Energy Star® Is Not Just for Appliances Anymore

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated that three percent of the power generated in the U.S. is used by the water and wastewater treatment industry — equating to 56 billion kilowatt hours, 4 billion dollars and 45 million tons of greenhouse gas production (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). A nationwide decrease of energy by 10 percent in water and wastewater treatment alone would equate to over a five billion kWh savings in electrical delivery needs annually. Adding power generation, power line transmission and substation transformer losses, the savings increase significantly. To help manage energy consumption, the EPA added the ENERGY STAR® program for municipal wastewater treatment plants. This voluntary program will help a plant track its energy usage and associated costs while monitoring its carbon footprint. This paper will examine the ENERGY STAR program and explain how electrical energy can be monitored and managed in a wastewater treatment plant.