TURNING VISION INTO REALITY LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY AND CUTURE TO REALIZE ENERGY SAVINGS AT A LARGE PUBLIC UTILITY

摘要

Today's operating pressures faced by utilities include both an increased focus on fiscal responsibility and cost reductions, combined with a higher and ever increasing level of environmental quality standards. This puts a brighter spotlight and greater pressure toward improving their operational efficiencies that continue to drive utilities to optimize performance and operation of their facilities. This not only saves energy, but makes them more environmentally sustainable. An energy audit is a process typically used to evaluate a system for such efficiencies and energy savings. When energy audits are performed for water and wastewater utilities, not only can electrical energy savings be realized, but savings in other resources such as process chemical use or parasitic water losses may also realized. An energy audit and savings plan being conducted for DC Water at their Blue Plains Advanced WWTP and DC Water's associated water, wastewater and stormwater pumping stations provides a case study on how these audits should be conducted for maximum effectiveness and to identify a path forward toward realizing resultant energy savings and carbon footprint reductions. Specific focus areas will include: 1. Evaluation of treatment process configuration and operation, followed by an analysis of modifications or capital additions that can be made to reduce energy consumption. This also includes an analysis of building envelopes, HVAC systems, lighting, general rotating equipment and electrical distribution systems. 2. A review of current energy use, patterns of use, and opportunities to conserve, including development of an energy baseline and benchmarking. 3. Alternative energy evaluation covering the areas of biosolids, solar, wind, and small hydro; including both onsite production and procurement from third parties. Development of an implementable, prioritized energy management plan is critical. This includes identifying "quick wins" or low- to no-cost measures that can be implemented in the short-term, with little initial capital investment, resulting in almost immediate decrease in the energy consumption. The process continues with identification of opportunities that are more capital intensive, but still with reasonable payback periods, that are more time consuming to implement. In addition, a successful program must go beyond implementation of audit results, and include monitoring and verification, as well as continuous improvement practices. When conducted properly, our experience demonstrates that the payback period on these audits is such that the cost of the audit alone can be recovered in less than two years by implementing certain recommendations. The actual payback period on the recommended opportunities is also very short. Finally, the technical side of an energy management plan is only half of the equation. The other half is the culture change required at all levels in the organization to implement the results of the plan, both initially and more importantly, in a sustainable fashion. Organizational change management starts with a compelling vision from the top of the organization, and understanding of the significance and potential benefits of the change at all levels. Regular communication is essential, once the vision is set. A process for feedback from the organization, and demonstrating that the organization is engaging input from its employees is also important.