Green Advantage

• The Energy Water Nexus
• Acequia Goes Green
• LEED Water Efficiency Credits
• EPA WaterSense Partners
• Environmental Stewardship Legacy Program
• Acequia Cares

Acequia Goes Green

At Acequia, we are committed to the triple bottom line – equity, ecology and economy; and we believe in leading by example. 

That’s why we’re making every possible effort to capture the GREEN ADVANTAGE.  By incorporating environmentally sustainable strategies into our everyday business operations, we are striving to reduce waste and minimize our impact on the environment.  Beyond the business of saving water, we’re examining our own waste stream and carbon footprint so that we can determine the necessary steps towards our goals of zero waste and significant reduction in our use of energy. 

Current in-house steps we’ve taken to make a difference:

- Our eco-leasing program allows reuse, repurposing and/or recycling of our controllers
- Many of our employees telework, trimming down auto travel which in turn saves energy and reduces emissions
- We regularly utilize online meeting software which drastically diminishes local and long distance travel reducing emissions, saving energy, time and money
- Existing working environments have been retrofitted with low flow water restrictors on indoor plumbing devices and CFL bulbs in light fixtures to increase water efficiency and reduce energy consumption
- New and/or remodeled working environments are sporting non-toxic, low VOC painted walls and other low-emitting materials on applicable surfaces
- Electronics are connected utilizing smart strip power strips, and when feasible, shut down during non-working hours lowering overall energy use
- Existing supplies of paper, plastics, glass and aluminum are recycled to help save precious resources, reduce landfill waste and discourage continued toxic manufacturing processes
- New purchases of paper products are 100% post consumable recycled products while other office supplies are screened and selected according to their eco-friendliness content
- Cleaning products purchased and used are Green Seal approved ensuring we are doing our part in conserving resources and habitats and minimizing ozone, toxic pollution and waste effects

New and forthcoming practices currently in-the-works:

- Tracking the value chain of all components making up our controllers and redesigning with eco-effective parts manufactured by environmentally conscious companies
- Replace existing computers as needed with EPEAT® Gold rated devices* to improve energy and cost savings and to reduce the environmental impacts of our IT operations
- Conduct our communication business with carriers supporting green technology
- Install condensate and rain water harvesting system on company headquarters property to improve water efficiency and groundwater recharge
- Purchase equipment displaying Energy Star and WaterSense Label whenever feasible
- Future purchases of office furniture which are refurbished, repurposed or made from products that do not contain or support substances deemed unsafe or harmful to the environment
- Monitor our company wide changes in diminishing our carbon footprint to reinforce the rewards of environmental stewardship
- Engage our employees in becoming environmental stewards outside the office
- Continue to examine our company practices and product purchases to move towards becoming eco-intelligent and having a positive impact on our environment

*About EPEAT - The EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) program evaluates computer desktops, laptops, and monitors based on 51 environmental criteria developed through an extensive stakeholder consensus process supported by US EPA. EPEAT is based on the ANSI approved IEEE 1680 standard. All EPEAT registered products must meet 23 mandatory environmental criteria. An additional 28 optional criteria are used to determine whether products earn EPEAT Bronze, Silver, or Gold recognition. The EPEAT system is managed by the Green Electronics Council, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Portland, OR.  Compared to traditional computer equipment, all EPEAT-registered computers have reduced levels of cadmium, lead, and mercury to better protect human health and the environment. They are more energy efficient, which reduces emissions of climate changing greenhouse gases. They are also easier to upgrade and recycle. In fact, manufacturers must offer environmentally responsible recycling options for all EPEAT-registered products.