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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Mayor Nickels proposes water-efficient product labeling
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
7/25/2003 4:00:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of the Mayor (206) 684-4000
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Mayor Nickels proposes water-efficient product labeling
WATER STAR label would compliment ENERGY STARŪ label
SEATTLE- Mayor Greg Nickels today joined with Friends of the Earth to urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement voluntary water-efficient labeling for consumer products. The proposal is endorsed by more than 100 public agencies, private businesses and non-profit organizations.
"Sensible steps to conserve water resources are today more important than ever - for protecting our environment, for maintaining reliable water supplies, and for managing the growing costs of water and wastewater treatment service," said Nickels.
Widespread use of water-efficient product labels could help consumers make more informed decisions and save the nation more than 273 billion gallons of water and 15 billion kilowatts of energy each year, according to a recent study by the engineering and construction firm PMCL@CDM. Energy is used to pump and treat water and wastewater and to produce hot water, so saving water results in significant energy savings as well.
Research shows that consumers want to identify and select water-efficient products and they want to information to help them make purchases. Currently, no nationally recognized reference tool exists that identifies products as water-efficient. The proposal encourages EPA to request funding to establish a program modeled after the highly successful ENERGY STARŪ program, which informs consumers about a product's energy efficiency.
Under the proposal, EPA's role would be to develop a uniform water-efficiency logo and label, create a public marketing identity, and work closely with the manufacturing industry, retailers, environmental groups, and water utilities, to create voluntary testing protocols and standards for product qualification in various categories. The program would be entirely voluntary.
Manufacturers who choose to participate would be authorized to use the EPA registered water efficiency logo on their products if they submit independent lab tests showing they exceed the voluntary EPA standards. Commonly sold products that might qualify for a water-efficient label include appliances, plumbing products, cooling systems, irrigation equipment, landscape materials, and other commercial and industrial equipment.
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Office of the Mayor
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