‘The Green Picture’ with Erika Schnitzer: Water—The New War?

 Last week, I had the opportunity to meet with some of the industry’s most green-oriented executives, whom MHN had invited to judge our Second Annual Green Initiative Awards.

Needless to say, it was quite an experience to get together with a group of four individuals who are so completely devoted to sustainability that, in at least one instance, they have actually spearheaded the movement. (And let me add that I learned quite a bit when some heated debates broke out.)

In reviewing the submissions, the panel of judges—which included Anthony Morena, principal of The REDD (Real Estate Design & Development) Group; Dana Bourland, vice president of green initiatives for Enterprise Community Partners; Andy Padian, vice president of energy initiatives for the Community Preservation Corporation (CPC); and Robert Roth, Esq., president and founder of Green Envy Development—raised a number of rather interesting points.

Though I’ve heard it before in numerous interviews regarding a variety of topics, the panel noted the importance of water conservation, as “water becomes the new oil,” that is, that water is sure to become the resource over which wars are fought.

Since this is not the first time I’ve heard this statement made, it really got me thinking—how much water does each of us waste in our daily lives? What are some seemingly basic steps that each of us can, and should, take to ensure water does not become such a hot-button issue? In addition to the seemingly ubiquitous low-flow fixtures, what should building owners and operators do to make their buildings—and residents—consume less water? With all the new advances in technology, it would appear that the answer is an obvious one—but is it?

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