MERGING WATER & ENERGY EFFICIENCY: A PROJECT OF COLLABORATION

Alliance for Water EfficiencyAmerican Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Background 30 years of energy conservation and

increases in efficiency of energy use. 20 years of water conservation and increases

in efficiency of water use. Saving a drop of water saves energy; saving

a unit of energy saves water. Yet the two communities have historically not

worked much together. It is time to change that!

Water and Energy are linked

National Water Withdrawals

Source: US Geological Survey 2005

US Daily Water Withdrawals

49%

31%

11%

6% 3%

US Daily Water Usage

Power plant cooling

irrigation

public supply

industrial & mining

livestock & aquaculture

Total = 410 Billion Gallons in 2005

Source: US Geological Survey 2005

Energy Intensities of Water

Source: California Energy Commission, 2005

The Carbon Footprint of Water

River Network 2009

15% of U.S.Carbon

The Project Joint effort of AWE and ACEEE.

Supported by funding from the Turner Foundation.

Purpose: to identify the major research, program, and policy needs of the water-energy nexus for decision-makers and funders.

Establish the beginning of a national long term energy-water community.

http://www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org/blueprint.aspx

“Blueprint” Concept Pull together key decision-makers into a

strategic planning discussion. Identify issues and areas of mutual future

endeavor. Facilitate discussion in four key areas:

programs, policies, research, and codes and standards.

Gather recommendations. Publish report of stakeholder findings. Identify areas of immediate needed action.

December 9, 2010 Workshop Over 75 key

organizations and individuals in the water and energy communities were identified and invited.

Broad spectrum of interest groups were desired.

December 9, 2010 Workshop All 75 invited to a pre-workshop survey of

issues. 54 individuals representing 41 diverse

organizations attended a day-long workshop in Washington DC.

31 themes identified with votes on priority areas.

8 Main Themes emerged with recommendations.

5 Priority areas for immediate action identified.

8 Recommendation Themes1. Increase the level of collaboration between

the water and energy communities in planning and implementing programs.

2. Achieve a deeper understanding of the energy embedded in water and the water embedded in energy.

3. Learn from and replicate best practice integrated energy-water efficiency programs.

4. Integrate water into energy research efforts and vice versa.

8 Themes of Recommendations5. Separate water utility revenues from unit

sales, and consider regulatory structures that provide an incentive for investing in end-use water and energy efficiency.

6. Leverage existing and upcoming voluntary standards that address the energy-water nexus.

7. Implement mandatory codes and standards that address the energy-water nexus.

8. Pursue education and awareness opportunities for various audiences and stakeholders.

1: Increase Collaboration1-A: Establish ongoing water & energy

working groups to increase cooperation and to share best practices.

1-B: “Just add water”: integrate water & wastewater into existing energy efficiency programs.

1-C: Incentivize residential & business efficiency programs to gain additional savings related to embedded water & energy, and develop methodologies that fairly attribute the savings and costs.

1-D: Integrate energy & water audit practices, and provide integrated retrofitting recommendations, rebate programs and outreach & education efforts.

2: Embedded Energy & Water2-A: Develop methodologies for measuring

embedded water and energy and for developing water and energy factors to help drive programs, policies, and technology development & implementation. A national database is needed!

2-B: Develop baseline estimates of total energy use by water and wastewater utilities and estimates of water use by electric generation technologies.

3: Replicate Best Practices3-A: Survey existing programs to identify

examples of best practices programs exploring the water-energy nexus. Identify elements of success and replication potential.

3-B: Develop framework for collecting integrated data on energy and water savings, including a uniform format and metrics.

3-C: Inventory and assess current work related to green infrastructure and water efficiency.

4: Integrate Water & Energy4-A: Identify high priority research needs

by building a database of existing nexus-related research to identify gaps.

4-B: Assess the need for combined water and energy efficiency in various regions of the country depending upon resource constraints.

4-C: Develop water and energy foot printing methods for facility management, land use planning, and new development permitting.

5: Water Pricing Reform5-A: Prepare a report for local and state

policymakers and water utilities on lessons learned from energy experiences and on rate-related barriers to efficiency program implementation.

5-B: Conduct an energy-water decoupling pilot study for assessing options and issues for separating revenues and sales volumes.

5-C: Provide technical assistance related to rate setting.

6: Leverage Voluntary Standards6-A: Leverage existing and upcoming

national standards that fully link energy and water management.

6-B: Develop recommendations for better integrating water and energy efficiency into green codes, long-term building maintenance, and whole building rating systems.

6-C: Develop model land-use and planning codes.

7: Implement Mandatory Codes7-A: Explore opportunities to expand

products covered by DOE equipment standards to include more water-using products and to take into account direct and indirect water impacts when assessing efficiency opportunities.

7-B: Modify national model building codes to better incorporate water efficiency.

8: Pursue Education and Awareness8-A: Undertake utility education, outreach,

technical assistance and training programs to educate water and wastewater professionals on energy efficiency tools and technologies.

8-B: Create partnerships between energy and water utilities, industry organizations, and NFPs for joint public messaging.

8-C: Development knowledge-sharing programs on high- performance systems and designs for system operators, land use planners, and engineers to help them optimize energy and water efficiency.

8-D: Convene seminars for policymakers.

The Policy Agenda Implementing the preceding

recommendations will require intense collaboration among stakeholders and advocates.

