Water
and Energy Efficient Products
ICF International conducted market research on products to determine the potential
for ENERGY STAR® labeling for the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency’s
(EPA) ENERGY STAR® new product specification
development efforts. We developed scoping reports for the following product
categories that use water and energy to operate: autoclaves/sterilizers, commercial
clothes washers and dishwashers, ice makers, low-flow showerheads, pre-rinse
spray valves, soft-serve machines, and spa/pool pumps. ICF International provided
reports with data including market size (e.g., unit shipments), manufacturer
market share, unit water and energy consumption,
and potential water and energy savings associated
with more efficient equipment. Based on these
preliminary reports, EPA chose which products
to conduct additional in-depth market and engineering
analyses on and determined those markets where
ENERGY STAR® would
be feasible and garner the greatest savings.
Reducing
Water Use in Industry
ICF International supported EPA’s Sector Strategies
Division in developing tools for planning and
implementing water use reduction and other environmental
performance improvements to support EPA's National Environmental Performance
Track (Performance Track), which provides national recognition and regulatory
incentives for environmental performance excellence. Our staff provided technical
leadership in developing cost-benefit analyses of water use reduction objectives;
gathering 'best' management practices (BMPs); creating action plans
to achieve reductions; developing monitoring and measurement approaches; and
making resource conservation part of overall operations. ICF International defined
measurable goals as indicators of success and developed schedules for industry-specific
tools and management systems elements. Our staff led workshops to gather input
from member companies and conducted training sessions that facilitated sharing
of examples among pilot facilities. We provided technical reviews of products
(e.g., BMPs, action plans, and monitoring approaches) and conducted crucial,
on-site visits to help facilities implement effective, sustainable management
systems. Industry uses our findings to enhance environmental performance
improvement and thereby become eligible for incentives that EPA offers as a
reward for excellence.
Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Water
Resources
ICF International supported the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by:
- Analyzing
the impacts of sea level rise on ground water supplied drinking water
systems in Florida
- Estimating the impact of climate change on
wastewater treatment costs for publicly owned
treatment works (POTWs) in the Great Lakes
Region (GLR)
- Developing
a prototype model to analyze the effects
of climate change and variability on the effectiveness
of riparian strips
- Developing a synthesis paper on
technical and stakeholder issues in watersheds
- Analyzing
the potential impacts of climate change
on combined sewer overflows (CSO) and their
effect on implementation of the CSO policy
in the GLR
We
developed a screening tool to identify public
water supplies vulnerable to sea level rise
and analyzed potential climate change impacts
in terms of hydrologic effects (lower low-flows,
such as those used as benchmarks for the total
maximum daily load (TMDL) program, and higher
high-flow events, such as those that result
in combined sewer overflows and high non-point
source pollutant loadings). EPA is using this
work to support efforts to develop decision
tools for adapting to climate change. |
Cleaner
Production for Industrial Efficiency (CPIE) Program
For the government of Thailand, ICF International implemented the CPIE program,
a voluntary initiative aimed at reducing industrial water use, wastewater discharge,
and energy consumption by a target of 20 percent among industries that participate.
The program promotes the adoption of cleaner production practices for industries
in the Samut Prakarn province. ICF International collaborated with local partners
on pollution prevention, training, pilot programs, and policy analyses. Participants
reduced their water consumption and wastewater generation by approximately
528 million gallons per year. Participating facilities gained widespread recognition
as a supporter of an innovative initiative to improve the quality of life for
the Samut Prakarn people.
Water and Sustainability for the 21st Century
For the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI),
ICF International conducted a study to address
a key question: "Will there be sufficient electricity
available to satisfy North America's need for fresh water?" We estimated
unit electricity requirements for water supply and wastewater treatment, and
used these estimates in conjunction with projections of water consumption requirements
for various economic sectors to develop aggregate electricity requirements for
the period 2000 through 2020, with an extrapolation to the year 2050. This analysis
included several sectors: public water supply agencies; publicly owned and privately
operated wastewater treatment facilities; and self-supply of water to the domestic,
commercial, industrial, mining, irrigation, livestock, and power generation sectors.
ICF International identified issues regarding changes in unit electricity consumption
(e.g., technology changes or advances, increased energy use for pumping due to
lower water tables in some areas, more stringent regulatory requirements for
wastewater treatment) and aggregate electricity requirements for each sector
and assessed their impact on future projections. Our findings indicated that
electricity requirements for water supply and wastewater treatment will remain
at less than five percent of the total national demand for electricity over the
study period.
Identifying the Linkage
Between Energy and Water
For a confidential client, ICF International examined the links between water
and energy in the U.S. to identify opportunities to improve efficiency in
the use of both resources. Our staff addressed:
- Water withdrawal and consumption
in the U.S.
- The energy intensity of community water supplies
- The use of water in electricity production
and consumer products that use both water and
energy
- Commercial
products and processes that use both water
and energy
ICF International evaluated potential
options for both energy and water savings. |
