Previous Offered Classes

Sustainable Building Advisor, Seattle, Bellingham, Poulsbo, and Spokane, WA, 2000 - Ongoing, Last classes presented in March - May, 2009.  This is a 9 month natiaonally recognized training program for architects, engineers, designers, builders, developers, real estate agents, and utility staff.  Michael teaches 5 - 8 hour sessions on indoor water efficiency, water accounting, landscape irrigation efficiency, low impact development stormwater control, on-site wastewater control, and water policy.  Classes include field trips to see examples of water saving features in local buildings and landscapes.  Mr. Laurie is currently updating the curriculum for this program.

Building Operator Certification Program, Seattle, WA, 2001- Ongoing, last class presented was an 8 hour class in Renton, WA in Feb. 2009.  Mr. Laurie has researched and presented several classes on “Water Efficiency Practices for Building Operators” in the Building Operator Certification Program.  The work included creating a 40 page class manual which he will be updating in Fall 2009.  This class in water efficiency is offered to help building operators identify cost-effective water efficiency practices.  Students learn how to prioritize operation and maintenance water savings measures in their building. The class starts with ways to find savings opportunities by looking at the water/sewer bills.  Other subject areas include deduct meters, leaks, faucets, showerheads, toilets, urinals, cooling towers, and garbage disposals.  Students measure the water use of some equipment in a quick walk through of the facility.

Savings in the Reidential Landscape, Trilogy Homeowners Asociation, Redmond, WA, May 2009 and Residential Water Efficiency, Vashon Unitarian Church, Vashon Island, WA, February, 2009.  Developed and gave 2 hour classes on saving water in the landscape through proper attention to soil, compost, mulch, plant choices, irrigation equipment choice, irrigataion equipment maintenance and operation.

Tour of the Water and Energy Efficiency Features of Michael Laurie's Home, Several tours, 2005 - 2009.  The tours included viewing and dicsussion about the Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary, Compact Fluorescent Lighting, Compost Toilet, Compost Piles, Drip irrigation, Floor and Duct insulation, Forest Stewardship Plans, Green Energy, Green Roof, Growing Medicinal Herbs, Growing Organic Vegetables, Hose Irrigation Timers, Invasive Plant Removal, LED LIghting, Low Flush Toilet, Mushroom Growing, Pesticide Free Zone, Rainwater Collection, Raised Beds made from Sustainably Harvested and Reclaimed Wood, Slope Stabilization and Restoration, Soaker Hoses, United Plant Savers Botanical Sanctuary, Water and Energy Efficient Washing Machine, and Worm Bins.

Co-developed and co-taught Water Conservation Practitioner 12-hour  training for Pacific Northwest water utility staff for the American Water Works Association, January 2008.  Project includes development of the residential and commercial landscape irrigation and commercial/industrial indoor water conservation sections of a comprehensive training and certification program that has been provided once for water utility staff throughout the Northwest and future presentations are planned.

Cost Effective Water Conservation, Palouse Water Summit, Moscow, Idaho, November, 2008,   Developed and made a presentation on cost effective residential and commercial water conservation at this annual conference.

Design and Installation of Rainwater Catchment and Drip Irrigation for Homeowners, Vashon, WA, May, 2008.  Developed and presented 2 hour practical, hands on class on how to convert a barrel to use for rainwater collection and how to install 1 drip irrigation for one planting area.

Landscape Irrigation Water Conservation for Homeowners, Kent, WA, May, 2008.   2 hour class on practical water landscape water conservation for homeowners sponsored by the city of Kent.  Presentation included information on soils, compost, mulch, plant choices, irrigation equipment, and best management practices.  Class included hands on demonstration of a wide range of water efficiency equipment.

Practical Water Conservation for Hotels, Seattle Hotels Association Workshop on Resource Conservation, Seattle, WA, April 2008,   Developed and gave a presentation on hotel water conservation including many examples of cost effective water conservation projects that I worked on with hotel clients.

 Water Savings In The Garden Center for Urban Horticulture, Seattle, WA, June 2007  How to conserve water in your garden, with a focus on irrigation systems, soil, plants, and compost. This class will include a holistic approach to water use in the garden including choices that impact water needs, and also a practical hands-on portion with a look at some different types of irrigation systems, how they are used, how to convert to drip and soaker hose systems, maintenance issues like leaks and blockage of heads, and how to check your soil.

Pesticide/Fertilizer/Water Audit Workshops, Vashon, WA, April, 2007.  As part of the Garden Green, Drink Clean program.  Michael Laurie carried out five, 3 hour workshops at Vashon residents homes to guide them toward more green gardening practices.  Workshops included extensive hands on demonstration of soil corers, weed hounds, smart watering equipment, making a drawing of each landscape, finding problems in the irrigation system, and much more.  They also included discussion and pointing out examples of soil/compost/mulch, natural disease control, natural insect control, smart watering,

Water Efficiency Audit Programs, Partnership for Water Conservation, Bellevue, WA, April 2007
A two hour presentation on the need for residential landscape irrigation audit programs.  Included information on the new Washington State Water Efficiency Rule, Impact of Climate Change on Water in Washington State, lessons learned from 7 residential landscape irrigation audit programs that I have worked on, important considerations when designing and implementing an audit program, typical savings opportunities discovered at customer’s landscapes, opportunities for reducing the cost of audit programs.  The audience for this presentation was the Partnership for Water Conservation, which is devoted to water conservation in the Puget Sound region has over 40 water utility members.