Key decisions for sustainable utility energy management

Abstract

This paper summarizes the outcomes of the international sustainable energy management workshop as part of the Water Research Foundation project “Decision Support System for Sustainable Energy Management.” This paper provides a review of key decisions and barriers to water utility energy management. This paper also provides a discussion of a decision framework to address sustainable energy management in the water/wastewater industry. This work represents a 17 utility, international cooperative project, aimed at creating a Decision Support System (DSS). When concluded, the assembled tool is expected to help identify energy, greenhouse, and cost-saving approaches that will be of wide practical benefit to water utilities.