Abstract: A method for reducing the consumption of fresh water and energy in a paper mill in which fresh water is passed into the paper mill for various needs, and a cooling tower is utilized for cooling water heated in the papermaking process. All fresh waters or a substantial proportion of the fresh waters of the paper mill are introduced into the process through the water system of the cooling tower. The cooling tower includes at least one inlet for passing the water to be cooled into the cooling tower, nozzles for discharging the water that was passed in and that is to be cooled onto heat transfer faces, filler pieces and/or filler plates, which disperse the water to be cooled so as to increase the contact area between the water and the cooling air, at least one outlet for passing the cooled water out of the cooling tower, and blowers for blowing the cooling air through the cooling tower.