Amman, Jordan
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Jordan “has one of the lowest levels of water resource availability, per capita, in the world,”7 and water may become an even greater issue as the impacts from population growth and climate change become apparent. U.S. Embassy Amman has addressed this critical issue through a variety of efficiency initiatives:
- Landscaping has been designed to include native, adapted, and drought-tolerant plants, and the overall vegetated area has been decreased to reduce irrigation water requirements.
- High-efficiency plumbing fixtures have been installed throughout the complex, including dual-flush toilets as well as faucet and showerhead aerators, to decrease potable water consumption.
- Embassy personnel have been engaged in water conservation efforts through use of educational signage.
As a result of these strategies, total water consumption has decreased since 2007, despite a 30% staffing increase and 10% facility space increase over that same time period. The success of these initiatives contributes toward Post’s goal for water use reductions.
U.S. Embassy Amman uses landscaping to reduce its irrigation water requirements
Image Source: U.S. Department of State
U.S. Embassy Amman’s Green Team strives for further success at Post by increasing awareness and promoting environmentally-sensitive behavioral changes among Embassy personnel, and working with landlords of Post’s leased facilities to implement sustainability best practices. To encourage participation in sustainability initiatives, the Post Green Team members ask personnel to sign a Green Pledge indicating their commitment to becoming more environmentally aware. The Green Team also conducts contests, includes weekly green tips in the Embassy newsletter, and schedules environmentally-focused educational field trips, all of which contribute to a successful water management program.