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Water Conservation:Become a Water Wizard,
Not a Water Wastrel!
JERRY YUDELSON • MARCH 2-15
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Key Take-Aways
Water concerns are the next big (green) thing
International experience and technology can be adapted for U.S.
Major opportunities & challenges: retailers, builders, project designers, contractors, etc.
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Why Water Concerns?
Water: 21st Century oil
Freshwater supply limited
Population/urban growth: large water footprint
Global warming & water
Major droughts more frequent
Water conservation & reuse are vital
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Water Is the Oil of the 21st Century
Resource conflicts will intensify
Existing water sources fully allocated
Next urban/rural battleground
Water scarcities in the US increase
Retailers may wind up “high and dry”
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Freshwater is inherently limited
No more water since Adam & Eve
Usable freshwater a tiny fraction
Much is too polluted to drink
Aquifer depletion for water supply widespread
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Cool Water:Blue Is The New Green
JERRY YUDELSON • YUDELSON ASSOCIATES • TUCSON, ARIZONA
Our Watery Planet
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Global Warming
Much of world supplied in summer with snowmelt
Changes in climate = smaller snowpack, larger spring runoff, greater flooding, reduced summer stream flows, higher evapotranspiration, reduced agricultural productivity, more droughts, etc.
Water pricing to get conservation will be huge issue
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Water/Energy Nexus
Hydropower still important
Water supply = energy use
Energy supply = water use
By 2020’s: Not enough water for energy, or enough energy for water!
Lake Lanier, Atlanta, GA
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Major Droughts Since 2006
In the U.S.
Atlanta
South Texas (Austin/San
Antonio)
California
Murray-Darling, Australia’s Largest River
In Australia
Every major city
Murray-Darling basin
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Water Conservation vs. Water Efficiency
Conservation means less total use
Efficiency does not guarantee conservation
Behavior modification equally important
Some water conservation: unintended consequences
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Australia
20 million people
Most live near the coasts
Except for tropics, country is quite dry
Global warming has moved storm tracks south
Biggest drought in 117-year recorded history 2005-2009
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Australia
Coordinated response by national/state governments
$13 billion plan ($650 per person)
Water restrictions in all urban areas
Product innovations
WELS rating mandatory for products since
2006
Product innovations come out of labeling
Rainforest in Tasmania, Australia
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Australia
Plumbing industry front and center
Large water utilities recycle water
Public is cooperating
Desalination seen as viable option
Water-free urinals
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Australia: Extreme Examples
“Sewer mining” gaining interest
One Bligh Street in Sydney – 30 Story LEED Platinum
Makeup water for cooling towers/toilet flushing
Take water from city sewer, treat on site, reuse, return
Onsite blackwater treatment gaining adherents
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Australia: Lessons Learned
In a crisis, everything’s on the table
Easier to do big things politically
System favors (big) long-term solutions
Don’t neglect public participation
New technology can be mandated in crisis
Exotic solutions can be tried and evaluated
Murray-Darling — Australia’s Largest River
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Blue/Green Issues
Water shortages/droughts in many states
Financial/regulatory incentive programs
Green certification programs promote water conservation
Rising costs for water supply and sewage treatment
Stakeholder concerns; political and regulatory changes
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Inhibiting Forces
Water is still cheap
High-water-use lifestyles preferred
Unintended consequences to reduced water use (drain lines & public health)
Codes hard to change to encourage water reuse
Lack of whole systems thinking
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What Will the Public Sector Do?
Promote conservation
Price for reduced use
Incentivize retrofits
Regulate new buildings
Educate the public
Provide technical help
Develop new supplies
o Water reuse
o Desalination
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Where Does This Leave Retailers?
A very dynamic future: opportunities/challenges
Learn new technologies, systems, approaches
Develop new products
Address consumer concerns about water
Address larger questions of supply security/cost
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What Should Leading Retailers Do?
Supply chain vetting for water-sustainable raw materials (cotton)
Supply-chain vetting for reduced water use in production of goods
Reduce water use in retail operations
Help consumers conserve water via education
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Tips for Retailers
Facility/store audits
Benchmark & learn from peers
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Adopt cloud technology for monitoring use
Educate associates
Landscape water use
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The Future is Green (and Blue), But…
If you want to score, run to where the ball is headed, not where it is now.
Ask yourself: how green (and blue) will the built environment be in 2020?
Will you pay penalties for lack of attention to water issues? Germany Wins FIFA World Cup 2014
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Water: Dry Run
“An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come” – Victor Hugo