{"id":5622,"date":"2013-01-30T16:46:23","date_gmt":"2013-01-30T23:46:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unrbep.org\/?p=5622"},"modified":"2013-01-30T16:46:23","modified_gmt":"2013-01-30T23:46:23","slug":"consider-the-connection-between-water-usage-and-energy-savings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unrbep.org\/dealerportal\/consider-the-connection-between-water-usage-and-energy-savings\/","title":{"rendered":"Consider the Connection between Water Usage and Energy Savings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Source: Energy Manager Today.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The consumption of water and energy is connected in many ways. \u00a0As such, when one focuses on saving water there is often a reduction in energy consumption and vice versa.\u00a0This is true whether we are looking at\u00a0personal usage\u00a0or\u00a0industrial usage.<\/p>\n

Consider, for example, the water used for a long, hot shower.\u00a0 Shortening the duration of the shower will save on the quantity of water as well as the energy associated in heating the water.\u00a0 Additional water conservation activities such as running a clothes washer or a dishwasher only when full, save both water and energy.<\/p>\n

On an industrial scale we see similar effects.\u00a0 For the most part, in paper mills\u00a0water<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is delivered to mills from local rivers.\u00a0 The incoming water temperature varies seasonally, but suffice it to say river water in Maine and Minnesota (where\u00a0our mills<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0are located) is cold.\u00a0 Yet most of the water we use within the mills is hot.\u00a0 And it takes energy to heat that water.\u00a0 Therefore any initiatives that mills undertake to conserve water will typically result in energy savings as well.
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\nSaving electricity also generates indirect savings of water.\u00a0 In fact the thermoelectric power sector accounts for nearly half of all\u00a0water consumed in the US<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(roughly 200 million gallons per day).\u00a0 So simply turning off lights and other electrical devices can also lead to water savings.<\/p>\n

While many individuals and businesses are motivated by the financial savings associated with conservation, there are also significant environmental benefits to be had.\u00a0 The\u00a0EPA estimates<\/a><\/strong>that if just one percent of American homes was retrofitted with water-efficient fixtures, we could save about 100 million kWh of electricity per year and avoid adding 80,000 tons of greenhouse gas to the atmosphere.<\/p>\n

Laura Thompson is director of technical marketing and sustainable development for Sappi Fine Paper.<\/em><\/p>\n

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