In simple terms, every drop of water saved in the U.S. saves energy, and every unit of energy saved saves water. That overlap has come to be known as the energy-water nexus. For the past 30 years, strategies to conserve energy and increase the efficiency of energy use have been widely pursued.
Similar efforts in the conservation and efficient use of water have occurred over the past 20-plus years. However, the two communities have historically not worked together in a coherent, collaborative manner, and instead generally created separate but parallel efforts. These separate activities could realize significant benefits from coordination.
Recognizing this need for collaborative actions, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) secured a grant from the Turner Foundation to bring these two communities together to establish a blueprint for future joint efforts and to envision a policy agenda that could drive actions at the federal, state, local, and watershed levels.
