Seven Ways to Save Energy by Saving Water
Though many states and localities are waking up to their water shortages and taking steps to plan for “peak water”, people generally continue to waste water and to ignore the energy-water link. In 2004 the Natural Resources Defense Council did a study in conjunction with the Pacific Institute called “Energy Down the Drain” on how saving water saves energy. We need to do more to spread the word. Here are seven ways to save energy by saving water:
1. Use local water.
Transporting water uses energy, so rainwater harvesting is a serious water-and-energy saver. According to the NRDC/Pacific Institute study “California’s State Water Project (SWP), which transports water from Northern California to Southern California is the state’s largest single energy user, consuming 2 to 3 percent of all electricity. It takes tremendous amounts of energy to pump the water 2,000 feet over the Tehachapi Mountains — the highest water lift of any water system in the world
2. Use less heated water in homes and businesses.
Heating water uses a great deal of energy. Small things magnified a million times over — like washing clothes with cold water or taking shorter showers — saves large amounts of energy.
3. Use energy-saving appliances.
Energy Star appliances will decrease water and energy use.
4. Learn from Australia.
Why reinvent the wheel? Since 2006, when the BBC reported Australia’s biggest drought in 1,000 years, the situation has not improved. In an island nation, this has a tendency to focus the mind, and water-and energy-saving inventions have been pouring forth from that country, while the government introduces policies that save energy and water almost daily.
5. Rethink your bathroom.
Toto, an innovative company from Japan (another island nation concerned about water use) offers an EcoPower hands-free faucet that recharges itself each time it is used.
6. Rip out that lawn and replace it with a rain garden.
Watering grass, fertilizing it with petroleum-based fertilizers, and mowing it with a gas or electric mower…..need I say more?
7. Eat more vegetables and grains; cut down on the beef.
Animal farming takes more energy and water. “Beef production requires large volumes of water–as much as 100 times that required to produce equivalent amounts of protein energy from grains.” (Environmental Health Perspectives, 2002 And the cows are fed from corn that is farmed using energy-hogging fertilizers, insecticides, and fossil fuels.
If you think about it, it’s impossible to separate our energy use from our water use. If we can start thinking holistically about the systems we use in our daily lives — and get our governments to create policies that promote wise use of energy and water, we’ll be more ready for the limits to resources that are only going to increase.
Posts Related to Saving Energy and Water:
All You Need to Know About Water Saving Technology Around the House
Could Wind help Save Water?
Low-Energy Water Desalination From Seawater Greenhouse
Water Crisis: Clean Tech to the Rescue?
If any of you have a pool, another way to save water AND energy at the same time, and avoid polluting the planet with plastic pool blankets, is to use a liquid pool blanket. Check out: http://www.ecosavr.com
Excellent tips. Don’t forget rainwater harvesting! It may seem like an unreliable solution at first, since it’s dependent on the weather, but a recent study by UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)argued that sever water shortages in Africa could be effectively addressed with rainwater harvesting. Read the article, it’s a very interesting and important idea.
These are excellent ways to go green and save energy
Some others to consider are green electronics. In general, electronics, like computers, printers, televisions, telephones and others, make great gifts; however, now, there is a wide selection of green electronics available by all of the leading brands, including Apple, Sony, HP, Panasonic and more.
Green electronics are those which are ENERGY STAR® qualified. ENERGY STAR® is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. Energy efficient choices save families about one third on their energy bill with similar savings in greenhouse gas emissions. An ENERGY STAR® product does not sacrifice features, style or comfort.
Green electronics would make great gifts, but really help the environment and save you money by conserving energy. Please visit http://www.whichgreenelectronics.com for more information on these products.
the best way i know to make a difference is to stop drinking bottled water! the carbon waste created by the bottled water industry is mind boggling.
Two economical easy to install devices for reducing 2 gallons with each flush are the toilet tummy and fill diverter. Check them out on http://naturesvoice-ourchoice.org/index.php/Conservation-Devices.html