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LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT LAB
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RECOMMENDED READINGS
FUTURE OF WORK
INSIGHTS
Episode TCEP 308: Energy efficiency utilities are critical for reducing operational costs and enhancing the sustainability of water and wastewater systems. This episode examines how treatment plants can optimize energy use while ensuring process reliability and regulatory compliance. Listeners will discover practical approaches for integrating energy management into infrastructure projects.
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Energy efficiency utilities involve optimizing the use of energy within water and wastewater infrastructure to reduce costs and environmental impact. This practice includes load shifting, equipment optimization, and leveraging flexible resources such as storage tanks to support grid stability and operational efficiency.
Energy efficiency utilities refer to practices and strategies aimed at reducing energy consumption in water and wastewater treatment facilities. These include optimizing processes, load shifting, and using storage tanks to manage energy use effectively.
Water tanks can act like cheap batteries by storing water during low energy demand periods and releasing it during peak demand. This load shifting helps utilities manage grid reliability and reduce energy costs.
Simple improvements such as lowering pressure in plant water systems, favoring more efficient pumps, and optimizing blower operations can reduce energy usage with minimal risk to compliance or process performance.
Demand response programs allow water and wastewater systems to reduce energy use during peak grid demand times, often for financial incentives, without harming treatment process performance.
Optimizing energy use through processes like intermittent aeration can reduce energy costs and improve effluent quality by enhancing nutrient removal, such as reducing nitrogen levels.
Rising electricity rates, increased energy demand, and stricter environmental regulations have increased awareness of energy efficiency as a controllable cost for water and wastewater utilities.
Engineers gain buy-in by building trust, demonstrating low-risk energy savings, understanding regulatory requirements, and showing tangible cost benefits through small incremental improvements.
Focusing on a niche area such as energy efficiency in water and wastewater systems and becoming an expert can lead to diverse and rewarding career opportunities.
Routine practices such as staying engaged with site operations, ongoing learning, and maintaining wellness through breaks like getting fresh air help sustain productivity and insight.
Join EMI training to gain practical knowledge and skills in energy efficiency for water and wastewater utilities. Learn how to implement cost-saving measures and optimize operations effectively.
Your Host
Most AEC organizations are too busy to focus on attracting, developing, and retaining talented professionals, making it hard to grow. Through his work at EMI, Fasano utilizes a proven framework to help organizations, both public and private, build professional development plans, programs, and tools that help them attract, build, AND maintain strong teams and grow sustainably.
Fasano has written a bestselling book entitled Engineer Your Own Success (by IEEE-Wiley Press), and under his stewardship, EMI has built a massive content platform including 10 active podcasts, 3 YouTube channels, and a popular blog dedicated to helping AEC professionals become better managers and leaders.
Guest Expert
Principal Consultant and Treatment Group Lead at Parametrix
Layne McWilliams started his career on the jobsite of a large wastewater construction project and has been involved in the design, construction, and optimization of water and wastewater infrastructure for more than 30 years (good lord!). For the past 15 years, he’s focused on reducing the energy footprint in our plants and facilities, trying to atone for the energy sins he committed as a designer. As part of that effort, he spends a good deal of time helping water and wastewater systems through strategic energy management, designs that utilize efficient equipment and processes, and helping operators look at their plants through a new lens.
Layne has been heavily involved with PNCWA (now a happy Past President) and is the current chair of the energy committee for OrACWA. He is a recipient of the PNCWA Individual Distinguished Achievement award and an Energy + Environment 100 Leader award for his efforts in helping utilities become more efficient while improving process performance. He is a PE with a Mechanical Engineering degree from MIT and a law degree from Lewis & Clark Law in Portland, OR.
He lives in Hayden, ID, with his wife and two semi-ADHD goldens – one that hates water, and the other that hates loud noises. So, not much hunting, but they are great magazine coverdogs! Along the way, they’ve managed to get two fully functioning adults out into the world, and while they miss them, it’s also nice having the basement to themselves. Layne is the current Board President for North Idaho Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and would like you to look up your local CASA, learn what they do, and see how you can help kids who are stuck at the intersection of abuse and the justice system.
Resources Mentioned:
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Anthony Fasano, PE, AEC PM, F. ASCE
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success
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