9.2. SR 10-17-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Elk River Municipal Utilities GHG Baseline Inventory 11 Opportunities for Reduction For the Baseline year of 2015, ERMU facility energy use averaged 2,696kwh/MG of water produced. Based on the studies outlined above, this represents an energy use at 150% of both the GWRC global average as well as the Wisconsin State median for ERMU capacity class. If ERMU facility energy consumption could be optimized beyond its current levels to meet these averages of 1,800 kwh/MG, ERMU total greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced over 550 Metric Tonnes and a potential corresponding energy cost reduction of up to $55,000 annually (based on ERMU cost per kwh purchased). Recommendations: • Engage a consultant team to conduct a detailed Facility Assessment and Energy Audit and develop an energy efficiency action plan for the ERMU facilities. • Explore the feasibility of installation of renewable energy generation on one or more ERMU facility. The US EPA identified energy intensity for Massachusetts water utilities at 1,500 kwh/MG. In a 2008 study in the state of New York, the energy consumption at drinking water facilities ranged from 600-1,080 kWh/MG. Beyond the United States, Global Water Research Coalition compiled energy data from their members and established energy use in water facilities globally to range from 378-3,823 kWh/MG, with typical values of 1,800 kWh/MG reported (GWRC 2008). Finally, the State of Wisconsin Energy Office which tracks energy use for water utilities within the State shows a median energy use of 1,810 kwh/MG for water utilities with 4,000 or more customers (largest category) and a median energy use for all water utilities regardless of size of 2,100 kwh/MG. How do ERMU Operated Buildings and Grounds contribute to Greenhouse Gas Emissions? According to the US Department of Energy, use for buildings accounts for 41% of the total US energy consumption nationally. Building heating and cooling, lighting, and electronic equipment use makes up nearly 70% of all commercial building energy use. In the two decades between 1980 and 2009, the total energy consumed by our buildings increased 49%. Greenhouse gas emissions associated with that building energy use comes from direct emissions of fossil fuels burned on site (natural gas, fuel oil, etc), as well as indirectly from fossil fuels burned to create electricity off-site. The greenhouse gas emissions factor associated with on-site fuel use is directly related to the carbon content of the fuels burned (see Community Wide Energy Use for fuel factors). The emissions factor associated with electricity use varies based on the raw fuel sources used by the electrical utilities suppling the local electrical grid – utility providers who source more of their power through renewable energy sources, have ERMU Operations Buildings and Grounds Annual Greenhouse Gas equal to: 23,714,540 Cubic Feet of Man-Made Atmosphere 1,208.62 Metric Tonnes Summary of Findings* For the ERMU Operations Baseline year of 2015, the ERMU facilities consumed a total of 2,156,469 kwh of electricity and 16,138 therms of natural gas. The GHG emission associated with ERMU buildings and grounds energy use for the Baseline year of 2015 totaled 1,767.61 Metric Tonnes (3,896,908 pounds) CO2e. Emissions associated with electricity use were 95.2% while natural gas use emissions equaled 4.8% of the total GHG emissions. When Normalized for Weather, total annual energy consumption for ERMU buildings and grounds is adjusted downward 1.9% for electricity and upward 10% for natural gas. The resulting Weather Normalized annual Building and Grounds GHG increases 1.3% to a total of 1,744.96 Metric Tonnes. * Sources: energy consumption as reported on B3 Benchmarking, emission factors based on US EPA and Excel Energy, Emissions associated with ERMU buildings and grounds equal: 51Cubic Inches of man- made atmosphere for every gallon of water pumped. (Figure to scale) 78.85% ERMU Operations Total