Home & Garden Show spouts ways to save water
by B. William Poole on Oct. 09, 2008, under Local, SpecialThe Water Conservation Alliance of Southern Arizona is pulling together several home show vendors this weekend to showcase ways to save water.
Water CASA, a conservation collaborative made up mostly of area water providers, is sponsoring the Conservation Showcase at the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association’s fall Home & Garden Show.
The gathering of conservation vendors – most in the 1600 block of Exhibit Hall A – will show ways to save money through home improvement, said Water CASA Director Val Little.
“During a season in which much of the development industry is languishing, these merchants skirt that trend by offering products and practices that significantly cut homeowners’ costs while comforting their consciences,” Little said.
One of the gadgets in the conservation showcase is a showerhead that senses water temperature while you wait for it to get hot, said Diane Daly of Water CASA. “As soon as it gets hot, it stops and waits for you.”
Evolve’s $50 ShowerStart head can pay for itself in eight months in utility savings, the company says on its Web site.
Other highlighted products include Oasis water harvesting cisterns that look good, drip irrigation systems that can save water and Aquatain, a silicone-based swimming pool additive that cuts evaporation, Daly said.
“You put a small amount in the pool twice a week, and it cuts evaporation by up to 50 percent,” she said.
This is the first time Water CASA has had a booth at a SAHBA show. The home shows – held each April and October – feature 450 merchants in 350,000 square feet of exhibits.
Water CASA’s goal of joining in this weekend is to spread the word about water conservation, Daly said.
“Our booth is all about questions,” she said. “We’ll never try to sell you anything.”
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If You Go
• What: The fall SAHBA Home & Garden Show
• When: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday
• Where: Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave.
• Cost: $8 adults; free to ages 12 and younger; half-price Friday to the over-50 crowd; coupons for $2 off available at Circle K stores and at www.sahbahomeshow.com.
