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Outdoor Webinar Series

EPA WaterSense and the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE)Exit EPA Disclaimerare partnering to provide a webinar series dedicated to outdoor water efficiency topics. This webinar series, along with other WaterSense outdoor related webinars, aim to serve as tools and resources for certified irrigation professionals and other professionals looking for collaborative and effective ways to improve outdoor water efficiency in their communities.

EPA WaterSense/Alliance for Water Efficiency Partnership Webinar Series
EPA WaterSense and the Alliance for Water Efficiency are continuing the outdoor water efficiency webinar series in 2017. We invite you to register for our upcoming live webinars or view our library of past recorded webinars below:

Upcoming Live Webinars

  • Working With Commercial Landscapes to Manage Irrigation
    March 16, 2017, 2:00 p.m. Eastern
    Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5105210988750212609

    This webinar is co-sponsored by EPA’s WaterSense program and the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE). Speaker Markus Hogue, University of Texas (UT) Austin’s irrigation and water conservation program coordinator, will introduce UT Austin’s approach to water management through live dashboard monitoring. AWE will also discuss its work with large commercial landscapes, and EPA will highlight irrigation best practices for commercial and institutional buildings.

Recorded Webinars

  • The Garden Gurus' Watershed Approach to Landscaping

    The Green Gardens Group (G3) trains and certifies its irrigation system auditors to think holistically. Healthy soil, climate-appropriate plants, treating rainwater as a resource, and water-efficient irrigation all play a role. Through G3’s “Garden Gurus” program, Watershed Wise Landscape Professionals conduct one-on-one garden coaching sessions with home and property owners. In addition to conducting a visual irrigation system audit, Garden Gurus take time to educate homeowners about the merits of a Watershed Approach to Landscaping. Speakers Marianne Simon, G3’s certification coordinator, and Pamela Berstler, G3’s chief executive officer, introduce the Watershed Wise Landscape Professional certification and explain how Garden Gurus’ consultations entice homeowners to create more water-efficient and sustainable landscapes. Julius Duncan from WaterSense also highlights other WaterSense labeled professional certification programs and summarizes key elements of its certification program specifications.

  • Irrigate Smarter: Connecting Homeowners to Their Controllers
    Today’s WaterSense® labeled weather-based irrigation controllers incorporate “smart” technologies that can do the thinking for consumers in terms of when and how much to water, but they must be properly programmed to realize their full water-saving potential. Speakers Abby Owens, sustainability and environmental education supervisor with the City of Plano, Texas, and Clay Kraus, director of market development with Rachio, describe the challenges the City of Plano faces in educating homeowners about irrigation controllers, the resources it provides, and its new pilot project with Rachio controllers. This webinar also outlines WaterSense labeling criteria, explains how controllers work, and covers what utilities and manufacturers can do to help homeowners realize the full water-saving potential of weather-based irrigation controllers.

  • Relationship Building Between Irrigation Professionals and Utilities
    Water-efficient landscape irrigation is only achieved by integrating water-smart design, appropriate technology, and execution by knowledgeable professionals. Water agencies, such as the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC), foster relationships with irrigation professionals to help successfully implement water-efficient irrigation programs. Speakers Melissa Baum-Haley, senior water resource analyst with MWDOC, Sergio Ramirez, water use efficiency administrator with the Laguna Beach County Water District, and Glen Frohlich, with Glen’s Landscape, describe how successful relationships between irrigation professionals and utilities helped foster water-efficient landscape irrigation in their communities.

  • Advancing Sustainable Landscape Designs
    What motivates homeowners to think more sustainably about landscape choices? This webinar features the Sustainable Landscapes Program’s San Diego Sustainable Landscape Guidelines, which introduce a watershed approach to landscaping. The webinar also highlights the U.S. EPA WaterSense program’s resources to promote water-smart landscapes across the country, and new research initiatives from the Alliance for Water Efficiency to develop more accurate data and information about what programs, practices, and irrigation technologies save the most water. Speakers Carlos Michelon, principal water resources specialist for the San Diego County Water Authority, Beth Livingston, WaterSense brand manager, and Peter Mayer, AWE technical advisor and project manager of outdoor water use research, discuss what’s behind water-smart landscaping throughout Southern California and the nation.

  • Consumers’ Attitudes Toward Water-Efficient Landscape
    What motivates homeowners to adopt water-efficient landscape designs and irrigation practices? What obstacles must irrigation professionals and water providers overcome to move the needle towards more water-efficient choices? Utah State University professors Kelly Kopp and Joanna Endter-Wada discuss how Utah State University's Center for Water-Efficient Landscaping’s water efficiency programs have engaged thousands of Utah homeowners to achieve real, meaningful results—and what they’ve learned along the way. Stephanie Duer, Water Conservation Program Manager of the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities also shares her perspective and explains how the water utility has benefitted from cooperation with the Center.

  • Making the Business Case for Water Efficiency
    Outdoor water use often peaks during these hot summer months, but when irrigation professionals who are certified by WaterSense labeled programs engage with utilities, its win-win-win. Home and business owners can save money, irrigation professionals can boost their business, and utilities can see reduced peak demand. Speakers Cobb County Water System Senior Project Manager Kathy Nguyen and Ewing Irrigation Product Water Conservation Advisor Tom Shannon will describe the compelling business case for efficient outdoor water use. Attendees will also learn:
    • Why rising and tiered water rates open the door for water-efficient irrigation practices and products.
    • How certified irrigation professionals can educate customers on the "why" and "how" of more efficient system design, installation, and maintenance.
    • How utilities benefit from more efficient outdoor water use.
  • Time for a Sprinkler Spruce-Up!
    Spring is finally here, and it's the perfect time to remind homeowners how to spruce up their irrigation systems before ramping up outdoor water use. The first installment in a new co-sponsored webinar series from WaterSense and the Alliance for Water Efficiency dedicated to outdoor water efficiency topics. Join speakers Judy Benson from Clear Water Products and Services, Inc. and Amber Lefstead from WaterSense. Attendees will learn:
    • About WaterSense's third annual Sprinkler Spruce-Up campaign and partner tools.
    • How to spruce up sprinkler systems with expert tips on inspection and maintenance practices that can offer homeowners the biggest bang for their buck.
    • How certified irrigation professionals can market their water-efficient services to customers.
    • How WaterSense partners are planning to promote Sprinkler Spruce-Up.

Other WaterSense Outdoor Related Webinars
WaterSense has included outdoor topics in other webinar series. Check these pages to find recorded versions of past webinars.

  • WaterSense-ENERGY STAR series
  • WaterSense-HUD series
  • WaterSense H2Otel Challenge series