You’ll see even greater savings when you invest in improving inefficient systems. Or just replace those old energy and water hogs altogether. High-efficiency products may cost more initially, but when measured on a lifecycle cost basis, they may be far less expensive than less efficient equipment.

Cash incentives from Energy Trust of Oregon and any available tax credits may reduce the payback period even more. In addition, your improvements may qualify for the Oregon Energy Loan Program offered by the Oregon Department of Energy.

• Install dual-flush, low-flow toilets and pressure-assisted toilets, or retrofit existing toilets with a dual-flush handle. These can cut your water use by up to 60 percent, and save you even more on your sewer bill.
• Replace old, high-volume kitchen pre-rinse sprayers with high-velocity, low-flow models, and save up to $400 a year in water, sewer and energy costs.
• Install high-performance low-flow faucet aerators and showerheads. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, these can reduce hot water use by 50 percent. An efficient showerhead can pay for itself in two months, according to the City of Portland Water Bureau.
• Install motion sensor faucets for restroom sinks.
• Install sub-meters in large office buildings and industrial facilities. They can pinpoint major water users, and guide your water- and energy-saving actions. You also can sub-meter water that doesn’t enter the sewer, such as water used in cooling towers and for irrigation. Your local water/sewer provider may have a reduced rate for this water.
• Study the energy factor on commercial-sized tank water heaters and purchase the most efficient model.
• If appropriate, upgrade systems that use municipal water for single-pass coolers and chillers with systems that use cooling towers or air-cooled equipment. Cooling towers extract waste heat from water or a refrigerant, but they continually reuse the fluid — thereby using about 40 times less energy and water, and reducing wastewater bills considerably, according to Energy Trust of Oregon.
• Install high-efficiency commercial clothes washers, including front-loading machines in multifamily or commercial laundry facilities. Front-loaders can cut energy costs up to 50 percent and use about 30 percent less water than a standard machine. Efficient washers can last five to 10 years longer than standard, top-loading machines.
• Switch to ENERGY STAR® qualified, high-efficiency icemakers. According to ENERGY STAR®, these completely fill ice trays and minimize spillover, cutting energy use by about 15 percent and water consumption by about 10 percent.
• Install an insulated dishwasher. New insulated models reduce standby or idle energy consumption, maintain outgoing sanitizing water temperature and save up to $500 annually.
• Check into solar water heating. These reliable and affordable systems use the energy from the sun to pre-heat water before it gets to your regular water heater. With Energy Trust of Oregon incentives, and state and federal tax credits, solar water heaters can be a good business choice.
• Hire a professional to help you design and select the best water heater for your operation. High energy saving systems may include commercial heat pump water heaters. The systems need to be properly sized and selected to maximize effectiveness and minimize payback.