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Municipal Research News Elections - Reminders and Cautions

Water and Energy - An Unbalanced Equation

"Love and marriage, love and marriage, go together like a horse and carriage."1
(Remember that syrupy song from high school drama class years?)
Remember E = MC2?
Remember A2 +B2 = C2?
Remember when Washington State = rain/snow = water + electricity?

Abundant supplies of high quality water from streams and aquifers and more electricity than the state could use have been so much a part of the equation of life in Washington State that many residents are shocked to find we are now facing severe shortages of both. And at much higher prices, too! Washington State has been victimized by national energy market forces beyond its control and hit with the double energy/water whammy of much lower than normal precipitation. All but 18 percent of the state's electrical power comes from hydroelectric plants. All of its water for domestic, irrigation, and industrial use comes from rainfall and snowmelt, even if stored temporarily in aquifers.

Blaming those greedy, bumbling Californians, Martians, and everyone else for this present crisis is easy. Hoping that current weather patterns will soon change for the better and restore the familiar water/energy equation is also easy. Changing our water and energy use patterns and habits to reduce consumption - as individuals and local governments - is not easy, but must be an integral part of Washington's plan for coping with the harsh new realities that face us all.

While trying to reduce electrical and natural gas usage by 10 percent and shift energy use away from peak hours (per Governor Locke's executive order), local governments must still balance budgets and provide essential public services. Governments must be careful stewards of public funds and sterling examples and role models for citizens and ratepayers as consumers. Evaluating cost savings in relation to employee comfort (ever tried to type with mittens on your hands?) and public safety is an ever-present dilemma.

Whatcom County Executive Pete Kremen, as reported in The Bellingham Herald,2 ordered draconian energy saving measures for county facilities, including removal of half the light bulbs in his own office. All county facilities are to keep the heat no higher than 68 degrees during the day, with lower temperature after working hours. The county has budgeted for a number of ongoing energy-saving replacements and upgrades as well as a pilot project to install solar panels at two facilities. Bellingham has already implemented several energy-saving facility upgrades and plans improvements to the motor controls at its sewage treatment plant, a major energy muncher. The Port of Bellingham, on the other hand, has no major energy munchers, except the harbor lights. "We're not a lot different from the average household," said Carolyn Casey. "The only way we can reduce energy usage is by lowering thermostats and turning off lights." Except the harbor lights. "For safety and security reasons, we really can't do that."

Water conservation is equally fraught with difficulties for local agencies. Potable water supplies are limited and becoming more so. Water rights for new sources are difficult to obtain. Quality and quantity issues are affected by the Growth Management and the Endangered Species Acts. In addition to as of yet unpredictable yearly and cyclical precipitation variances, local agencies are faced with competing interests for fish and wildlife preservation, forest enhancement, agriculture, hydropower, recreation, and municipal and industrial uses. Local governments must become as efficient and careful about water use as they expect their citizens to be. However, public investments in parks, cemeteries, facility landscaping, and streetscapes are substantial. No matter how well-designed and maintained irrigation systems may be, water is needed to maintain the investments. And guess what? Provision of water and wastewater services is a major energy muncher for many local agencies.

The following lists highlight energy and water conservation tips, resources, and techniques. Culled from Web pages, the MRSC Library, and other sources, they will assist local governments in reducing their own energy and water consumption and also provide guidance and assistance to citizens and ratepayers.

By John Carpita, Public Works Consultant, Municipal Research & Services Center

1Love and Marriage, from the musical Our Town, lyrics by Sammy Cahn, music by Jimmy Van Heusen
2"City, County, Port cut energy use," Andrew Cohen, The Bellingham Herald, February 4, 2001

MRSC and AWC Web Pages (with Oodles of Links)

MRSC

Energy Conservation, http://www.mrsc.org/environment/energyconservation.htm
Water Conservation, http://www.mrsc.org/environment/water//wc-conserv.htm

AWC

Local Government Energy Project, http://www.awcnet.org
Building Operator (newsletter), http://www.awcnet.org/

Agency/Organization Web Sites

City of Seattle, Energy Conservation - http://www.cityofseattle.net/html/citizen/power.htm
Bonneville Power Administration, Energy Efficiency - http://www.bpa.gov/Energy/N/
Energy Ideas, http://www.energyideas.org/
Department of Administration - http://www.ga.wa.gov/eas/epc/municipal.htm
Department of Health, Water Conservation Planning Requirements - http://www.mrsc.org/environment/water//doh94-24.pdf
Puget Sound Energy - http://www.pugetsoundenergy.com/advisor/

MRSC Library Resources

Energy Life Cycle Cost Analysis: Guidelines for Public Agencies, Washington State Department of General Administration, Division of Engineering & Architectural Services, June 1998.
Changing Our Waterways: Trends in Washington's Water Systems, prepared by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, 2000.
Conservation Planning Requirements: Guidelines and Requirements for Public Water Systems Regarding Water Use Reporting, Demand Forecasting Methodology, and Conservation Programs, Washington State Departments of Ecology, Health, and Washington Water Utilities Council, 1994.
Effectiveness of Residential Water Conservation Price and Nonprice Programs, Ari M. Michelsen, J. Thomas McGuckin, and Donna M. Stumpf, AWWA, 1998.
Facility Manager's Guide to Water Management, Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, July 2000.
Municipal Water Conservation Analysis and Recommendations, Washington State Department of Health, 1998.
Using Reclaimed Water to Augment Potable Water Resources: A Special Publication, prepared by a joint task force of the Water Environment Federation and the American Water Works Association (AWWA), 1998.
Water Conservation Plan Guidelines, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., 1998.

