Water Drop Conservation Project
What is Water Drop?
Throughout 2010-2011, Vanderbilt Student Government (VSG), Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Responsibility (SPEAR), and Vanderbilt Administration created the “Green Fund,” a funding source reserved for the implementation of student initiated utility conservation projects. Water Drop is one of the projects selected for funding by a working group of students, faculty, and staff, which aims to promote water conservation via education. Luckily, individual small steps can make large bounds in water conservation. Simply by reducing shower times, each student living on campus can make a significant contribution to water and energy conservation efforts.
Did you know?
- Water comprises 70 percent of the Earth’s surface. Of that 70 percent, only 1 percent is freshwater and an even smaller fraction of freshwater is accessible.
- In 2010, Vanderbilt consumed 742 million gallons of water.
- The average shower uses 2.5 gallons of water a minute.
- If each Vanderbilt student reduced their daily shower time by 1 minute, Vanderbilt would save approximately 16,250 gallons of hot water and approximately 1,790 kilowatt-hours of energy each day, enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 29,800 hours. Over the course of an entire year, Vanderbilt would save about 3,702,720 gallons of hot water and 408,000 kilowatt-hours of energy.
Environmental Benefits of Shorter Showers:
- Reduction in hot water use, which conserves water and specifically freshwater resources.
- Reduction in energy use required to heat hot water. This in turn reduces the amount of energy Vanderbilt consumes on a regular basis.
“Don’t Waste a Drop” by Vanderbilt student David Sanchez
- EPA WaterSense
- Water Use It Wisely
- American Water Works Association
- Metro Water Services
- Water Footprint Network
- Clean Water Network
- USGS Water Resources of the United States
- USDA Water Quality Information Center
- World Water Day
Additional questions may be directed to SustainVU@vanderbilt.edu.