Water Conservation

Bought an Irrigation System? Time to Audit!

Whether they’re motivated by environmental concerns or money, most people are interested in conserving water. Luckily, these two concerns go hand-in-hand; using less water protects our natural eco-systems from further resource depletion, ultimately reducing your water bill and decreasing the likelihood of getting busted by those pesky “water police” for using too much. These concerns are especially real to community managers of huge homeowners associations or commercial sites where millions of gallons of water are utilized each year. One of the main culprits, especially in Minnesota, is landscape irrigation. Fortunately, there’s a solution: a landscape irrigation audit. Continue reading

Raingarden at HOA

Landscape Maintenance Practices That Save Money

Tim Malooly, president of Water in Motion, was recently asked to give advice to homeowner association (HOA) members and community managers about how they can save water – and money – by adopting specific landscape maintenance practices.

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U.S. Bank Stadium site of Super Bowl LII

Super Bowl LII, U.S. Bank Stadium and Stormwater Management

While most Minnesota Vikings signage will be removed inside U.S. Bank Stadium to provide a neutral venue for the 2018 Super Bowl game, some things won’t change — and that’s good for the environment.  

U.S. Bank Stadium (which was certified LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council this past November) and its surroundings include many sustainable design features. Some are readily visible, like the energy-efficient LED lighting, signage pointing out composting and recycling bins, landscaping that uses native trees and grasses, and easy access to mass transit via light rail and bus service. Some, like stormwater management practices, are less obvious but vitally important, considering the stadium’s proximity to the Mississippi River. Continue reading

The Water Budget Approach

7,600 gallons – that is the amount of water a household annually saves when the irrigation system is designed and maintained with a Water Budget approach. Created by the EPA’s WaterSense program, this tool helps landscape designers and irrigation professionals fulfill the necessary criteria specified in the WaterSense New Home Specification.  Continue reading