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Embedded Energy Savings from California’s Water Pilot Programs

Impact Evaluation Draft Results

CPUC Webinar January 5, 2011

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Agenda

1. Introductions and Pilots background, context

2. Scope of Pilots and evaluation3. General evaluation methods4. Pilots findings5. Recommendations6. More information and comments7. Questions

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Evaluation Firms

Evaluation firms:• ECONorthwest (prime contractor)• SBW Consulting• Aquacraft, Inc.• Pacific Institute• Eskinder Berhanu & Associates

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Background

Previous study findings: • CEC: 19% of state electricity production is for

water-related uses• Significant energy used to acquire, pump, treat

and distribute water ( = “embedded energy”) • California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)

requests 4 largest investor owned energy utilities (IOUs) to develop Pilot programs to count potential embedded energy savings

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Water Energy Pilot Design

Specifically: • IOUs must partner with at least one large water

provider• Programs should be jointly funded• Programs should:

• Conserve water;• Use less energy-intensive water (e.g., gravity-fed,

recycled versus groundwater or desalination); • Make delivery and treatment systems more efficient

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Water Energy Pilot Programs

1. PG&E Large Commercial Customers2. PG&E High Efficiency Toilets (HETs)3. PG&E Emerging Technologies (SCADA upgrades)4. SCE Leak Detection 5. SCE HETs 6. SCE Express Water Efficiency (pH Controllers, WBICs)7. SDG&E Recycled Water Retrofits8. SDG&E Managed Landscapes 9. SDG&E Large Commercial Customer Water/Energy

Audits

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Timeline

December 2007: CPUC approves Pilots designs

June 2008: Evaluation Plan completed (“M&V”)

July 2008: Pilots implementation begins

June 30, 2009: Pilots scheduled to end

December 31, 2009: Pilots end

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Water Energy Pilot Evaluation Overview

Primary Elements of Evaluation:

1. Water savings measured for each Pilot program (may include multiple projects)

2. Embedded energy impacts for each program, based on water impacts

• Did not include evaluation of potential end user energy changes (e.g., to reuse/pump water on-site)

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Water Agency Data Collection

• Survey to collect water, wastewater “flows” and energy data, systems information

• Asked for hourly flows data - got mostly monthly• Data processed with Study 2 Access dbase tool

• Calculates energy intensity (kWh/million gallons) by function (e.g., treatment, distribution)

• Average system-wide energy intensities calculated for this evaluation• Multiplied by water savings of relevant projects

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Water Agency Data Collection

• Recycled water retrofit projects• Need to know incremental (i.e. “tertiary”)

energy needed to exceed regular wastewater treatment standards and distribute water

• Compare this energy used to energy saved from potable water supply

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Individual Pilot Programs

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Individual Pilot Programs

• Program funding is as budgeted, may not reflect actual costs

• Following slides show IOU energy savings only• report includes total energy savings where

available, but not comprehensive• Cost-effectiveness not included in Pilot

evaluation scope

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PG&E Large Commercial Customers Description and M&V

• PG&E partnered with EBMUD, retailers of SCWA and SCVWD

• Water audits and incentives offered to:• Hospitality sector • Food processors• Others (wineries, schools, jails, etc.)

• Wide range of measures possible• Multiple incentives cover portion of retrofit cost• PG&E budget = $700,000• M&V: Pre-post metering of water use for each

installed measure

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PG&E Large Commercial Customers Findings

• Evaluated sites (census)• 7 hotels (ozone laundry)• 4 others (efficient dishwasher, recycled water,

toilet retrofits/timers)• Water savings = 34 million gallons/yr.• Wastewater savings = 16 million gallons/yr.• IOU energy savings = 55,000 kWh/yr.

• Does not include energy savings from 2 recycled water projects, some water agencies

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PG&E Single Family HETs Description and M&V

• PG&E partnered with Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD)

• Direct install program for low-income customers• Multiple incentives cover entire cost of single-

flush HETs• Retrofit opportunities identified during home

energy audits• PG&E budget = $200,000• M&V: Direct pre-post metering of existing and

new toilets

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PG&E Single Family HETsFindings

• 478 total HETs installed• 27 homes evaluated with 40 HETs• Water/wastewater savings = 5 million

gallons/yr.• Does not include changes in pre/post leakage• Evaluation estimates savings could be increased

about 20% if no leakage

• IOU energy savings = 14,000 kWh/yr.• Does not include wastewater energy savings

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PG&E Emerging Technologies Description and M&V

• PG&E partners are EBMUD, San Jose Water Co.• Contractors integrate real-time energy data into

SCADA systems to improve operational decisions, pumping efficiency• EBMUD: new screen displays for operators• San Jose: New algorithm for automatic pumping

• Water agencies contributed staff time, data• PG&E budget = $341,000• M&V: Pre-post analysis of energy controlling for

flows/pressures, operator interviews

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PG&E Emerging TechnologiesFindings

• Goal = save energy directly, not water• Both projects did integrate real-time energy• Neither projects achieved IOU energy

savings• EBMUD - Operators had little time, flexibility

to react to energy data on SCADA screen• San Jose - pumping algorithm not implemented

by end of Pilot

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SCE Multifamily HETsDescription and M&V

• Partnership between SCE, MWD and member water agencies

• Only for low-income apartment tenants• Multiple incentives cover entire cost of dual-flush

HETs • SCE budget = $200,000• M&V: Pre-post analysis of household water use

with flow trace method• Apartment unit metering• Flushes distinguished from other water uses at

household indoor meter

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SCE Multifamily HETsFindings

• 276 total HETs installed in 176 apartments• 41 apartment units evaluated• Water/wastewater savings = 1.3 million

gallons/yr.• Does not include changes in pre/post leakage• Savings could be increased significantly by

repairing large post-install leaks

• IOU energy savings = 5,800 kWh/yr.

