Abstract
Effects of multiple types of water use efficiency appliances on long term water savings and water use trend shifts were analyzed. The study group included senior and low income families in the urban areas of Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA. The participants in the study group experienced continuous and significant water savings within 3 years of the implementation of the water conservation incentives. Water savings were observed at approximately 200 l per household per day, which is about 31 % reduction in household water demand in comparison to the average residential water demand within the County. The water use profile of participants showed noticeable shifts over time in water demand frequency curves toward lower water consumption rates. The cost-saving analysis showed that adoption of multiple water efficiency appliances contributed to the highest annual monetary savings (i.e., high water savings and moderate product costs). Future conservation program planning efforts should take both water savings and product cost into account in order to achieve the greatest benefits.
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Partial support for this study was provided by Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department.
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Lee, M., Tansel, B. & Balbin, M. Urban Sustainability Incentives for Residential Water Conservation: Adoption of Multiple High Efficiency Appliances. Water Resour Manage 27, 2531–2540 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-013-0301-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-013-0301-8