Rich Atoulikian, PMP, P.E.

Kim Kennedy, P.E.

Leveraging Energy Audits to Effect Cultural Changes and Long-Term

Energy Savings OWEA 2012 | June 2012

Outline

• Background

• Energy Consumption/Savings Opportunities

• Energy Audits

• Case Studies

– Efficiency Audit

– Energy Audit

• Cultural Considerations

Background

• U.S. Municipal Water and Wastewater Systems

Consume about 75B KW/Yr

– Water ~ 60%

– Wastewater ~ 40%

• Water and Wastewater Sector consumes almost 3%

of national sales

Why is Energy and Its Related Costs

Important?

• Energy costs continue to rise faster than

inflation

• Budgets are tight… we’re in a recession!

• Less energy means lower greenhouse gases…

it’s the right thing to do

Your energy program should be based on “Best Practices”

New Regulations are Working Against Us

More Stringent Regulations Higher

Operating Costs

Increased

Greenhouse Gases

Nutrient Removal Tertiary Treatment

Toxins Disinfection By-

Products Endocrine Disruptors

Etc.

Energy Consumption vs. Opportunities

• Costs Are Influenced By:

– Service Area Characteristics

– Climate

– Treatment Process/Effluent Requirements

– Solids Disposal

• Reduction Opportunities:

– Energy Efficiency

– Energy Recovery

– Financial

• Rate Structure

• Grants, Rebates, and Low Interest Loans

Large Energy Consumers in the Wastewater Plant An Energy Baseline Identifies Potential Focus Areas

Actual Aeration % Depends on:

• Overall Treatment Process

• Process Design Parameters

• Operational Strategy

Clarifiers 3.15%

Screens 0.02%

Aeration 54.12%

Lighting & Buildings 8.14%

Grit 1.36%

Chlorination 0.27%

Belt Press 3.91%

Anaerobic Digestion 14.24%

Wastewater Pumping 14.26%

Gravity Thickening 0.06%

Return Sludge Pumping 0.46%

Energy Efficiency Opportunities

• Optimize At Multiple (Most Frequent) Operating

Points

• Utilize More Efficient:

– Equipment Components

– Integrate Those Components Efficiently

• Automate To Match Delivery to Needs

What if … turned it off?

What if … ran it at lower capacity?

What if … found more efficient equipment?

Energy Efficiency Opportunities Ask “What If” for Every Piece of Equipment

Energy Recovery Opportunities

544 POTWs > 5 MGD with Anaerobic Digesters. Incorporation of CHP would yield 340 MW of electrical power!

Energy Recovery Opportunities

Energy Audits

Energy Audits – Focus on Energy Consumption

1. The audit is only the beginning…..

2. You can’t save until you implement the

recommendations…..

3. You won’t implement successfully without

organizational buy-in.”

Energy

Savings

Plan

Energy Audit Work Flow

Conduct Interviews

and site assessments

Identify

Opportunities

Data Gathering,

Interviews,

Site Visits

Analyze and

Evaluate

Opportunities

Project

Prioritization

Develop

Baseline

Early Action Items

Initial Workshop 2nd Workshop

Concept Design

Development

Final Workshop

Case Study 1

• Objective:

– Discrete, Easily

Implementable Tasks

• Focus Areas:

– Energy

– Chemicals And

– Operating Strategies

Potential Operating

Cost Savings

Low

Capital Cost Investment

High

High Low

Learn the Plants From Their Staff

• Information Reviewed:

– Monthly operating data

– Wastewater characterization

– Process models

– Drawings, 1-lines and PIDs

– Basis of design

– NPDES permits

– Utility energy costs

– Certain Equipment Types/Data

– Residual Disposal Costs

Four Plants, 3 BNR and 1 Trickling Filter

Multiple site visits, significant interaction with plant staff.

