When the well runs dry

Hand it to the Wall Street Journal – they figured out the Wild West is drier than a proverbial bone.

Traditional suburbs take an awful lot of water in a place as arid as the interior West. Monthly household water use is estimated at nearly 23,000 gallons in Nevada, nearly 20,000 gallons in Utah, and about 16,000 gallons in both Arizona and Colorado. That is considerably higher than the national average of about 12,000 gallons per month, according to Western Resource Advocates, an environmental group.

Of course, that hasn’t slowed down developers in Colorado, just the way they operate. As in – Neo-Green. “Permits are still pending but plans envision 12,000 homes, many priced at about $350,000, aimed at young families and empty nesters. All homes will use low-flow toilets, faucets and showers, which cut water use on average 20% to 30%.”

Hot damn, low flow toilets! Never mind those pesky wildlife critters that tend to call open landscapes home.

And, in a final word of wisdom – “Douglas King, a consultant with the U.S. Green Building Council, says ….. that 95% of homeowners and builders seeking to boost sustainability go for energy-efficient fixtures — while only 60% reduce the size of their grass lawn. ‘That’s a big thing to give up,’ he says.” (Wall Street Journal)

Absolutely – The American Dream includes grass lawns, come hell or low water. Even in the nation’s driest climates. So go low with the flow and don’t forget your carbon footprint as the ink dries on the new McMansion’s mortgage.

pass the hose.

posted by Mudd