Building Codes Division takes action to support water conservation
Salem - The Department of Consumer and Business Services' Building Codes Division (BCD) has taken the
first of many steps to make it easier for Oregonians to conserve water.
After input from the plumbing industry, the division approved two new methods that allow homeowners to
harvest rainwater and reuse wastewater. The first method involves reusing certain wastewater in homes when
the owner installs water conservation systems. The water conservation systems treat water drained from
bathtubs, showers, bathroom sinks, washing machines, and laundry tubs, and then store the water for use in
flushing toilets. The second method gives both homes and commercial buildings the ability to collect rainwater
from roofs to be used for gardens, flushing toilets, washing clothes, and in heating and air conditioning units.
Oregon joins a small group of states, including California, Washington, Ohio, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico,
and Hawaii, that are working toward allowing builders and homeowners to install wastewater conservation
systems.
The approval of these methods applies in every Oregon city and county because Oregon has a statewide
building codes system.
"With these two rulings, Oregon is making a large contribution to the advancement of a sustainable
environment for its citizens," said Ken Carlson, Oregon Plumbing Board chairman.
The Building Codes Division took this action as part of the Governor's agenda for climate change. Earlier this
year, the division worked with the Oregon Department of Energy to upgrade the energy code provisions of the
2008 Oregon Residential Specialty Code, adding new energy-efficiency provisions.
Approving the new water conservation methods is one of the first projects taken on by the division's new Green
Building Services section. The section will be the centralized point of contact for green building within the state
and will work with local governments, business groups, and the various programs within the division
(plumbing, electrical, structural, boiler, etc.) to develop standards and streamline processes to position Oregon
as a center for innovation within the green building community.
"These statewide rulings are among the first steps of many planned actions the division is looking at to promote
green building practices and conservation of scarce resources," said Andrea Simmons, manager of the Green
Building Services section.
Source: Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services
Premier Sees Greater Potential for Natural Gas Development
Premier Rodney MacDonald has pledged his government's commitment to work with industry to develop the full potential of Nova Scotia's natural gas reserves, both onshore and offshore.
In a keynote address today, Oct. 8, at the Canadian Offshore Resources Exhibition and conference ....
New Hampshire Climate Change Policy Task Force Meeting
Friday October 10, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Plymouth State University Concord, NH The
Governor's Climate Change Policy Task Force will be holding a task force
meeting on Friday, October 10, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Heritage Commons in Samuel
Read Hall on the Plymouth State University Campus. The public and media are welcome to
attend. Parking for ....