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SCE Express Water EfficiencyDescription and M&V

• SCE partnership with MWD • Rebates available for:

• pH controllers for cooling towers • Weather based irrigation controllers (WBICs)

for landscapes • SCE budget = $133,000• pH M&V: Pre-post analysis of inflow makeup

water, chemical mix, conductivity readings• No WBICs installed through Pilot program

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SCE Express Water EfficiencyFindings

• Participation = 1 customer, 3 pH controllers• As found water/wastewater savings = 6.3

million gallons/yr.• IOU energy savings = 9,400 kWh/yr.

• Wastewater energy only (retailer energy not provided)

• Water/energy savings inflated due to atypical pre/post operating procedures• With proper maintenance, would likely be 25%

of as found

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SCE Leak Detection Description and M&V

• SCE partnered with three water agencies• Agencies received free, comprehensive audits:

• Authorized usage• apparent water losses (metering/data problems, theft)• real losses (leaks)

• Leaks identified and repaired in selected areas• Economically justified (future) leak detection and

pressure management also determined• SCE budget = $300,000• M&V: Field observation of some leakage

measurements

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SCE Leak Detection Findings

• 170 miles of distribution systems got leak detection and repairs

• Short-term water savings = 83 million gallons/yr.

• Short-term energy savings = 178,000 kWh/yr.• Large potential long-term energy savings =

580,000 kWh/yr. (if agencies implement recommended leak detection campaigns).

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SDG&E Recycled Water Description and M&V

• SDG&E partnered with SDCWA • Cost sharing for retrofits switching from potable

water to recycled water• Public agency roadsides, community parks

• Recycled water needs additional treatment beyond standard wastewater; reduces energy savings

• SDG&E budget = $250,000• M&V: Analysis of pre-project potable water usage

from utility metering, normalized for ETo

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SDG&E Recycled WaterFindings

• 6 total participant projects• 4 sites evaluated• Potable water savings = 31 million gallons/yr.• Energy savings = 75,000 kWh/yr.

• For 3 evaluated sites• Includes energy from all sources, not just IOU

energy (San Diego data did not disaggregate IOU from other energy)

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SDG&E Managed Landscapes Description and M&V

• SDG&E partnered with SDCWA • Installed “smart” weather-based controllers for

aesthetic landscape irrigation - apartments, condominiums, university

• Required 4+ irrigated acres, 5 or less irrigation timers, separate indoor/outdoor meters

• SDG&E budget = $250,000• M&V: Pre-post analysis of utility outdoor water

bills, adjusting for plantings changes

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SDG&E Managed Landscapes Findings

• 13 total participant sites• 4 sites evaluated in detail• Water savings = 52 million gallons/yr. for

13 sites• IOU energy savings = 21,000 kWh/yr.

• Does not include potential savings for two retail water agencies (two projects) where data not obtained

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SDG&E Large Customer Audits - Description and M&V

• SDG&E partnered with SDCWA • Combined water/energy audits offered to:

• Commercial, Industrial, Institutional large water users

• 9 sites got audits• SDG&E budget = $496,000• M&V: Pre-post metering of all installed

measures

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SDG&E Large Customer Audits - Findings

• 4 sites installed measures and evaluated • Detention facility, biotech/R&D• Flush timers, autoclave upgrades, reverse

osmosis upgrades, boiler water reuse

• Water/wastewater savings = 82 million gallons/yr.

• IOU energy savings = 155,000 kWh/yr.• No data/savings for one water agency/project

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Key Findings

1. Programs like SCE Leak Detection may offer high energy savings at relatively low cost

2. PG&E and SDG&E detention facility projects also generated high energy savings, and could be a future program focus

3. Recycled water projects can create large potable water savings, but more data needed on IOU energy in tertiary treatment

4. Other programs appear to have less potential, but additional cost-effectiveness research needed

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Overarching Recommendations

1. Systematically inform all agencies from which embedded energy data may be needed

• Include wastewater, recycled water agencies

2. Conduct more research on recycled water energy requirements and customer costs

3. Evaluate larger sample sizes (e.g., pH controllers, high efficiency dishwasher)

4. Include end use energy savings (+, -) in embedded energy assessments

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Program Specific Recommendations

1. Obtain hotel occupancy and/or laundry pounds data for ozone laundry systems

• Could not be obtained; would improve water/energy savings estimates

2. More research on pH controllers water savings• Or draw from other studies with valid findings

3. SCADA improvement projects• Ensure policies, operating conditions and staffing

allow for behavioral/system changes

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Program Specific Recommendations

4. High Efficiency Toilets:• Also meter non-retrofit toilets, to see if/how usage

changes• Do in-home verification if Flow Trace method used,

to identify maladjusted from non-replaced toilets• Collect more occupancy data, for extrapolation• Do not rely on manufacturer flush ratings

5. Leak Detection – verify repairs if savings will be claimed

• Not done completely for this evaluation

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More Information and Comments

1. Report available at: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/energy/Energy+Efficiency/EM+and+V/index.htm

2. To submit comments: www.energydataweb.com/cpuc, click on topic “Embedded Energy in Water Pilot EM&V”

3. Comments extended to 1/14/11