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Water Conservation: You are watering WHAT???

By
Education & Training with GLREA

Coopersville & Marne Railroad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday was a beautiful Michigan day. A nice day for a train ride, a festival or....

 

 

 

 

 

To take Christine for a ride....

Ma Bigelow's Christine Aurora

 

Yes, you may remember the Stephen King movie, "Christine!"

My Christine is not a red and white 58 Plymouth Fury. No, my Christine is a classic first gen

97 Olds Aurora.

I have christened her Christine recently since her recovery from an engine fire.

For the most part, Christine seems to have a mind of her own. Wanting to make her happy after her most recent outburst I washed and waxed her by hand Friday night. The chrome on the tires was polished, the interior detailed.

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday was the day to take her for a short drive to test her road worthiness. It certainly wouldn't rain and get Christine dirty with the skies over Michigan saturday! "Today would be perfect," I thought! After a quick visit to my sister in Grand Rapids Christine and I stopped by a big box store. Christine waited patiently for me while I made an uneventful trip in and out.

Oh MY! I exclaimed when I returned to Christine. It looked like a water main had broken! I quickly pulled her out of the parking spot!

Big Box watering parking lot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yup. That's where Christine was parked. I'm glad they didn't upset her! She really doesn't react well!

I'm surprised she didn't spontaneously ignite again.

From my observations I don't see much in that itty bitty island that needs watering. I would suggest they visit the Michigan Native Plant Producers Association to seek out some hearty native plants that do well in full sun and don't require much, if any, water. The management could also take a look at the type of system they have intalled and how it is operating. I am certain Christine was not the only unhappy visitor to their parking lot yesterday! Curiously enough, this unnamed big box has a new slogan, "Save & Live Green."

Across the country there are several areas that have been experiencing drought conditions. I found this website today, US Drought Monitor, where you are able to see the drought conditions around the country. It looks like a useful resource.

The second group of credits in the USGBC LEED rating system come from Water Efficiency. Under the New Construction rating system points the Water Efficiency credits are:

  • WE Credit 1.1: Water Efficient Landscaping: Reduce by 50%
  • WE Credit 1.2: Water Efficient Landscaping: No Potable Water Use or No Irrigation
  • WE Credit 2: Innovative Wastewater Technologies
  • WE Credit 3.1: Water Use Reduction: 20% Reduction
  • WE Credit 3.2: Water Use Reduction: 30% Reduction

I applaud the USGBC for making water efficiency a key part of the rating system. Water is an important resource we need to conserve.

Lots of comments, please! I think I will send a copy of this to the management at the store!

 

Comments (21)

Mary McGraw
GLREA - Rockford, MI
2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!

Hi Karen, It's good to hear your drought could be over. It's hard to believe with the hurricanes Florida sustained in the past several years that the whole state wasn't under water! That says something about evaporation and usage.

You make the comment that water is even more important than oil. That's an important point! The human body is made up of approx 55 - 60% water. Without it we would die and we can't drink oil! Thanks for your comment!

Aug 11, 2008 12:16 AM
Maxine Phillips
Naples, FL

Mary:  I just had to google this big box's new slogan.  There is a link on their own front page that would be very useful to them in this situation.  You can capture the attention of the green consumer with slogans but in order to keep their business you need to practice what you preach. 

Aug 11, 2008 06:12 AM
Mary McGraw
GLREA - Rockford, MI
2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!

Hi Maxine - funny, isn't it! That's why we need to continue to get the word out about green!!!

Aug 11, 2008 06:52 AM
-- Casey Brischle
Columbia Bank - Spokane, WA
Spokane Home Loan Mortgage Professional

Scenes like this are all over my city.  Unfortunately, people like to water sidewalks and streets for no reason.  The mayor is actually drafting a law against this type of neglect and water waste.

Aug 11, 2008 08:49 AM
-- Casey Brischle
Columbia Bank - Spokane, WA
Spokane Home Loan Mortgage Professional

Scenes like this are all over my city.  Unfortunately, people like to water sidewalks and streets for no reason.  The mayor is actually drafting a law against this type of neglect and water waste.

Aug 11, 2008 09:04 AM
Mary McGraw
GLREA - Rockford, MI
2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!

HI Casey -  I'd love to read the mayor's law! Make sure you post a link when it is finished!

There is nothing like throwing water down the drain!

