ActionScript: How to Import XML data as a variable (not as an Event) - actionscript-3

Question

I am attempting to import some simple XML data into Flash ActionScript 3.0. I can easily do this as an import that is posted to the stage, but I want to save it as a global variable instead. Here is the XML file that I am pulling from:
<utilitySavings>
<nameof file="academicWaterSavings">
<waterValue>100</waterValue>
<elecValue>200</elecValue>
</nameof>
<nameof file="dormWaterSavings">
<waterValue>300</waterValue>
<elecValue>400</elecValue>
</nameof>
<nameof file="greekWaterSavings">
<waterValue>500</waterValue>
<elecValue>600</elecValue>
</nameof>
<nameof file="totalWaterSavings">
<waterValue>1500</waterValue>
<elecValue>1600</elecValue>
</nameof>
...and here is the actionscript:
var req:URLRequest = new URLRequest("data.xml");
var loader:URLLoader = new URLLoader();
var utilitySavings:XML;
function xmlLoaded(event:Event):void
{
utilitySavings = new XML(loader.data);
academicWater.text = utilitySavings.nameof[0].waterValue;
academicElec.text = utilitySavings.nameof[0].elecValue;
var dormWater:String = utilitySavings.nameof[1].waterValue;
trace (dormWater);
}
loader.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, xmlLoaded);
loader.load(req);
trace(academicWater.text);
Notice the 'trace (dormWater)' I want to trace this outside of the function so it is accessible in later in my script. I can trace within the function, but this does me no good. I also am able to get the dynamic text to show up on the stage but, likewise, this does me little good.
I appreciate any help or insights.

Answer 1

I can see a couple of ways of achieving this , if you want to create a globally accessible Object, create a Singleton( not recommended ) , load your XML data into it then every object in your app will be able to access the loaded XML data.
http://www.gskinner.com/blog/archives/2006/07/as3_singletons.html
The resulting code would give you something like this:
//Available throughout your app after the XML has been loaded & parsed
var dormWater:String = Singleton.dormWater;
Although you state you don't want Events, I think that using Signals could be a better approach. Load your XML and dispatch a Signal containing the relevant String to the object that needs it, when receiving the Signal , assign the String to a variable.
http://www.peterelst.com/blog/2010/01/22/as3-signals-the-best-thing-since-sliced-bread/
//In a specific class
private var _dormWater:String;
private function signalListener(value:Object ):void
{
_dormWater = value.dormWater;
}