|
|
|
| Home : Thinking |
|
Integrating Energy & Water Efficiency Efforts
By Kerry Meade, Planning & Evaluation Consultant
As Texas experiences its worst drought since 1895, it seems only natural to think about the link between water and energy.
The energy industry consumes a lot of water—mostly for power production and energy resource extraction. Similarly, the water industry consumes a lot of energy—primarily for pumping, heating and wastewater treatment. This interconnected relationship is referred to as the water-energy nexus. While these relationships are increasingly noted in academic, regulatory and industry discussions, we have yet to observe a rigorous effort to integrate both water and electric utility resource planning in existing energy efficiency programs. This represents a great, untapped opportunity to save resources and reduce costs for consumers.
Water for Energy
Accounts of water used for thermoelectric power are somewhat inconsistent, since formal measurement is neither required nor regularly performed1, but the most recent estimate by the US Geologic Survey in 2005 placed water withdrawals at 201 billion gallons/day to generate 3,190 daily megawatt-hours2. Naturally, these withdrawals vary significantly by location, from roughly 12 billion gallons/day in California to generate 56,200 million kilowatt-hours to 1.1 million gallons/day to generate 462 million kilowatt-hours in Idaho.
Energy for Water
Water is a major consumer of energy. According to recent testimony provided to the United States Senate by Michael Webber, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at University of Texas, US public water supply accounts for 4% of national energy and 6% of national electricity consumption. In California, water represents 20% of energy consumed within the state, with 48,000 terawatt-hours consumed annually.
Impacts Vary Regionally
Water is a local resource, both physically and legally. Impacts of the water-energy nexus vary dramatically by region. The distance water travels to reach the end user, dominant local industry and increasing population demands are all significant factors contributing to nexus impacts. In regions where all of these factors are high (e.g. climate dryness, water intensive economy, increasing urban demand), the situation is more dire. For example, while water accounts for 4% of the total energy demand nationwide, in California, as mentioned above, it accounts for 20%.
Opportunities for Water & Energy Efficiency (WEE)
We see significant opportunities for collaboration between existing utility-run energy efficiency programs and increased water efficiency objectives, primarily in the agricultural, residential appliances and water/wastewater treatment end-uses. Focusing energy savings in these areas simultaneously addresses challenges on both water and energy supplies.
Water & Wastewater Treatment
According to the Consortium for Energy Efficiency, nationally, wastewater treatment accounts for 3% of the total energy consumed annually, and could provide an estimated 15.8 – 31.5 billion kilowatt-hours of potential savings from energy efficiency in these facilities. For a specific example, CLEAResult’s engineering group recently estimated 1.2 million annual kilowatt-hours of potential savings from a UV disinfection measure in one Texas wastewater treatment plant; this would save an estimated 312,000 gallons of water.
Irrigation
While many farmers in the United States have installed gravity controlled irrigation systems, many still use irrigation systems that require energy-intensive pumps. According to the 2008 Agricultural Census, total energy costs nationwide for on-farm irrigation pumping were $2.7 billion, with roughly $1.5 billion of that in electricity costs.
Significant and cost-effective savings opportunities can be found in motor upgrades, installation of variable speed drives on existing motors, and overall irrigation system improvements and practices. In general replacing old motors with more efficient ones will result in a 2-10% monthly reduction in energy consumption.
Residential Appliances
There are many opportunities to improve water and energy efficiency in our homes through appliance upgrades. As a rule of thumb, if the water is heated, it’s using energy and increasing your monthly energy costs; upgrading old dishwashers, faucets and showerheads to newer models often improves the appliance water use efficiency and thus reduces the energy required, and your monthly bill. Toilets, clothes washers, and showerheads are all big home water consumers. In one Denver case study, researchers found that upgrading a home faucet to a more efficient model could save 2,711 gallons of water per year, and 155 kilowatt-hours.
1 However, in light of the increased pressure of water resources and the predicted continued population growth, Congress is currently considering legislation that would require a rigorous analysis of the energy-water nexus (see: S.1343 the Energy-Water Integration Act of 2011).
2It is important to note that some of the water withdrawn for plant cooling is returned; these values represent withdrawn but not necessarily consumed water.
|
|
|
|
When Evaluations Came with Everything
By Jonathan Kleinman, Senior Director, Planning & Evalutation
Featured in October 2011 AESP Strategies
"Excuse me, sir. Are you finding what you’re looking for?"
I looked up. The sales associate was wearing the usual orange apron, yet she looked out of place. Like she wasn’t there to help me, just to ... observe.
"No, actually. I was looking for your compact fluorescent lamps."
"Why?"
Why? What kind of question is that from a sales associate?
"Well, they use less energy and will save me money."
"Where did you hear that?"
"Everyone knows that."
I could instantly tell that was the wrong answer.
"Oooh ... I’m so sorry, sir. You won’t be able to get the marked-down price of $1 for the CFLs. You’ll have to pay $3 per CFL. You can find them on Aisle 5, but I can’t walk you over there to help you find them. Here, put this sticker on."
I took the sticker. It was a white circle, about the size of an old silver dollar. In small black lettering, it read ‘Freerider: CFL.’
"I can’t pay $3 – I wanted to buy six of them, but I won’t pay that much for ..."
She didn’t hear me – she had turned around to watch other customers.
Grrr. Fine. I’ll come back another time. I still need that window air conditioner, though. The room above the garage needed it. I started wandering around again – the layout of the place never made sense to me.
"Are you finding what you need, sir?"
