By Shimizu Yasutoshi, Senior Research Manager at ESG Promotion Department of TOTO Ltd. Japan and Secretary-General of Asian Saving Water Council

Japanese research group showed that the widespread adoption of water-saving equipment could contribute a 1% reduction in CO2 emissions in Japan. As a result, the promotion of water-saving equipment is included in the environment policies of Japan and is being put into action. Next, the potential for reducing CO2 emissions by water saving in developing countries was evaluated. In developing countries, the formation and growth of cities and the development of water infrastructures are occurring spontaneously. In such areas, if a water infrastructure is constructed in consideration of a restraint in demand for water in cities, a greater CO2 reduction potential can be expected. As part of our research, the influence of water saving in Vietnam was evaluated. It was found that the popularization of energy-consuming water-related devices, such as 4500-W instantaneous water heaters for showers, will push up the peak load of electricity consumption.

Water-saving is effective not only in reducing energy consumption for heating water, but also in reducing the peak load of electricity. A green-growth scenario through water-saving in Vietnam was also examined and depicted as a water-saving minimal infrastructure framework.