Saving Water by Transforming our Electric System Marilyn A Saving Water by Transforming our Electric System Marilyn A. Brown Brook Byers Professor of Sustainable Systems Georgia Institute of Technology Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Climate Change Conference Atlanta, GA September 26, 2017

Saving Water by Transforming our Power System Estimated Georgia Water Flow in 2005: 5400 million gallons/day Sankey Diagram Source: LBNL. 2001. Further details: httpc//flowcharts.llnl.gov. LLNL-TR-475772

Water Withdrawal vs Water Consumption

Water Use at Plant Scherer Partially closed loop https://water.usgs.gov/edu/wupt-coalplant-diagram.html

Saving Water by Using Less Electricity Georgia consumes ~0.1-0.6 gallons of water per kWh. In 2015, the average annual electricity consumption for a U.S. residential utility customer was 10,800 kWh in the U.S. and 13,060 kWh in GA (~4,000 gallons). U.S. households spend 3.5% of their disposable income on energy: their “energy burden”. Atlanta has the fourth highest energy burden of any major city in the U.S. at 5.0%. For low-income households, energy burdens are 7.2% nationwide and 10.2% in Atlanta. https://www.electricchoice.com/blog/electricity-on-average-do-homes/

Conclusions We can: Save water by transforming our power system and Save water by using less electricity. At the same time we can reduce energy burdens and breath cleaner air.

For More Information— and some late night reading?? Dr. Marilyn A. Brown Brook Byers Professor of Sustainable Systems School of Public Policy Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA 30332-0345 Marilyn.Brown@pubpolicy.gatech.edu Climate and Energy Policy Lab: www.cepl.gatech.edu