and for future generations.”

Following are a few water-saving tips:

• Reduce faucet leaks by checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear and, if necessary, replace the faucet with a WaterSense labeled model.
• Leaky toilets are most often the result of a worn toilet flapper. Replacing the rubber flapper is a quick fix that could save a home with a constantly running toilet up to 200 gallons of water per day.
• For a leaky garden hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench.
• Landscape irrigation systems should be checked each spring before use to make sure they are not damaged by frost or freezing.

For more information on Fix a Leak Week, visit www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak.

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WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, seeks to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water. For more information on WaterSense, and for a full list of labeled products and WaterSense irrigation and builder partners, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.

Title: Rain Water Harvesting & Condensate Recovery – New Tools for Sustainable Site Development
Location: Chicago Center for Green Technology
Description: In its Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, the American Society of Civil Engineers rated our nation’s wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water systems a “D” minus, the lowest grade in any infrastructure category. Rainwater gardens and bioswales are transformative approaches to sustainable site development. Constructing Rain Gardens and Bioswales is part of a continuing series of engineering solutions to water management that protects, restores, and mimics the natural water cycle. Rain gardens and bioswales incorporates both the natural environment and engineered systems to provide clean water, conserve ecosystems, and provide a wide variety of benefits for people and wildlife. Additionally, all this can be accomplished at a significantly lower cost than conventional concrete and mortar infrastructure. Join Tom Barrett as he explains how the use of locally produced water helps develop a “natural approach” to the efficient use of water and relieves stormwater management issues.
Start Time: 6:00 pm
Date: 2010-04-20
End Time: 9:00 pm