Water Conservation Leaders Convene on the Final Day of 2007 For Rain Bird's Eighth...

Water Conservation Leaders Convene on the Final Day of 2007 For Rain Bird's
Eighth Intelligent Use of Water(TM) Summit
Foremost Industry Leaders Urge Industry Professionals to Take a Proactive Role
in Water Conservation Management and Planning

PASADENA, Calif., Dec. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Conservation experts and green
industry professionals convened today in Pasadena, Calif., at The Intelligent
Use of Water Summit VIII, A Look at Global Conservation Initiatives and
Strategies: Leading By Example, for a forum focused on water conservation
initiatives and strategies relating to landscape irrigation.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071231/LAM026)
Hosted by Rain Bird Corporation, the leading manufacturer and provider of
irrigation products and services, the four-person panel gathered to discuss
challenges industry professionals and the public currently face and ways in
which they can contribute to furthering outdoor water conservation.
"Our commitment extends beyond products to partnering with individuals and
organizations around the world who share a similar interest in water
efficiency," said Rain Bird Corporate Marketing Director Dave Johnson. "We
also seek to educate people about the issues caused by water scarcity while
helping to present solutions to potential problems. It is in that spirit that
we present these Summits and panel discussions."
Today's panel featured members with water conservation expertise as it
relates to academia, research, media and landscape design. The panelists
were: Mike Binns - Regional Landscape Director, Camden Living (Houston, TX);
Roger Cook -- Landscape contractor, This Old House (Burlington, MA); Marty
Eberhardt -- Executive Director of The Water Conservation Garden; Recipient of
the 2007 Intelligent Use of Water Award (El Cajon, CA); David Zoldoske --
Director, Center for Irrigation Technology (Fresno, CA).
The New-Year's-Eve Day summit began with Rain Bird's presentation of an
award check for $10,000 to panelist Marty Eberhardt, Executive Director of The
Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon, in recognition of The Water
Conservation Garden being named winner of the 2007 Intelligent Use of Water
Award earlier this year.
"We believe that you need to work on both the emotions and the brain,"
Eberhardt said of the Garden's mission. "Right now we're feeling that, with
the water situation as it is, there might be mandatory water rationing soon
and we're quickly trying to come up with new education programs."
In addition to calling for irrigation and landscaping professionals to
assist in the development and implementation of water conservation initiatives
and management, the panel emphasized the need to question accepted trade
practices. They also acknowledged the role that industry professionals can
have in influencing individuals and organizations to adopt water-conserving
practices.
Panelist Roger Cook, Landscape contractor, This Old House said, "We need
to look ahead, but there's a lot of things we can do now in terms of water
conservation. The more we can show people through television, through
articles, and any other way we can, the more people will do this."
In addition to hosting the bi-annual Summit, Rain Bird devotes significant
resources to its Intelligent Use of Water public education campaigns, which
include: The Intelligent Use of Water Award; a series of 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; The Intelligent Use of Water Film
Competition; partnerships with non-profit organizations; development and
support of elementary and middle school curriculums; and participation in the
Tournament of Roses Parade(R), an annual worldwide stage to communicate the
need for water conservation.
Rain Bird's next Intelligent Use of Water Summit in scheduled for June
2008 in Zaragoza, Spain.
ABOUT RAIN BIRD CORPORATION
Based in Azusa, CA, Rain Bird Corporation is the leading manufacturer and
provider of irrigation products and services. Since its beginnings in 1933,
Rain Bird has offered the industry's broadest range of irrigation products for
farms, golf courses, sports arenas, commercial developments and homes in more
than 130 countries around the world. Rain Bird has been awarded more than 130
patents, including the first in 1935 for the impact sprinkler. Rain Bird and
The Intelligent Use of Water(TM) is about using water wisely. Its commitment
extends beyond products to education, training and services for the industry
and the community. Rain Bird maintains state-of-the-art manufacturing assembly
facilities in the United States, France, Sweden and Mexico.
http://www.rainbird.com
SOURCE Rain Bird Corporation

William Ostedt, wostedt@ppmgcorp.com, or Melissa Farrar, mfarrar@ppmgcorp.com,
both of The Pollack PR Marketing Group, +1-310-556-4443, for Rain Bird
Corporation