What does water have to do with energy? Just ask Ty, Shedd’s California sea lion. He loves to splash in the water. In fact, he loves to splash so much that he used to send thousands of gallons out of his habitat every day. All of that wasted water also resulted in wasted energy: water systems are some of the biggest energy users in cities, because it takes energy to pump, pipe and clean the water we use.

How can Ty splash to his heart’s content today without giving heart palpitations to our engineers? Watch our video on water and energy to learn the answer.

Once you’ve seen how we make a difference in our home, here are some simple, impactful suggestions for how to make a difference at your home, too:

• Did you know that there’s an EPA label that identifies water-efficient home products? Visit the WaterSense website for more information.
• Inefficient bathroom appliances and washing machines can be big water hogs, but so can your home’s outdoor spaces. To begin creating a water-friendly landscape, find out what plants and trees are native to your region.
• If you’re ready to dive deeper, the H2Ouse has a blueprint for tackling water conservation projects all over your home.

The Illinois Environmental Council is a coalition of over sixty organizations focused on environmental protection, including Shedd.Learn more about these organizations and get involved at www.ilenviro.org.

—Posted by Meg Matthews, Conservation