Most folks in the EEBA community know there’s a connection between water and energy (and as a result, carbon). On the one hand, we use huge amounts of water to generate electricity, and managing reservoir levels in a way that supports hydroelectric generation has become an increasing issue in the West. On the other hand, we use huge amounts of energy to extract, move, treat, and deliver water and wastewater to our homes. So how much energy does it take? How much energy and carbon can you save by reducing water? We’ll explore these questions using both national averages and local case studies.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the relationship between water, energy, and carbon
• Express how and where energy is consumed in the process of supporting our homes with water
• Describe the factors that influence the energy intensity of different water supplies and specific homes
• Learn how WaterSense labeled homes certification and the tools provided by WaterSense can help address the energy embedded in water