I turned around. There was another sales associate. He hastily stowed a clipboard into his apron.
"I need a window air conditioning unit. For a large room above my garage." I paused. Nothing. "What do you recommend?"
"What features interest you?"
Features? "I don’t know ... it’s just a window unit, right?"
"Could be." He shuffled his feet. "Wasn’t there something you already had in mind?" I caught him looking at my sticker – he quickly averted his eyes.
"That it needs to cool the room?"
He sighed. "OK ... well, are you familiar with the ENERGY STAR label?"
"Of ..." Something made me pause ... "uh, no."
He brightened immediately. "Great! Well, actually, that’s not great, but ..." He beckoned for me to follow him, talking about how much less energy the unit would use. "Plus, there’s a $25 instant coupon at the register. Where do you live?"
Huh? "Why ... do you need to know that?"
"Do you live near here?" He stared at me intently. I took an involuntary step backward. I lived in the neighborhood, just across the highway. No need to invite this guy to follow me home.
"I’m in from ... I’m visiting."
"Ah. Well. I’m very sorry, sir. The $25 won’t be available for you." He reached into his apron and pulled out a roll of stickers. These read ‘ISR: AC,’ but had a red circle around and a line through the lettering. He peeled one off.
"Forget it," I snarled. I had enough. I walked down the aisle and around the checkout counters. Before I could pass through the automatic doors, the gate alarm sounded.
"Sir!" It was the first sales associate. "Sir! You left without buying your CFLs!"
"So?"
She reached up and peeled off half of the first sticker. There was a small magnetic strip on the back. "Here, let me show you where the CFLs are ... there are a few that I can let you choose from ..."
|
|
|
|
Why Energy Efficiency?
By Paul Conrad, Energy Engineer
Since entering the energy efficiency industry in 2005, I've received largely the same response when I tell people what I do for a living. Almost invariably they say, "Oh, so you work in the 'green' business!" and classify me as an idealist rather than a practical engineer focused on high-performance design. For years, I was unable to formulate an answer that would break the mindset of my listener and not let the stereotype stick.
Energy efficiency is, almost by its very nature, an engineering-centric idea. Engineers are taught from the minute they step into a university classroom that a great design can't be inefficient. Inefficiency comes in many different flavors, from the idea that one material is more cost-effective than another to the knowledge that certain technologies are completely unsuitable in certain applications. This forms the idea of an integrated whole that is balanced in design and efficiency.
How does this apply to the energy sector? Energy efficiency is not a solution to the energy crisis. It is an idea that buys us more time as we develop new technologies and strategies to address the constantly growing demand for energy. Consider the following case from California.
In 2008, three members of the California Energy Commission (CEC) studied the impacts of California's energy efficiency quest in the wake of the energy crisis in the 1970's. They found that in 1980, California was using approximately 2,250 kWh per person per year. Comparatively, the average person in the United States was using approximately 3,000 kWh.
Between 1980 and 2005, energy use per capita exploded in the United States, until the average person was using over 4,500 kWh. Meanwhile, California's per capita energy use rose to barely 2,300 kWh. This graph taken from the 2008 CEC report shows the progression of actual per capita energy use from 1960 to 2005 for both the United States as a whole and California.
This graph is fundamental proof that energy efficiency can achieve its goal of reducing the amount of energy each person uses. This proof impacts a huge range of industries. Utility companies are beginning to realize they don't need to spend millions of dollars to build a new power plant or keep "peaker-plants" online in case of seasonal demand spikes. Meanwhile, at the other end of the power lines, business owners are realizing that energy efficiency isn't just an ideal professed by a stereotypical group of people, but rather an investment opportunity with real and verifiable monetary returns. It's also a way to reduce overhead costs that can continually plague their bottom lines.
Isn't it time to invest in the future?
|
|
|
|
Welcome!
Audrey Parker
December 1, 2010
You may have noticed that the CLEAResult website has a fresh new look. We've changed the layout and added new sections to provide our visitors with better information about our services, clients and people. One of the new additions to our site is this "Thinking" page, which features a different CLEAResult team member each month, sharing thoughts about our work, industry or company that we hope you'll find interesting.
While our new site looks quite different, there's a lot about CLEAResult that is staying the same. One of the things I spend my time thinking about is the vibrant culture we've established—no small task when you consider the significant growth we've experienced over these past few exciting years. As a co-founder of the company, I have always placed a high value on cultivating an atmosphere that is unique and inspiring for employees and colleagues—while remaining focused on serving our clients and always living up to our name. Over time, we've found that these two objectives incredibly reinforce each other.
I'm proud of our culture, and I'm reminded every day that it's the reason we're able to attract the greatest talent in the world--and why we're able to consistently exceed our clients' expectations. As we focus on ensuring our clients' success, we offer a freshness of perspective and exuberance along the way. I often hear comments like "This place is really special" or "It's obvious your people enjoy working together." I find this feedback incredibly gratifying.
So I often wonder: How can we continue reinforcing and strengthening this culture? How can we ensure we continue to value our clients, commit to excellence, collaborate, innovate, communicate, respect and trust each other, enjoy learning, take personal responsibility, embrace change, AND laugh and have fun along the way?
The answer is very simple: By remembering to enjoy ourselves, continuing to cultivate the values we hold dear—commitment and integrity—and living them every day through our intentions, our thoughts, our words and our actions.
It's who we are.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| To learn more about CLEAResult's energy efficiency programs, contact us at 512-327-9200 or info@clearesult.com today. |
|
|
|
|
