Monday, December 15, 2008

Energy use in the provision and consumption of urban water in Australia and New Zealand

Source: CSIRO
"The report: Energy Use in the provision and consumption of urban water in Australia and New Zealand, shows a strong nexus between water and energy. Ensuring a reliable water supply for our cities into the future will require more energy due to increasing populations and the trend to develop new, more energy-intensive water sources like desalination plants, reuse and more distance sources. However, the provision of urban water services uses relatively little energy compared to heating water for residential and non-residential purposes. A 15 per cent reduction in residential hot water use could offset all energy used by water utilities in 2006/07.
Saving hot water represents a real win-win-win: it cuts energy and water use for consumers, reduces energy demand for utilities and helps households and utilities save money on energy and water bills."