Energy Efficiency in Water and Wastewater Facilities is a Guide to Developing and Implementing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs.
Developing and Implementing Energy Efficiency Programs
Saving energy through energy efficiency improvements can cost less than generating, transmitting, and distributing energy from power plants, and provides multiple economic and environmental benefits. Energy savings can reduce operating costs for local governments, freeing up resources for additional investments in energy efficiency and other priorities. Energy efficiency can also help reduce air pollution and GHG emissions, improve energy security and independence, and create jobs.
Local governments can promote energy efficiency in their jurisdictions by improving the efficiency of municipal facilities and operations and encouraging energy efficiency improvements in their residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. The energy efficiency guides in this series describe the process of developing and implementing strategies, using real-world examples, for improving energy efficiency in local government operations (see the guides on local government operations, energy efficiency in K–12 schools, energy-efficient product procurement, and combined heat and power) as well as in the community.
Energy Efficiency in Water and Wastewater Facilities
This guide describes how water and wastewater facilities can lead by example and achieve multiple benefits by improving the energy efficiency of their new, existing, and renovated buildings and their day-to-day operations. It is designed to be used by facility managers, energy and environment staff, local government officials, and mayors and city councils.
Readers of the guide should come away with an understanding of options to improve the energy efficiency of water and wastewater facilities. Readers should also understand the steps and considerations involved in developing and implementing these energy efficiency improvements, as well as an awareness of expected investment and funding opportunities.
The guide describes the benefits of energy efficiency in water and wastewater facilities (Section 2); a step-by-step approach to improving energy efficiency in new and existing water and wastewater facilities (Section 3); key participants and their roles (Section 4); the policy mechanisms that facilities have used to support energy efficiency programs in their operations (Section 5); implementation strategies for effective programs (Section 6); investment and financing opportunities (Section 7); federal, state, and other programs that may be able to help water and wastewater facilities with information or financial and technical assistance (Section 8); and finally two case studies of water or wastewater facilities that have successfully improved energy efficiency in their operations (Section 9).
Additional examples of successful implementation are provided throughout the guide.
