The Saving Water, Saving Energy blog provides the latest news, resources and analysis on water, energy, and climate change issues with an emphasis on the inextricable connections between water and energy, also know as the Water-Energy Nexus.
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Seal the Deal is a new campaign launched by the United Nations that aims to ensure a global commitment to addressing climate change by reducing harmful global warming pollution. Consider joining the campaign by urging your local businesses to sign on before its too late.
Today I gave a short presentation for a group in Baltimore, MD on the energy embedded in water and the potential water and energy savings that can be obtained through water efficiency.
Many states are turning to greywater - typically defined as the wastewater that comes from clothes washers, showers and bathroom sinks - as an alternative water supply to help them address local water shortages. Using greywater is illegal in many states but lifting these out-dated bans can help communities create 'new,' low energy water supplies that can be used for a variety of purposes.
A new report by UBS Wealth Management is predicting that the market for concentrated solar power is is poised to take off, with projected growth of almost 20 gigawatts in new capacity over the next decade. In general, solar thermal power production requires significant amounts of water and most plants currently proposed in the U.S. are sited in the water-scarce Southwest.
Our friends over at American Rivers have just released a new report highlighting eight forward-looking communities that have become more resilient to the impacts of climate change by embracing green infrastructure.
The last two days of the GWPC’s Water/Energy Sustainability Symposium were similar to the first: tons of great information on all things related to the water-energy nexus.
The first day of the Groundwater Protection Council’s Water/Energy Sustainability Symposium featured some great presentations and loads of information on the connections between water and energy.
Thanks to a new federal program, states will be receiving $300 million this Fall to provide rebates for consumers interested in swapping out their old, inefficient appliances for new EnergyStar labele
Climate change is already impacting our rivers. In order to minimize these impacts, river and watershed groups need to urge our policy makers to take immediate action. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is encouraging environmentalists to forge new partnerships with low-income and minority groups to make sure that the climate crisis is properly addressed.
It looks like water conservation not only works, it works fast. Last week, the City of Los Angeles announced that thanks to their aggressive water conservation efforts, the city has reduced its water consumption by 17% in just one year.
Emily Green wrote a great article called The Dry Garden: Want to save energy? Start by saving water, for the Los Angeles Times last Friday in which she spoke with Peter Gleick from the Pacific Institute about how to address the topic of water and climate change without leaving everyone in the room “utterly depressed and helpless.” Gleick’s answer: “If you want to save energy, save water.”
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced that $300 million in funding will be made available for states to implement programs allowing consumers to turn in old, inefficient appliances for new energy-saving models. Make sure your state allocates the funding to water-using appliances – such as dishwashers and clothes washers – to take advantage of the synergic benefits of saving energy by saving water.
A new paper written by researchers from the United States and Canada features two case studies that clearly describe why the energy embedded in water needs to be incorporated into water supply and wastewater management decisions.
The Sonoma County Water District in California recently announced that their customers will soon be able to receive installation of water- and energy-efficient fixtures in their homes or businesses for free. Perhaps most interesting is that the program will be used to acquire carbon-reduction credits.
The Natural Resources Defense Council in partnership with UC Santa Barbara's Bren School of Environmental Science and Management released a new report last week that found that by simply implementing low impact development (LID) practices - such as bioswales, green roofs, rainwater harvesting, rain gardens and green streets - California could create a huge new water supply and put a significant dent in their energy demands and greenhouse gas emissions.
Not many people think about energy conservation as a way to boost water supplies but the potential is huge. Roger Duncan, General Manager of Austin Energy in Austin, TX, recently explained to City Council members in the drought-stricken city that they could save upwards of a billion gallons of water by 2020 simply by reducing the electricity received from a local coal-fired power plant by just one-third.
Carol Maas, Innovation and Technology Director for the POLIS Water Sustainability Project based in Victoria, BC, recently sent me a press release about a new coalition of water professionals, university think-tanks, environmental and citizen-based groups who are urging the province of Ontario to adopt a cutting-edge water conservation plan.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will be hosting Irrigation and Energy Conservation Field Days & Workshops on August 26, 2009 at the Haskell Agricultural Laboratory in Concord, Nebraska. The event will take place from 9am to 3:30pm and is designed to provide participants, "with valuable information on irrigation management that will help you save water and money."
On July 14, the Sonoma County Water Agency notified its customers that storage levels in its tanks are dropping due to spiking water demand, and that additional water pumping to make-up for the increased demand would quickly exceed the reliable capacity of the water system. In a recent opinion piece Mike Reilly, who served 12 years on Sonoma County's Board of Supervisors, explains that reducing peak demand isn't the only reason to conserve: "There is one other compelling reason for water conservation that has not been discussed. Saving water also means significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions."
The SWSE blog is produced by Travis Leipzig, River Network's Rivers, Energy & Climate Program Coordinator.