As a system supplier of wind, solar, water harvesting and gray water recycling sytems, Metropolitan Industries has taken a leadership role by educating and helping contractors, plumbers, engineers and inspectors navigate their way through this new frontier of opportunity.

Company raises Green awareness

By: Joseph Sanchez
As energy prices rise and our limited resources such as water continue to dwindle, our Federal and State governments are considering many new technologies to reduce consumption such as rain water harvesting, gray water recycling and solar domestic hot water heating.
According to an article on Forbes.com, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on July 9 announced rules that will finally allow developers of wind, solar and other green energy projects to apply for a total of $3 billion in federal grants to cover upfront project costs. The article states that under Treasury Department guidelines, the Department of Energy will disburse cash grants worth 30% of upfront costs for projects that start construction by the end of 2010. This funding is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and will be critical to boosting the demand for these technologies.
As a system supplier of wind, solar, water harvesting and gray water recycling systems, Metropolitan Industries has taken a leadership role by educating and helping contractors, plumbers, engineers and inspectors navigate their way through this new frontier of opportunity.
This proactive stance inspired the company to construct a 2000 sq. ft. working indoor/outdoor “green” display facility in 2008, known as Metro-Green, that allows association groups, universities, government leaders, decision makers and others the chance to witness all green technologies available and installed under one roof. It takes theory to a whole new level by actually applying it in the field for all to see.
Touring Metro-Green is one aspect of an intensive seminar conducted by the company at their headquarters once a month. The purpose of the seminar is to educate contractors, facility managers, architects, engineers and inspectors about the available types of green systems, how they work, best installation practices, available tax credits and/or rebates for green installations, and various plumbing codes related to green systems or the lack thereof.

A recent visit by memebers of the Illinois Plumbing Inspectors Association recently was a unique opportunity to address and inform inspectors of the need to adopt and legislate an enforcable set of codes related to green pumping applications.

A recent visit by members of the Illinois Plumbing Association this summer was a unique opportunity to address and inform inspectors of the need to adopt and legislate an enforceable set of codes. Of course, it is up to each individual state, not the inspectors, to adopt a code but the spread of awareness is effective, given the fact that technology is outpacing regulation. Currently, only four states have published guidelines regarding  water harvesting and gray water recycling. Those states are Virginia, Texas, Oregon and Hawaii.
Engineers, Architects and Contractors working in the United States without official code to regulate gray water reuse and water harvesting/reuse only have informal guidelines to guide them as published in the Uniform Plumbing Code of 2009, International Plumbing Code of 2009, The American Water Works Association for reclaimed water and the American Society of Plumbing Engineers in regards to gray water reuse systems.
As these water re-use applications gain more and more popularity, the states will eventually catch up with some type of code to regulate their installations. Metropolitan Industries will continue to be an advocate for education and awareness and encourages all who are interested to visit www.MetroGreen.US or www.greenwatersystems.us. The company hopes that their working exhibit can help set an example as a possible standard moving forward. To schedule a private tour of our Metro Green Energy and Water Independent facility visit the www.MetroGreen.US or call Joe Sanchez at 815-886-9200 ext. 260.