And it's even more inter-related in California, especially Southern California, where water is generally imported from somewhere else. Approximately 20% of energy use in California is for pumping (mainly from north to south) and purifying water. Approximately 50-70% of residential water use is for landscape purposes, i.e., to keep our lawns green. So planting water-wise plants, especially California native plants loved by birds and butterflies and other native pollinators, is something every homeowner should do. (Disclosure: I am on the Board of the non-profit Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants, Inc. www.theodorepayne.org