Also will require government engagement and leadership.

Blueprint contains 9 needed policy directions for the national, state, and local levels.

Policy Needs

1. Regulatory structures and incentives that reward water and energy efficiency.

2. DOE Appliance and Equipment Standards for water-using appliances and equipment.

3. Building Codes that recognize water and energy efficiency.

4. Specific energy-water elements to add to existing legislation.

5. Tax incentives for water and energy efficiency.

Policy Needs

6. Collection of water and energy end-use data by federal agencies.

7. Better communication between regulatory and governance bodies.

8. Collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies in integrating water and energy in grant funding research, regulation, and technical assistance.

9. Coordination in new power plant siting or significant expansion of existing plants.

Moving Forward: 5 Key Priorities1. Develop baseline of total energy use by

water & wastewater utilities and water use by electric utilities.

2. Incorporate cost-effective energy/water measures into building codes, equipment standards, and tax credits.

3. Survey existing programs for best practices.4. Prepare a report for local and state

policymakers addressing the rate-related barriers in water.

5. Establish ongoing water and energy workgroups.

Baseline Estimates: Water UtilitiesHow much energy is used by water &

wastewater utilities? California is only state with comprehensive

data, gathered by California Energy Commission in 2005. 19% of California’s electric use related to water 32% of California’s gas load related to water heating

What are the numbers for other regions of the country?

Need to assemble data from utility electric bills and segregate by water source and treatment.

Baseline Estimates: Energy UtilitiesHow much water is used in generating

electricity? Important issue in state and regional

resource planning and power plant design & siting.

USGS report every 5 years – most recently for 2005: 49% of U.S. water withdrawals for thermoelectric power gen.

(201 Bgal/day) 41% of freshwater withdrawals (143 Bgal/day) U.S. Average of 23 gallons per kWh

Large variations by cooling type: Open-loop (43% in U.S.) – high use (50-65 gal/kWh), low

consumption (~1%) Closed-loop w/ towers (42%) – low use (1-2 gal/kWh), high

consump. (~70%) Closed-loop w/ ponds (14%) – mid use (14-24 gal/kWh) &

variable consump.

Regional Variations

Source: USGS. 2009. “Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2005”

2005 Freshwater withdrawals for thermoelectric power production

Need for Better Regional Data

Source: J. Macknick, R. Newmark, and KC Hallett. 2011. “Future Projections of Water Demands for Energy”

Policy and technology choices can result in divergent regional water impacts. Ex. Macknick, et al. 2011 (NREL) – ReEDS modeling

of water withdrawal and consumption impacts of 21% increase in generation from 2006 to 2030 using different technology mixes.

Base case (BAU) All cooling towers scenario

Codes, Standards, and Tax Incentives Combined energy-water issues slip between

the cracks. Energy can be better addressed in IAPMO

code and water better integrated into IECC and ASHRAE 90.1.

Opportunities for upcoming new/revised equipment efficiency standards include clothes washers, dishwashers, toilets and showerheads.

Residential energy tax incentives expiring at end of 2011, for renewal investigate simple ways to include water efficiency in these programs (e.g. formula to convert water savings into energy savings).

Joint Efficiency Programs Although some energy utilities have

successfully promoted water efficiency programs, and vice versa, these programs have not yet been widely adopted.

Programs focus on water and wastewater treatment as well as building end uses.

We will highlight many of these programs and their lessons learned in a report aimed at utilities and regulators.

Embedded Energy in Water Pilots Nine joint pilot programs between California

electric & water utilities in 2008-09 to test the embedded energy connection

Purpose was to determine energy credit for “cold” water savings and potential for energy efficiency

Pilots with highest energy savings: System Leak Detection, Low Income High Efficiency Toilets

Other programs: Large Commercial, Recycled Water, Emerging Technologies for Water Pumping, Managed Landscapes

Source: http://www.energydataweb.com/cpucFiles/33/FinalEmbeddedEnergyPilotEMVReport_1.pdf

Embedded Energy in Water Pilots CPUC Calculator – identify programs made

cost-effective through partnerships and spread costs across water and energy utilities:

Source: http://www.aceee.org/proceedings-paper/ss08/panel11/paper12

Overcoming Utility Disincentives Report for local and state policy makers and

water utilities, covering:1. problems with current water rates,

particularly with regard to water efficiency programs which can lead to undercollection of fixed costs;

2. how some states address these issues for energy utilities with flat or increasing block rates, decoupling, lost base-revenue adjustments, and incentives;

3. recommendations on appropriate lessons and next steps for water utilities.

Joint Working Groups

Four working groups, following on the blueprint process, each based around one of our initial joint projects:

1. Codes, standards and tax incentives.2. Water utility disincentives and ways to

address them.3. Joint energy and water-saving programs.4. Research on energy-use connected to water

and water use connected to energy.

Coordinated Research There is a lot of work to do on the Water-

Energy nexus Coordination is needed to avoid duplication

and maximize impact of all efforts Coordinated funding is needed on both sides

Any Questions?

Download the Blueprint at: http://www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org/blueprint.aspx

Mary Ann Dickinson, Alliance for Water Efficiency 773-360-5100 maryann@a4we.org

Eric Mackres and Neal Elliott American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy 202-507-4000 emackres@aceee.org and rnelliott@aceee.org