Home Depot, Tech promote conservation

Georgia Tech and The Home Depot have joined forces to promote water conservation in four communities contiguous to the Georgia Tech campus.

Georgia Tech’s Institute Partnerships department is opening doors to community neighborhood associations and schools in the Centennial Place, English Avenue, Home Park and Midtown areas for representatives from The Home Depot to share expertise and direction on how residents can save water. Presentations focusing on low-flow toilets, shower and faucet installation are being made to local neighborhood and tenant associations, parent-teacher association meetings, and in the classrooms of participating schools. Participants also learn about general water conservation measures for their homes, and those who attend receive complimentary gift cards to The Home Depot.

“Georgia Tech’s mission is not only to set an example for environmental stewardship, but also to make sure that our neighbors have access to the resources they need to make conservation a way of life,” said Andrea Ashmore, director of Institute Partnerships. “Recent winter rains certainly have been welcome, but have not alleviated the importance of conserving our water resources.”

“Protecting and preserving our water supply is critical to our environment, our economy and our health,” said J.T. Rieves, regional vice president for The Home Depot. “Simple tips and products, such as low-flow products for the home, can make a tremendous impact on the amount of water residents use. We are happy to help educate Atlantans on the importance of water conservation.”

Water conservation seminars will be held through May. Additionally, Georgia Tech’s Center for Education Integrating Science, Math and Computing (CEISMC) is working with The Home Depot to adapt the home improvement retailer’s water conservation information into a curriculum for six partnering schools for the 2008-09 school year. These schools include Centennial Place Elementary, Inman Middle, Grady High, Bethune Elementary, Kennedy Middle and Washington High. Eventually, the goal is to make these curriculum materials available to all Atlanta Public Schools as well as other
systems throughout the state.