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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 13-06

January 14, 2013

CONTACT:

Chris Gilbride / Ted Timbers (DEP) (718) 595-6600
John Martin (US EPA) (212) 637-3662
Dayle Zatlin (NYSERDA) (518) 862-1090
Chris Olert (Con Edison) (212) 460-4111

City, State, and Federal Government Along With Consolidated Edison Encourage New Yorkers to Use Watersense-Labeled Showerheads to Conserve Water and Reduce Costs

High Efficiency WaterSense Fixtures Reduce Household Water Use and Energy Costs

New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Carter Strickland, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 Administrator Judith Enck, and New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) President and CEO Francis J. Murray Jr. today encouraged New Yorkers to use WaterSense-labeled showerhead fixtures, which conserve water and reduce annual water and energy costs for households. Showering accounts for nearly 17 percent of all residential indoor water use, about 31 gallons per household every day or about 38 billion gallons of water every year in New York City. By using WaterSense labeled showerheads, the average New York City household can reduce its annual water use by approximately 2,900 gallons of water per year—equivalent to the amount of water used to wash more than 70 loads of laundry. Further, by reducing the amount of water used, a WaterSense showerhead also lowers the amount of energy required to heat the water and can save households enough electricity to power a home for an additional 13 days every year.

“Using our Automated Meter Reading technology, New Yorkers can now track their water consumption on a daily basis and WaterSense shower fixtures offer one important tool to help the average household save thousands of gallons of water every year,” said DEP Commissioner Strickland. “New Yorkers don’t even have to wait for remodeling to replace showerheads with a more efficient fixture. It is a simple way to do one’s part in our citywide effort to conserve water, reduce household water and energy bills, and save energy for DEP.”

"Bathrooms are the biggest water users in homes, accounting for more than half of all indoor water use," said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. "By taking a few easy steps, such as using WaterSense-labeled showerheads, we can all do our part to save water for future generations. With the WaterSense label, people can be sure they are using a high-performing product that will help them reduce their water use and save money on utility bills."

“Installing a low-water-use showerhead will allow New Yorkers to not only save water but also reduce their energy use and costs. This is just one of the many easy, low-cost actions that can be taken to make homes, apartments and businesses more energy efficient,” said NYSERDA President and CEO Francis J. Murray Jr. “Because of Governor Cuomo’s commitment to and investment in energy efficiency, New York State is a recognized national leader in energy efficiency programs that generate substantial savings for homeowners and business owners.”

As part of New York City’s Water for the Future Program, a $2.1 billion initiative to ensure clean, reliable, and safe drinking water for nine million New Yorkers for decades to come, DEP will repair leaks in the Delaware Aqueduct that supplies roughly half of the city’s daily drinking water needs. In order to make repairs to the Aqueduct, the tunnel must be temporarily shut down between 2020 and 2021. In addition to supplementing the city’s water supply prior to the shutdown, DEP also aims to reduce citywide water consumption by 5% through conservation programs. Demand reduction initiatives complement the historic $10.5 billion invested in water supply infrastructure since Mayor Bloomberg took office in 2002.

WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the future of our nation's water supply by educating people about simple ways to use less water with more efficient products. Since the program's inception in 2006, WaterSense has helped consumers save 287 billion gallons of water and $4.7 billion in water and energy bills. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.

NYSERDA provides residential, commercial, industrial and multifamily energy efficiency programs to help New Yorkers reduce energy use and cut energy costs. They include an on-site assessment and recommendations for the most effective ways to reduce energy use, as well as incentives, cost-sharing and low-interest financing for energy efficiency improvements. For more information, visit www.NYSERDA.ny.gov.

Con Edison offers free WaterSense fixtures, CFLs and smart strips to owners and managers of multi-family residences with 5-75 units to help save water and energy. These properties may also participate in a free energy survey by a Con Edison Green Team energy expert who will evaluate the lighting, heating and cooling equipment and offer energy-saving recommendations. For more information, call 877-870-6118 or visit the Con Edison web site.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than one billion gallons of high quality water each day to more than nine million residents, including eight million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP has nearly 6,000 employees, including nearly 1,000 in the upstate watershed. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nycwater, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nycwater.

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