MARCH 2010

Recent News

Get ready- World Plumbing Day is coming up on March 11th. This date was established to aid the general public in further understanding the vital role that the plumbing industry plays in protecting everyone’s health and safety. World Plumbing Day is also meant to honor the often underrated ways in which contractors, inspectors, installers, engineers, and manufacturers do great things for the environment. Add our World Plumbing Day widget to your site, and help spread awareness.

For those of you still scratching your head asking "What exactly is a GreenPlumber anyway?" we have created a page on our site just for you! Learn what makes a GreenPlumber special. GreenPlumbers training can turn you into a steward of conservation, who can advise and install eco-friendly fixtures and products to increase their customer's comfort and lower their utility bills.

Our Goal: GreenPlumbers Workshops – Anywhere, Any Time!

The recession has hit all of us very hard, and GreenPlumbers is no exception. Demand for our workshops is down in most areas of the country, because WORK comes before workshops. We are striving to add additional instructors to provide local, evening workshops, so that owners and plumbers will not have to miss work to gain a quality green education. We are also trying wherever possible to obtain grant funding to provide the classes at the lowest possible cost to you.

Finally, although two of our courses are available on-line, we want you to know that we are committed to adding the other three courses by the end of summer. While we believe that the “live” educational experience is the most beneficial, the availability of all GreenPlumbers courses anywhere – any time is critical to our mission of reaching the entire plumbing industry.

California Spring Series

The Spring Series is the result of your feedback, so thanks to our sponsors, California plumbers and unemployed plumbers can now receive career-boosting training by becoming an Accredited GreenPlumber in all five workshops at no cost and at a new evening time. The first twelve week series of workshops begins March 9th from 6-9PM. California Spring Series locations and no-fee registration links:

*We will be offering new workshop formats across the country to better adapt to a plumber's hectic schedule.

Licensed GreenPlumber Performs a Home Water Audit - Video

In ABC's "Live Well HD" series, Licensed GreenPlumber John Baethke of Chicago, IL discusses water conservation and performs a home water audit. Click here to watch John in action. Do you want to expand your green services and take advantage of the GreenPlumbers marketing network? Then fill out the online application to learn more about becoming a Licensed GreenPlumber.

GreenPlumbers Product Directory

Share your new line of innovative products with environmentally conscious consumers and plumbers in the GreenPlumbers Product Directory.

Manufacturers who would like to see their green products listed, should contact Jon Cruz.

McKinstry Plumbers Become Green

Everyday McKinstry continues to live up to its reputation as a national model for how a business can integrate sustainability into every aspect of its operations. From LEED Gold facilities to providing important thought-leadership on creating jobs for the burgeoning clean energy economy, McKinstry has been on the cutting edge of what can only be called a sustainable revolution.

Now, the service arm of the company is taking it one step further, arming its plumbers and pipefitters with GreenPlumbers Accreditation. To become certified GreenPlumbers, candidates must undergo 32-hours of training in such subjects as climate and water care, solar hot water, water efficient technologies, and more.

“The GreenPlumbers training provides our plumbers with the necessary tools and resources to present multiple solutions to help our clients save water, energy and money,” states Bob Frey, McKinstry’s VP of Service.

In a challenging economy, owners are looking for innovative ways to save energy and protect their assets. GreenPlumbers certification represents one more avenue for McKinstry to deliver the quality of service that saves clients energy and money, while earning their continued loyalty and satisfaction. For more about McKinstry Plumbing, visit www.McKinstry.com

American Standard Puts Water Efficiency to the Test

Low flow delivered high satisfaction with at least 25 percent in water savings for 21 homeowners in two suburban Atlanta communities who volunteered to replace their existing plumbing products with high-efficiency WaterSense®-certified models.

Georgia’s first Licensed GreenPlumber, Nick Marine of Marietta, GA-based Marine Plumbing, installed toilets and bathroom faucets that save at least 20 percent more water and showerheads that save from 20 to 40 percent more than current standards. Nine volunteer families were recruited from the Serenbe community in Chattahoochee Hills, GA and 11 stepped up to the challenge from Chastain Lakes in Kennesaw, GA.

Funding and products for the test were supplied by American Standard Brands to demonstrate that the technology behind WaterSense-labeled products has greatly advanced consumer satisfaction with water-savers in the bathroom. WaterSense is administered by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and modeled after the EnergySTAR® labeling program to help assure consumers that products will conserve and perform as promised. To read the full case study, click here.