The Energy & Water Nexus: The Connection with Landscaping

April 4, 2022, 12:00 PM PDT

What is the connection between energy and the landscape? The correlation between landscape best practices and energy savings is well documented. Consider that over 7% of all water in California is applied to non-agricultural landscape, a remarkable number considering 81% of water use in CA is applied to agriculture. Because this water must be moved, sometimes for hundreds of miles, and treated, there is a substantial amount of energy associated with water consumption in California.

Here is the math. 19% of all California electrical energy is applied to water use in some form. Of this energy, 16% is utilized for urban water treatment and supply. Now consider 38% of urban water supply is applied to the landscape… 19% x 16% x 38%... over 1% of ALL California energy use is associated with landscape water consumption.

While you may not have been aware of the connection between water use and energy before this talk, following the event you understand that the energy required to irrigate non-agricultural landscapes in California is equivalent to the annual energy use of about 500,000 homes.