Water conservation:Become a Water Wizard, Not a Water Wastrel!

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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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Water is the Oil of the 21st Century

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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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Freshwater

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Water Footprint of “Stuff”

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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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Water Conservation vs. Water Efficiency

A better idea

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Water Conservation Requires Good Pricing

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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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Business Risk: Water Use vs. Climate Change

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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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New Opportunities - Business

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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

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THANK YOU!