Is Renewable Energy the Answer for Water Conservation
In the last decade, there has been a lot of discussion about climate change and the need to switch to renewable energy sources. Just recently, there has been a lot of attention surrounding the Arizona water crisis and the future of Arizona water availability. Water shortages are affecting farmers and hurting the agriculture industry in the US, but water shortages are not just an American problem; this is a global crisis.
Nearly everyone agrees that we must reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and find a way to generate more environmentally friendly power. Yet the reason why renewables are so crucial isn't always apparent. Sure, switching from coal and oil could significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions and help reduce air pollution. But what about water?
It turns out that there is a strong connection between energy production and freshwater conservation, and that link is one of the most important reasons we should be switching to renewables. So, how does it all work? This brief article will answer that question and offer a couple of solutions that can make a big difference.
Renewable energy can save vast quantities of fresh water
Water is a vital commodity. It is one of the most critical resources for our planet's survival, yet it is not treated as such. Why? Because many people don't realize how much water they use every day and how easily that water could be replaced with something more sustainable.
The switch to renewable energy can save vast quantities of fresh water and lead to many new, high-paying jobs. In addition to cutting down on CO2 emissions by switching to renewables over fossil fuels like coal (which also helps prevent air pollution), another benefit is that these jobs will not be outsourced overseas like most other industries' are nowadays.
Renewable energy can reduce freshwater dependence
One of the most water-intensive aspects of energy production is the extraction and processing of fossil fuels. For example, it takes more than 5 gallons (19 liters) of water to produce a single gallon (3.8 liters) of crude oil. Compare that with just 0.8 gallons (3 liters) for coal or less than 1 gallon (3 liters) for natural gas, and you can see how high this number is relative to other forms of energy generation.
The same goes for electricity: even though nuclear power plants use relatively low amounts of water compared to fossil fuel-based power plants, they still require far more freshwater than renewable sources like solar panels and wind turbines do.
As long as we continue using these non-renewable sources as our primary energy supply, we will need to find ways around their high levels of water consumption, which means improving technologies or finding new ways to conserve water during the extraction process.
The majority of freshwater can't be consumed
Like most people, you probably associate freshwater with drinking water. But there are many other uses for this precious resource. For example, most of the fresh water on Earth is used to produce energy and make things like food, metal, and plastic.
Only a tiny percentage of Earth's freshwater is used directly by humans for drinking and other human uses (for example, irrigation). The rest is used in industrial processes such as hydroelectricity generation or cooling towers at power plants.
So, while drinking water may be the primary concern regarding the scarce natural resources available, the majority of fresh water on Earth can't get consumed at all, and much more still goes toward supporting industrial processes that produce goods and services.
Switching to renewable energy can conserve billions of gallons
Switching to renewable energy sources can eliminate much of the freshwater withdrawals and conserve billions of gallons of water that can instead be used for food production and human consumption. It can also significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Renewable energy sources use less water than fossil fuel-based technologies, which rely on coal, natural gas, and oil extraction processes that are not only highly water-intensive but also have a very high carbon footprint.
We all need to do our part to tackle this challenge
By converting the world's power plants to renewable sources, we could drastically reduce the amount of freshwater required to provide energy. This would not only conserve water for human consumption and other purposes but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
So, you may be wondering how you can help the situation. Well, there are a few things you can do. First and foremost, you can equip your home with a solar energy system. This will not only help with global water conservation efforts, but it will also save you a ton of money each month on your power bill.
Also, you can make a difference by being mindful of your water consumption. For example, you should try your best to turn off your tap when washing your dishes and avoid taking long showers. If we all do a little bit to help with water conservation, it will add up quickly, and we can collectively overcome this severe challenge.
