PORTLAND, Ore. — August 19, 2015 — Amidst record heat and drought conditions, Oregonians can save water and energy with help from Energy Trust of Oregon.

Oregonians can cut down on water use at home while saving energy and money by switching one traditional showerhead to a WaterSense® model, which can save up to 2,300 gallons of water and up to $50 in energy and water costs a year. An ENERGY STAR® qualified washing machine can save as much as 3,000 gallons of water a year and use 25 percent less energy than a standard model.

“Oregonians are taking advantage of Energy Trust incentives and purchasing energy- and water-saving devices to make their homes more efficient,” said Lizzie Rubado, senior program manager, Energy Trust. “High-efficiency showerheads, washing machines and water heaters all perform as well as or better than their less efficient options and help residents reduce their energy and water consumption. The cumulative energy and water savings impact is significant.”

Through cash incentives, discounts and guidance, Energy Trust helped Oregonians install more than 14,000 ENERGY STAR® clothes washers and more than 35,000 WaterSense showerheads in their homes in 2014, saving more than 122 million gallons of water. That’s enough to fill 185 Olympic-size swimming pools.

Energy Trust has offered incentives on these energy- and water-efficient products for a number of years and the added benefit of water savings is particularly important during low water years and droughts. As Oregon’s population grows as projected, investments in energy efficiency can help residents use water resources more wisely.

“As we reach out to customers in all parts of the state, we are hearing more and more about water usage and drought concerns,” said Rubado. “We want customers to know that saving energy and saving water often go hand in hand, and we are here to help.” Energy Trust works with local retailers throughout the state to provide instant discounts on WaterSense showerheads.

Consumers can visit www.energytrust.org/homes to see a full list of incentives and discounts available for making energy- and water-saving upgrades to their homes.

Energy Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping utility customers benefit from saving energy and generating renewable power. Our services, cash incentives and energy solutions have helped participating customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas save $1.9 billion on energy bills. Our work helps keep energy costs as low as possible, creates jobs and builds a sustainable energy future. Learn more at www.energytrust.org or call 1-866-368-7878.