For most people, the word sustainability and a career in environmental conservation, is considered new. However, Michael Laurie, owner of Watershed L.L.C. based in Vashon, Washington, sustainability and a career revolving around environmental activism is something he has been doing for over 25 years! He is currently a sustainability consultant specializing in indoor and outdoor water efficiency. He has a BS in Environmental Science from Western Washington University, an Associate of Technical Arts in Energy Management from Edmonds Community College, and a Masters in Business Administration from Seattle University. This post is the first in a series we are calling, “Ask the Experts!”

Q: 25 years ago, people were driving El Caminos and had just started to think about recycling! What was it that inspired you to start a career in sustainability consulting?

Michael Laurie: Haha. Yes, I don’t think many people have been thinking about sustainability for more than 5 years. I was inspired when I read Walden and some of the environmental books that came out around the first Earth Day in 1970. I just knew that it was something I wanted to be involved in.

Q: What are you currently working on?

ML: I am currently carrying out commercial and industrial water audits in Bellingham, commercial irrigation audits around Puget Sound, and performing individual energy audits for home owners. I am also teaching in a program that trains people in sustainable building. Some of the topics include: rainwater collection system designs, and integrated water conservation systems. So, yes, I stay very busy!

Q: What do you think is the number one easiest water conservation measure people are overlooking?

ML: I think this depends on the home. However, leaks are probably the easiest to fix and yet the most overlooked problem. Look at your water meter, if it is spinning and all of your appliances are turned off, you probably have a leak. Outside, I think most people over-water their landscape.

Q: If you could get every household in America to implement one thing to save water or energy what would it be?  What do you think is deterring them from already doing it?

ML: Actually, can I break the rules here and offer two things? I think the first thing I would recommend is to replace your old toilet with a good quality high-efficiency toilet. I want to emphasize good quality. If you buy a high-efficiency toilet, but you have to flush it multiple times, it defeats the purpose. However, the new high quality low-flow toilets work very well.

My second suggestion is to seal up the air leakage in your home. The first important step is to find where the leaks are. You probably have to hire someone to perform a blower door test, which can be kind of expensive. However, the repair is very low in cost and easy to do. The cost of energy lost to air leaks can be tremendous, especially if you live in a particularly hot or cold climate.

I think in both of these cases, the initial cost is what is holding people up. I don’t think people look at energy or water conservation in a smart economic way. Often times, people expect a fast or relatively high payback or return on their investment. Why should you set an expectation that is so much higher than your other investments? For example, if you invested in the stock market and received a 15% return, you would probably be pretty happy. However, it is common for people to expect a much faster or greater return on the investments they make in conservation related technologies. Why not set your expectation to at least equal to your other investments. Further, why not even set it lower than that, like maybe 10%, due to all of the other benefits conservation brings to our environment.

Q: What do you see as the next big thing in water conservation for the home owner?

ML: I think the big next push will be a cumulative approach combining water and energy conservation. This connection has always existed, but we are just starting to realize its importance. If you put in an energy efficient washing machine, you can easily see how you save energy and water. However, this connection applies to all other water saving devices due to the energy required to purify, transport, and pump the water in your home! Depending on the efficiency of the energy used, saving water also probably means pulling carbon dioxide out of the air as well.