Water and Watts

This fact sheet from the World Resources Institute outlines the interdependence of energy and water systems in North Carolina, highlighting the high water demand of thermoelectric power plants and the energy costs associated with water heating and treatment.

• In North Carolina, thermoelectric power plants account for 80% of freshwater withdrawals to satisfy cooling requirements, with an estimated consumption of 1 gallon for every 4 kWh of electricity produced.
• Water-related activities represent a significant portion of energy expenditures, with water heating comprising approximately 25% of residential energy bills and water and wastewater treatment accounting for roughly 30% of municipal energy costs.
• Adopting high-efficiency fixtures could lead to substantial savings; if 10% of North Carolina homes upgraded to WaterSense labeled toilets and faucets, it would result in $22 million in water bill savings and $9 million in energy bill savings.

APA

World Resources Institute (2009). Water and Watts. https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/southeast_water_and_watts_nc.pdf

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Water and Watts. 2009. https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/southeast_water_and_watts_nc.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Water and Watts |date=April 2009 |url=https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/southeast_water_and_watts_nc.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2009water, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Water and Watts}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2009}, month = apr, url = {https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/southeast_water_and_watts_nc.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }