Energy down the drain. The energy saving potential in water conservation

Panel: Panel 6: Products and appliances

Author:
Diana Avasoo, WSP Environmental, Sweden

Abstract

On national level, providing and using water consumes large amounts of energy. Energy production frequently uses or pollutes water. Most electricity production also contributes to global climate change, which is likely to have tremendous impacts on water availability and management. Yet energy and water issues are rarely considered together. A third of the world’s population lives in water-stressed areas. By 2025, this is expected to rise to two-thirds.

Water is life – therefore water needs a summer study of its own to cover source and conveyance, treatment, distribution, end- use and wastewater treatment. In this paper we concentrate on water from an energy saving point of view. Studies show that new homes are using 12-60 % more water than their existing counterparts. At least 10-20 per cent of the overall water consumption can be saved with very simple measures in residential and in non-residential buildings. We are showing some examples that quickly can reduce the water and hot water consumption at a low cost.