Saving Water Saves Energy
Make the Drops-to-Watts Connection
It's Time for a New Way to Think About Water and Energy
With climate change concerns, pervasive droughts, and high energy prices across the country, nearly everyone is looking for ways to conserve resources and cut costs. By looking for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense® label, your family can use less water, energy, and money while ensuring product performance.
Many Americans know about the importance of saving energy and water. But few know about the drops to watts connection—that it takes energy to pump, heat, treat, and deliver the water we use every day. We turn on the bathroom lights and the shower without realizing how closely related water and energy are to each other.
Drops & Watts: You Can't Have One Without the Other
On average, the annual energy used to deliver and treat water for only 10 households could power a refrigerator for more than two years. In some areas of the country, that estimate is very low. Heating water for showering, bathing, shaving, cooking, and cleaning also requires a considerable amount of energy. Homes with electric water heaters, for example, spend one-fourth of their total electric bills just to heat water.
How Can We Start Saving?
One of the simplest ways to save both water and energy is to install water–efficient products. WaterSense labeled products not only save water, but can help reduce your energy bills. Installing WaterSense labeled faucet aerators in your bathrooms, for example, costs just a few dollars but could save you enough electricity to dry your hair every day for a year!
You can choose from thousands of models of WaterSense labeled plumbing products. What’s more, you can be sure the products will not only save resources, but will perform well. All WaterSense labeled products are tested and independently certified to ensure they meet EPA’s criteria for both efficiency and performance.
Start saving both water and energy! Look for WaterSense labeled products and ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances that use water. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.
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