Green Plumbers USA

When recently attending the Green Plumbers Conference in Las Vegas, I was struck with how far the Green Plumbers have come in the US since being brought over from Australia in 2006. I was one of 110 attendees from all over the country who participated in a very educational five days of intense training classes, and came away with a much better understanding of how to cope with water shortages that are now starting to show up in many parts of the country. During the course of the conference you begin to see how limited the Earth’s fresh water supply really is, and you also realize how large a part the Plumbing Industry will play in making sure everyone will have fresh water in the future. While at the conferance, I also received my certification to teach the Green Plumbers program, which I have been wanting to do for some time now.

The Green Plumbers started in Australia with the advent of a very long and serious drought that still going on some 14 years later, and had the support of local governments, various industry members including manufacturers, as well as the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO). The goal was to have the Green Plumbers advise and educate the public on how to conserve both water and energy, since the two go together.

The Green Plumbers USA are now doing the same thing in our country, and I can only see them growing in leaps and bounds. Like their Australian counterparts, Green Plumbers USA is also collaborating with many different Agencies and Associations, City and County Governments, Manufacturers, and Water and Energy Utility Companies from all over the country. These include the PHCC, International Plumbers Union, P.I.P.E., Nexstar, and IAPMO (UPC) to name a few, and the list is growing. I do not believe the cooperation between all of these groups would have happened just a few years ago, but it shows just how serious this water and energy problem is becoming in our country.

One thing I noticed was that when the subject of Climate Change was brought up, the room got very tense. People’s feelings run very deep on this subject both pro and con, and there was some heated discussion on the subject. When this was occurring, I determined that it really does not matter how you feel about Climate Change, the “Green” movement is firmly entrenched and moving forward at a rapid pace.

Our industry is at the forefront of making a positive difference in people’s lives, all we have to do is step up and do it. This was confirmed to me, when we attended the Water Sense Show that was being put on in conjunction with the conference, and I saw row after row of new water and energy saving products on display. The show proved how many of the name brand manufacturers have really gotten on board with going Green, and have spent millions of dollars either retooling existing products, or developing new ones. There is no turning back now, as the die is cast.

From a business standpoint, what I like about the Green Plumbers is that they train you to become advisers for your customers on how to conserve water, energy, and therefore money. This allows us to send our Techs into customer’s houses loaded with honest and valuable information, which will in turn help them while making our planet a cleaner and safer place to live in. This program is a perfect fit for Plumbers, and I feel we really need to take advantage of it. After all, we know about water and sewer systems, and we know how to install High Efficiency Plumbing Fixtures. We are invited into people’s homes, and therefore have access to their Plumbing & Heating Systems; all of which makes it a perfect storm for plumbing companies to provide a valuable service for their customers, while growing their companies.

Becoming certified as a Green Plumber requires some money, time, and effort, and involves taking a third party exam. The course itself consists of a 32 hour five part series, which covers all aspects of conserving water and energy. The testing will then be given at the completion of the entire course, so it will behoove everyone to take it in a timely manner. In addition, there is a recertification every three years in order to keep current with all of the changes in the program that are sure to come. I suspect that only the better companies will pursue this effort, and only they for the most part will reap the benefits. I feel very good about all of this, as well as the future of our industry in general.

Just my thoughts,

Gene B