A synopsis of the program to reduce the energy used to pump and treat water for urban residents and industry in a PDF document.
The full report includes Water Management Models, Crafting Team Infrastructure, Improving Capacity, Supply-Side and Demand-Side Opportunities, Case Studies, and more.
 There is a water crisis threatening two-thirds of the world's population, warns the United Nations. Elsewhere, it often takes a drought and low groundwater supplies to get our attention on the need to reduce unnecessary water usage.
Two essential resources, water and energy, actually go hand in hand, because it takes energy to heat water and even to bring water to people's homes, notes an Alliance to Save Energy "Watergy" report, published in 2002.
"The water and wastewater sector in the United States annually consumes three percent of the total electricity consumption — equal to the total electricity consumed by the pulp, paper, and petroleum sectors," says the report. As water becomes scarcer, it's often more energy intensive to pump it, especially as it must travel greater distances from deeper in the ground.
The Alliance offers consumers combined water and energy-saving tips that will put less strain on water and energy resources and also cut overall home utility bills:
Saving Energy and Water
- Come clean without cleaning out your wallet. Cut related utility bills up to 30 percent with an Energy Star clothes washer. A washer with the Energy Star label – the government’s symbol of energy efficiency – uses about half the energy that a 10-year-old model consumes, saving up to $120 a year on combined water and energy bills. Energy Star washers, available in both top- and front-loading models, use much less water – 18 to 25 gallons per load, compared to 40. (www.energystar.gov)
- Switch to cold water washing of laundry in top loading in top-loading, energy-inefficient washing machines to save energy and up to $63 a year—detergents formulated for cold water get clothes just as clean.
- Save up to $100 on combined water and energy bills over the lifetime of an Energy Star dishwasher. Compared to conventional models, it uses 25 percent less hot water and energy than the federal minimum standard for energy consumption.
- Load ‘em up! For additional savings, do full loads of clothes and dishes. Most of the energy used by dishwashers is to heat a set amount of water, so running smaller loads wastes both energy and water. Air dry dishes for added savings.
- Approximately 15 percent of home energy use goes to heat water. A high-efficiency water heater may use 10 to 50 percent less energy than some conventional models, for substantial savings. For additional savings, insulate the efficient water heater and hot water pipes with approved insulation materials, and turn down the thermostat to 130 degrees. It's safer—less likelihood of scalding yourself or your children—and certainly hot enough to wash clothes or dishes.
- Go with the flow. To reduce water usage, use a low flow shower head — it saves up to five gallons a minute. Take showers vs. baths. Take shorter showers vs. longer showers. Shower with a spouse — it cuts water usage and may even improve a relationship. (The Alliance offers no expertise in the latter — we'll save that for the relationship-oriented talk shows!)
- Don't be a drip. Fix those drippy, leaky faucets around the house. Same with leaky toilets. Small leaks add up and create a river of waste. A leaky toilet can waste up to 52,800 gallons a year. Replace old faucet aerators. Newer models use less water and provide more water pressure. Consider water-saving faucet attachments. Also check for leaks in pipes, hoses, and couplings.
- Forget that brick in your toilet tank. That can damage the tank. Instead, place a plastic bottle filled with water in your toilet tank to save some 11 gallons of water per day.
Are you in really hot water? Purchase an efficient hot water heater if you're in the market for new one. Insulate your hot water pipes and water heater with approved insulation materials. Turn down the thermostat on your hot water heater to 130 degrees. It's safer — less likelihood of scalding yourself or your children — and certainly hot enough to wash clothes or dishes.
- Shift energy-intensive tasks — laundry and dish washing — to off-peak energy demand hours to increase electricity reliability during heat waves.
- Know when to turn it on — and off. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth and save four gallons a minute. A family of four who follows their dentist's brushing instructions can be cavity-free and save 200 gallons a week. Turn off the water when you shave/shampoo. Rather than letting the water run, soak pots and pans while you scrape them clean.
- Recycling isn't just for trash. Don't let water go down the drain when there may be another use for it. Collect rainwater, water used to wash off fruits and vegetables, and water from cleaning your fish tank, and reuse it to water plants. Connect gutter downspouts to rain-barrels or direct them to trees or plants.
Saving Water Outdoors
- Use a broom or sweeper instead of a hose to clean the garage, driveway, or sidewalk.
- Let it grow. Longer grass will reduce the loss of water to evaporation. Mowing too often requires more water.
- Reap what you sow—planting and reaping. Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation. Plant during spring or fall when watering requirements are lower. Water earlier or later in the day when temperatures are lower. Choose lower maintenance plants.
- Watering passersby or your neighbors on the sidewalk? Adjust sprinklers to water lawns and plants, not pavement or people.
- Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle, and turn off the water while you water your plants or wash your car. Turn it off at the faucet when you're through. Better yet, use a bucket of water and a sponge to wash your car and get better exercise.
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