Best Practice Guide

Commercial Office Buildings

Introduction

Planning an Energy Program

Funding and Approval

Lighting

Building Envelope

Central HVAC System

Distributed Generation

Demand Response

Commissioning

Procurement Policy

Water Use

Water Audits

Bathroom Fixtures

Landscaping and Outdoor Areas

Education

Energy Efficiency in Telecommuting

Resources and Appendices

Lessons Learned


Adobe Systems Incorporated and Cushman & Wakefield

Arden Realty and next>edge

Cypress Semiconductor

Equity Office Properties

Glenborough Realty Trust

Natural Resources Defense Council

Qualcomm

Swinerton, Inc.

Transwestern Commercial Services


View the Glossary

Water Use

Water Audits

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Every Californian understands the importance of water conservation. Now energy stakeholders are beginning to realize that water use has considerable consequences for energy, especially in Southern California, which receives its water supply through incredibly energy-intensive and expensive water projects. Pumping and treating water accounts for 10 percent of California's total energy use. Although the cost to end-users of water and sewage is small compared to other utility costs, saving water is the responsibility of all Californians.

The commercial and institutional sectors use about 27 percent of the State's 7 million acre-feet of urban water, almost three times the use of the industrial sector (10 percent). Half of this is used to heat and cool buildings. Recent studies have suggested that cost-effective conservation could reduce non-residential urban water consumption from 15 to 50 percent.

Most water agencies in California offer free water use surveys (water audits) for commercial, industrial, and institutional customers. Like an energy audit, a water audit provides valuable information about a site's water use as well as options for reducing demand. Water audits focus on fixtures (flow rates and leaks), irrigation systems for landscapes and interior-scapes, and any water use associated with processes or operations. A water audit generates a detailed report listing site-specific recommendations. Depending on your local agency, you may even receive free replacement fixtures professionally installed-all for the cost of a local phone call.

Energy and Water

Energy and Water
The State Water Project delivers 2.3 million acre-feet of water each year, consuming approximately 5 billion kilowatt-hours of energy each year. It is the largest single end-user of electricity in the state. Much of this energy is used to "lift" water 2000 feet over the Tehachapi Mountains - the highest such lift of any water system in the world. Pumping one acre-foot of water to Southern California requires roughly 3,000 kilowatt-hours of energy.


Resources

Wolff, G., Cohen, R. and Nelson, B., Energy Down the Drain: the Hidden Costs of California's Water Supply. The Pacific Institute and the Natural Resources Defense Council, August 2004.

Morrison, J. and Gleick, P., Freshwater Resources: Managing the Risks Facing the Private Sector. The Pacific Institute, August 2004.