Aug 11, 2008 09:10 AM
* Rate A Home
Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI

Mary, never fails. Seems like Christine weathered the storm well. Have fun in The Rain, last comment.

Duane

Aug 11, 2008 07:40 PM
Mary McGraw
GLREA - Rockford, MI
2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!

HI Duane - just my luck some days! Poor Christine has been through so much! Thanks for checking in!

Aug 11, 2008 11:27 PM
A S
Salt Lake City, UT

What a waste!  I see it all the time.  Especially businesses that do the right thing and water at night, but then never check for broken lines.  I see geysers all around the city after dark!

Aug 12, 2008 06:11 AM
Debra Kukulski, Broker Associate
RE/MAX Suburban - Cary, IL
SRES;SFR,CDPE;GRI;ABR;e-PRO Realtor, Northern IL

That is just amazing!

Sep 03, 2008 12:56 AM
Mary McGraw
GLREA - Rockford, MI
2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!

Hi Andrew - If residents who are footing the bill for those "geysers" were more aware I'm certain they would be outraged! Thanks for the comment!

Sep 03, 2008 01:03 AM
Mary McGraw
GLREA - Rockford, MI
2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!

Hi Debra ~ thanks for the comment! It's amazing the "not so little" things that get overlooked!

Sep 03, 2008 01:04 AM
Mary Strang
Viroqua, WI

Looks like the little plants did not get a drop in the photos you took of the empty stall! I am surprised at how many are having drought this year, good to post that map for all to see and appreciate!

Sep 03, 2008 01:29 AM
Kerry Smyth
Newcomers Welcome Service - Ann Arbor, MI

This a great post, thanks!  This particular big box store likes to use catchy slogans without any substance behind them.  Remember their "made in America" advertising campaign years ago?  If you checked the made in labels then you would have found the same committment to that message as their current committment to green living.

Sep 03, 2008 01:58 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Thanks for the link to the Drought watch site - very interesting.  We are experiencing some of that here in the islands.  Thankfully, I am on the edge of the drought zone, so we are getting by OK, but I'm getting tired of watering my extensive gardens every day.

Sep 17, 2008 08:30 AM
Mary McGraw
GLREA - Rockford, MI
2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!

Hi Mary! Great observation! I don't think the plants received any water - nor were there really any plants there that need water!!! The map was an awesome find! It is hard to believe in Michigan we were having floods in the spring, the grass was dried up in the summer, and now we have flood warnings again! Never a happy medium! BUT! I am very happy to be from the Great Lakes State of Michigan and don't want to give our water away! Thanks for the comment!

Sep 17, 2008 02:54 PM
Mary McGraw
GLREA - Rockford, MI
2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!

Hi Terry - I couldn't hide that big box very well, could I? It is unfortunate the tactics they use. I was glad to hear yesterday that they are adding a computer system to their distribution centers that will shut conveyors off when not in use. They also require their vendors to conserve a certain percentage of energy per year...yet I have to ask what are they doing in their own backyard when I see this?

Then, I ask myself, what could I be doing to live what I am preaching!!! This month it will be to find some air leaks in my house and seal them -- even more pressing  after the presentation I attended tonight...more on that later!

Thanks for the comment!!

Sep 17, 2008 02:57 PM
Mary McGraw
GLREA - Rockford, MI
2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!

Hi Georgina! We are having flood warnings and not droughts! but that is ok - we're not giving our water away!

It always amazed me - surrounded by water like the islands are, and like Michigan is (we're a penisula) that we experience droughts...with all that water...but we do! It is definitely something to think about! Water is not as unlimited a resource as we think! Thanks for your input and I'm glad you liked the link!

Sep 17, 2008 03:01 PM
Betina Foreman
WJK Realty - Austin, TX
Realtor, C.N.E., with WJK REALTY

Its always a bad idea to water your car. They require more fuel than H2O!! I'm glad Christine survived!

Dec 02, 2008 12:47 PM
Mary McGraw
GLREA - Rockford, MI
2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!

Hi Betina! I refrain from watering my car - and other's also!!! Christine survived and and I believe this last weekend we finally satisfied her with what she needs to quit having coniptions!!! (sp?) I am getting ready to send Christine to Anger Management Classes!!!

My how I miss the weather I shot that day! I'll update - mighty cold and snowy here these days....but I love it just the same~!

Thanks for your input!

Dec 02, 2008 12:58 PM