Things Local Governments Can Do to Conserve Energy http://www.energyideas.org/

Lighting

Generally, task (desk) lamps will use less energy than overhead lamps.
However, avoid using incandescent task lights. Ask your building manager for a compact fluorescent lamp to replace the incandescent lamp in your task light. Also, replace halogen torchiere floor lamps with compact fluorescent models.
Compact fluorescent lamps use one fourth as much energy and last ten times longer.
Turn off lights when out of your office or cubicle. Also turn off lights in unused common areas such as copy rooms, break rooms, conference rooms, and restrooms. The effect on lamp life and energy use when turning the lamp back on is negligible.
Turn off all lights at night, including task and office lights.
Turn off lights near windows when daylight is adequate.
Consider delamping - many ballasts may operate fewer lamps without damage.
Many areas are lit more than necessary for their present use. Only use lights that are necessary for tasks being performed.

Heating and Cooling

Sitting close to a window during the cloudy winter can make you feel cold. If so, close blinds or shades or move further from the window.
In the winter, close blinds at the end of the day to cut down on heat loss. In the summer, close blinds during the day to avoid the heat gain of direct sunlight.
Some large spaces may be operated cooler if you provide a spot radiant electric heater focused on the occupant. Turn the heater off when away from your workstation.
In cold weather, dress warmly and in layers that can be adjusted for optimal comfort.

Equipment

Turn off your computer monitor when you are away from your desk for more than 15 minutes. Turn off computer and monitor at the end of the day. Most monitors come with power management features; talk to your staff's computer expert about activating these features. Note that screen savers don't save energy; complex screen savers actually increase energy use.
Eliminate unnecessary hot plates, coffeepots, and other small appliances in your area and turn off all tools, office machines, and portable appliances when not in use. If you're the last one leaving at the end of the day, turn off the photocopiers and other office equipment.
When purchasing equipment, purchase "Energy Star" (http://www.energystar.gov/) products, and consider replacing old refrigerators.
Less frequently used equipment with remote controls such as televisions and VCRs should be unplugged when not in use because they still use some power even when turned off.

Things Local Governments Can Do to Conserve Water http://www.amwua.org

Building Operations

Read water meters on a regular basis
Make water use figures known to employees
Shut off water to unused areas
Install pressure-reducing valves if pressure is high
Regularly check building for leaks and water waste
To the extent possible, quantify water use by each operation
Where feasible, investigate recycling and re-using water
Install water fountains that are self-closing and use air-cooling for chilled water
Eliminate unnecessary wash-downs

Restrooms

Repair leaks and plumbing problems

Use water conserving plumbing fixtures:

Install low-flow showers, faucets, toilets, and urinals

Install metering or spring-loaded faucets, or faucets with sensors

Adjust plumbing to use the minimum amount of water that is functional

Retrofit old fixtures

Remind users to conserve

Kitchens and Cafeterias

Look for water waste

Install separate water meters for large operations

Don't use running water to melt unwanted ice

Dish washing:

Operate equipment only when needed

Wash only full loads

Use final rinse water for pre-washes and garbage disposers

Hand scrape dishes

Install an automatic shutoff so water does not run when garbage disposer is not in use

Ice making machines

Control bleed-off from clear ice machines

Ice flake machines usually use less water than ice cube machines

Use air-cooled machines, where possible

Use bleed-off water for condenser cooling

Cleaning and Sanitizing

Sweep when you don't have to mop or wash down

Landscaping

Establish a monthly budget based on plant water needs

Make sure that automatic irrigation equipment is operating properly:

Inspect system regularly to ensure that there are no leaks and that heads are not broken or misaligned

Adjust pressures to the specifications for the equipment used

Water only when needed:

Determine water needs based on evapotranspiration needs or soil moisture

Water infrequently, but deeply (not a few minutes everyday)

Turn off the system controller, if it has rained

Adjust controller times seasonally

Install timers, soil moisture sensors, and rainfall shutoffs

Use drip irrigation wherever possible

Do not over-fertilize or over-prune

Use heat resistant, drought tolerant plants

Limit turf areas

Be sure that hoses have shutoff nozzles

Use mulch around groundcovers, trees, and shrubs

Use a faucet timer if watering by hand

Mow regularly and avoid scalping grass

Pools and Spas

Do not use fill and draw pools
Use filter backwash for lawn watering
Cover pools and spas when not in use
Adjust pool levels to minimize "splash out"

Cooling Systems and Cooling Towers

Meter and record water use
Never use once-through cooling, or reuse the water elsewhere in the facility
Use air cooling, where feasible
Maximize cycles of concentration for cooling towers by providing efficient water treatment
Establish performance-based specifications when contracting with a cooling tower vendor
Investigate side-stream treatment
Reuse cooling tower effluent, where possible
Investigate wet-dry cooling towers
Reuse treated wastewater or other sources of water for cooling tower make-up

Boilers and Heating

Establish performance-based specifications when contracting with a boiler vendor/operator
Check steam traps regularly
Reuse steam condensate water and boiler blow-down water, where feasible
Avoid once-through operations
Record water use and check for leaks

Vehicle Washing

Keep records of water used per vehicle washed
Install equipment that recycles water
Adjust solenoids, valves, nozzles, and equipment to minimize water use
Inspect and replace worn jets and parts
Reduce "show foam" to reduce need for rinse water
Use high-pressure rinses instead of flood arches
Use chemically compatible washing solutions/waxes to recycle together

Other Water Using Equipment and Operations

Examine ways to modify existing processes and use alternative processes when replacing units
Use automatic valves that shut off water when equipment is off
Consider water use when purchasing equipment
Use mechanical/oil seals instead of water packing glands on pumps, where possible
Regenerate water softeners only when needed
Capture reject water from reverse osmosis units and reuse it, where feasible