Unit Energy Cost Variance Template A Tool For Alternative Evaluation

Average Real Time Pricing (RTP) Energy Cost (¢/kWh) by Hour

Summary of Findings -

$3M Annual Savings At The Three BNR Plants

Effluent Filters

Reduce Ferric Chloride

Reduce Caustic Soda

Automatic DO Contro l

South River Pumps

South River Sludge

South River Pumps ($65K)

South River Residuals ($600K)

Effluent Filters ($50K)

Reduce Ferric ($425)

Reduce Caustic ($1,450K)

Auto D.O. Control ($475K)

Initial Investment:

$2M

Case Study 2

• Large Municipal Organization That Has:

– Wastewater Pumping and Treatment,

– Water Pumping

– Stormwater Pumping, Plus

– Administrative Support Facilities

Understand Current Situation Energy Baseline of Total Energy Consumption

19

Further Granularity Is Needed, By Facility

Understand the Current Situation

Energy Baseline at the WWTP

Pumping & Preliminary Treatment

4% Primary Treatment 4%

Secondary Aeration 14%

Secondary Sedimentation + RAS

7%

Nitrification Aeration 20% Nitrification

Sedimentation + RAS 7%

Filter Pumping

5%

Filtration 10%

Chlorination 0%

Solids Handling 14%

Misc 10%

COF & CMF 5% 2009 PCS data supplemented

with estimates

Office of the General Manager, Chief of Staff

Chief Engineer

Engineering and Technical Services

Wastewater Services

Maintenance Services

AGM, Consumer Services

Sewer Services

Water Services

Chief Financial Officer

Finance and Budget

General Counsel Chief Information

Officer

Facilities

Procurement

Safety and Security

Organizational Touch Points During Interviews and Workshops

Energy Conservation Measure Opportunity

Categories

Quick Wins

• Readily Implementable • Little/No Capital Cost • Short Payback Period • May Be Cultural

Can we create a build off this slide, with maintenance, then(click) P/P, then (click) Cap Projects?

Maintenance • Preventative • Corrective • Side By Side Monitoring

Procedural/ Programmatic

• Embed in Organizational Culture Specifications SOPs Energy Dashboard

Capital Projects • Process Modifications • Equipment/Process Modifications • Renewable Energy

Prioritizing Capital Projects Depends On

Organizational Perspective

1. Reduction in:

– Annual Savings,

– Energy Consumption and/or

– Carbon Dioxide Emissions

2. Lowest Capital Expenditure

3. Ease of Implement-ability

A Facilitated Workshop Using Criterion Plus ®, or Other Software Helps Bring Teams Into Alignment

Aligning Ongoing Efforts With Your Energy

Strategy Will Move You to The Goal

Impact Ongoing Capital Improvement Projects

Legacy

Facilities Optimized Facilities

Ener

gy

Co

nsu

mp

tio

n F

rom

Gri

d

Implement Audit Results

Today Goal

Financial Planning/Allocation

Stadard Operating Procedures

Impact Ongoing Projects

Recognize, and Resolve Overdesign Problems

Pay attention to this in your design process!!!

Peer Review All New Projects

By O&M Staff, and Consistent with SOPs

In the past, engineering group drove

design process - “No collaboration” What are assumptions

used for design?

Keep designers from over designing!!!

Designer must explain to O&M how process or

equipment will work Will process or equipment be

efficient/stable at average/low flow

conditions now?

Cultural Change Management –

Some Simple Rules

• Utility Leadership Must Lead

• Engage the Organization Multiple Times, In Depth

• Compelling Reasons For Audit Must Be Clear

• Benchmark Current Energy Consumption

• Achieve Early Successes

• Understand Process and Physical Constraints

• Set Goals/Measure Progress Against Them

Credibility in Your Organization Is Essential

Commitment:

To share findings/recommendations with

impacted departments for their validation and

support prior to further communication

Audit and Implementation Approach*

*Based on WEF Manual of Practice 32

Continuous Improvement

Monitoring & Verification

Implement Findings in a Prioritized Fashion

Develop Findings and Recommendations

Evaluate Existing Facilities

Quick Wins

Lev

erag

ing

Clie

nt

Kn

ow

led

ge

Questions and Comments

Acknowledgements

• The authors wish to thank the following for their

contributions to this work:

– Ernest Jolly

– David St. Pierre

– Robyn McGucken and Ken Brischke

– Bert Wellens and George Simon

“