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Water/Food: Irrigation
About 80 percent of all freshwater consumed in the US goes to agriculture to irrigate crops. More efficient methods like slow drip irrigation, which applies water directly to the base of plants rather than spraying it into the air over the crops, are a better choice.
Water/Energy: Power Plant Water Use
Conventional power plants withdraw a lot of water for cooling” in some cases over a billion gallons per day” but can shrink their water footprint today by recycling cooling water or using air to cool excess heat.
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Food/Energy: Biofuels
In recent years, 40 percent of US corn was converted into ethanol. Using corn to power our cars and trucks can strain our food supplies. In addition, the industrial production of corn has led to algae blooms in local water ways, harming aquatic life. Advanced biofuels like algae have potential to produce fuel without threatening food supplies and with less demand on water and energy.
Food/Water/Energy:
Food Waste Americans throw 40 percent of their food in the trash every year, costing the average family as much as $2,275 annually. About 25 percent of water consumed in the US each year goes toward food that never gets eaten. Meal planning is a great way to reduce food waste and to save water, energy and money.
We can all make a difference in attaining a sustainable future by following these 9 steps:
Food Choices