DENVER, CO, April 4, 2013 -- The Water Research Foundation (WaterRF) has published its latest report, "Toolbox for Water Utility Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emission Management" (Project #4224) that evaluates products and processes used by water utilities across the globe to measure their energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The report (available here) is part of an ongoing focus to help water utilities in North America, Europe, South Africa, and Australia to maintain and improve their overall water, energy, and greenhouse gas operations as well as help support their management decisions. Research partners include the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the Global Water Research Coalition.
Robert Renner, WaterRF's Executive Director, said, "Energy management and GHG accounting tools are proliferating. However, because they are typically developed in response to differing location and sector-specific needs, no universally-accepted methodologies that support the unique needs of the water sector currently exist. It was critical to assess the applicability of existing tools and develop an energy and GHG toolbox that the water industry can utilize effectively on a global scale."
The report provides recommendations to develop methodologies that cover GHG emissions as a whole rather than from specific subsets -- sourcing, storing, and treating water and wastewater -- of the urban water cycle.
"As WaterRF continues to expand its research agenda to support Total Water Management, it is critical that we adopt a more holistic view, and that includes energy consumption and GHG emissions," Renner explained. "This dovetails with the growing industry trend to optimize water usage with the absolute least and cleanest energy possible."
About WaterRF
Project 4224 is the latest effort by WaterRF to help the water utility industry address challenges associated with the water - energy nexus. The Foundation has several ongoing projects in its Energy Focus Area to provide effective strategies to reduce water utility energy consumption and cost, to provide approaches for energy generation by water utilities, and to develop strategies for multi-sector integrated water-energy planning.
Founded in 1966, the Water Research Foundation is an international, 501(c)3 non-profit organization that sponsors research to enable water utilities, public health agencies and other professionals to provide safe and affordable water to the public. With more than 1,000 subscribers who provide water to 80 percent of the U.S. population, WaterRF has funded and managed more than 1,000 projects.
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