Azusa, CA-Rain Bird Corporation, the leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services, is seeking nominations for its 2008 Intelligent Use of Water Award. This award recognizes persons or organizations whose innovation, leadership, ingenuity and overall commitment to improved landscape water efficiency has raised the standard for outdoor water conservation.
Both consumers and professionals are encouraged to submit their nominations for the 2008 Intelligent Use of Water Award by completing a nomination form at http://www.rainbird.com/iuow/award.htm. The deadline for nominations is June 30, 2008.
Following the close of the nomination period, an independent panel of experts will select the finalists and winner based on leadership, innovation and implementation of water-efficient measures. The recipient of the 2008 Intelligent Use of Water Award will receive $10,000 honoring his or her efforts to protect Earth’s most precious resource. The winner will also be featured in a short film to be shown at the final screening event of the Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition (www.iuowfilm.com) in Los Angeles on October 11, 2008.
Mirroring the ideals that provide the basis for Rain Bird’s guiding vision, the Intelligent Use of Water Award is designed to encourage knowledge and awareness of the need for water conservation. In 2007, The Water Conservation Garden in San Diego County, California received the first annual Intelligent Use of Water Award in recognition of their training programs and five-plus acres of exhibits that teach the public how to better conserve water in the landscape.
“As more and more demand is placed on the world’s supply of fresh water, increased scrutiny of water use spurs us to implement practical solutions that provide economic and environmental benefits,” said Dave Johnson, Rain Bird’s director of corporate marketing. “By recognizing these types of achievements through the Intelligent Use of Water Award, we aim to inspire others to do the same.”
The 2008 Intelligent Use of Water Award will be judged by an esteemed panel of landscape and water-efficiency experts, each with a unique understanding of the relationship between better landscape designs and reduced water waste. Returning as judges for the second annual Intelligent Use of Water Award are:
Elizabeth Cutright, editor, Water Efficiency, The Journal for Water Conservation Professionals
Dan Stark, executive director of the American Public Gardens Association
Ron Stoltz, director of the School of Landscape Architecture at The University of Arizona
In addition, Marty Eberhardt, executive director of The Water Conservation Garden and winner of the 2007 Intelligent Use of Water Award, will join this year’s judging panel.Rain Bird’s Intelligent Use of Water Award is the company’s most recent example of its efforts to create programs and initiatives that boost awareness of water conservation. Rain Bird devotes significant resources to its Intelligent Use of Water public education initiatives. These include:
The Intelligent Use of Water Award
Bi-annual Intelligent Use of Water Summits
White papers
Public service announcements
Membership on the Alliance for Water Efficiency and the steering committee advising the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its WaterSense product labeling program
Partnerships with non-profit organizations
Development and support of elementary and middle school curriculums
Participation in the Tournament of Roses Parade®