Energy and Climate Planning Resources for Water Utilities
This is a compendium of documents, tools and websites intended to assist water utilities with energy management and climate planning. A brief description is provided for some of many of these resources. If you would like more information or assistance with determining which options would be right for your utility please contact Amelia Nuding at (303) 444-1188 x249, or by email at: amelia.nuding@westernresoucers.org.
Energy Efficiency Programs (Federal)
- EPA - ENERGY STAR Partnership
Utilities can become ENERGY STAR rated by joining ENERGY STAR as a partner. EPA's Portfolio Manager is a tool which helps track a facility's energy use, and helps compare other similar facilities using the EPA performance rating system.
Financing (Federal)
- EPA - Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program
This program provides funding for the construction of municipal wastewater facilities and implementation of nonpoint source pollution control and estuary protection projects.
- EPA - Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program
This program provides funding for drinking water systems to finance infrastructure improvements. Emphasis is placed on funds to small and disadvantaged communities and to programs that encourage pollution prevention.
- US Bureau of Reclamation - WaterSMART
Many of these water efficiency grants incorporate an energy efficiency component.
- Economic Development Administration - Federal Funding Opportunities
Check here for updates about available funding opportunities for public works construction, expansion or upgrade of essential public infrastructure and facilities.
- Pending Legislation - H.R. 2738 and S. 1669 would establish a federal grant program to help utilities adapt to new hydrological circumstances associated with climate change. You can track it here.
Case Studies
- Consortium for Energy Efficiency - 15 Case Studies on Energy Efficiency in the Water Sector
- EPA - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments: Four Case Studies of Water Utility Practices
- Western Resources Advocates - The Water-Energy Nexus in Coloradan Communities: Managing Energy Use in the Water Sector
Free Guidebooks
- EPA - Ensuring a Sustainable Future: An Energy Management Guidebook for Water and Wastewater Utilities
- The Alliance to Save Energy - WATERGY: Energy and Water Efficiency in Municipal Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment; Cost effective Savings of Water and Energy
- Consortium for Energy Efficiency - Energy Efficiency RFP Guidance for Water-Wastewater Projects
- Water Utility Climate Alliance - Decision Support Planning Methods: Incorporating Climate Change Uncertainties into Water Planning
- New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) - Water and Wastewater Best Practices Handbook, and additional resources on energy management
Other Free Tools
- EPA - Portfolio Manager
Portfolio Manager is an interactive energy management tool that allows you to track and assess energy and water consumption across your entire portfolio of buildings in a secure online environment. Whether you own, manage, or hold properties for investment, Portfolio Manager can help you set investment priorities, identify under-performing buildings, verify efficiency improvements, and receive EPA recognition for superior energy performance.
- Pacific Institute - Water to Air Model
To give water managers a better understanding of the relationship between water management decisions, energy consumption, and air quality the Pacific Institute has created two Water to Air Models. One model is for urban water districts and the other for agricultural districts. The models provide a flexible but consistent framework for quantifying the energy and air quality dimensions of water management decisions.
- Pacific Institute - Water Energy Simulator (WESim)
(Will be available Winter 2012) Displays energy use across all stages of the water supply and treatment process, and allows for comparisons of energy demands for future scenarios: new technology, changes in demand, etc.
- Perrone et al - Water-Energy Nexus Tool (WEN): Journal article, Tools (Two are available: ”es103230n_si_002 (118 KB)” and “es103230n_si_003 (499 KB)” which can be opened in excel.)
This tool helps to quantify the water and energy portfolios associated with a community's water-energy nexus (WEN) and the influence of geographic location on resources. The WENtool quantifies a community’s transport (consumed for or lost before delivery) and nexus (energy for water and water for energy) resources so communities can assess their resource flows.
- Carpe Diem - Compendium of Climate Related Tools for Western Water Managers The primary goal of Phase I of the Carpe Diem West Academy is to help western water and energy managers make sense of the vast array of available tools that might help them make better decisions in the face of climate uncertainty. The result of this work is a subset of the most robust, scientifically-supported tools and best practices that are relevant to practical decision-making.