water conservation strategies

H A N N A H Z E L L N E RM A S T E R I N E N E R G Y & E A R T H R E S O U R C E S C A N D I D A T E

J A C K S O N S C H O O L O F G E O S C I E N C E ST H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F T E X A S A T A U S T I N

WATER CONSERVATION STRATEGIES

O N T E X A S C A M P U S E S O F H I G H E R E D U C AT I O N

WATER CONSERVATION• 6% of total water use in

commercial and institutional facilities takes place in educational facilities

• The largest uses of water:• restrooms, landscaping, heating

and cooling, and cafeteria kitchens

• Implementing water-efficient practices can decrease operating costs by ~11% and energy and water use by 10% and 15% respectively.

TRACS WATER CONSERVATION SURVEY

• Best Practices in:• Irrigation and

Landscaping• Building use (Gen.

Ed. & Aux.)• Utilities

• Education• Governance and

Policy

PARTICIPATION

• 176 HEIs in Texas• 28 have

participated in some capacity• Public,

private, community, big and small

RESULTS

• Perceived Effectiveness• Increased

Awareness• TWDB

Efficiency Study: strategies that are likely to be implemented

CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE PLANS

• Need more data to look at regional trends• More awareness and monitoring is needed

state-wide• Analyze HEI enrollment size versus

irrigated acres• Commuter/community colleges’ resource

use• Public vs Private