Helping Future Environmental Movement with Strategies

Figure 01, Renewable Energy Grid (rvgomeseria)

ViewPoint

As an Engineer, this can help in the process of sustaining a sustainable environment with the cause of environmental movement in society and to the country around the world. It is a coincidence because I just submitted my article to the CEAI (Consulting Engineers Association of India) VIEWPOINT Journal for September 2018 Edition with the theme of “Built Environment – Energy Conservation for Utilities” and my topic entitled, “Energy Conservation for Utilities Means Sustainability” which the author discussed all the strategies in a practical way for engineering design to a sustainable life (Figure 01).

In today's generation, energy conservation is an essential task in sustaining a sustainable environment and mitigating climate change because of environmental movement throughout the world. In the article whereas having provided, we will be discussing energy conservation for utilities briefly the importance of Treated Sewage Treatment System, Renewable Energy, Chilled Water Plant, and the importance of the Building Information Modeling within the Energy Conservation and Sustainability platform. With the experiences and learning process applies within the course of my study and research over time in particular with my Ph.D. in Building and Construction Engineering at the Atlantic International University, School of Science and Engineering with the sustainability engineering, social engineering, and management. Again, in the article, the author will share the experiences that have had in briefly a sort of education and the tips whereas the author made. And at the end of the discussion, you will learn how the energy conservation for utilities means sustainability and to help our Mother Earth into a sustainable environment.

Energy Conservation in the Competitive Landscape Goal

Energy conservation using technology and keeping sustainability in mind is the main goal of today’s competitive landscape. The intent is to help the world in conserving the environment and at the same time create revenue from innovative works. Aside from the Energy Conservation, the combined MEP and utility designs have focused on reducing carbon dioxide emissions through system selection, maximizing system, and equipment efficiency and exploiting renewable energy resources. Sustainability is thus inherent in the theme of Energy Conservation for Utilities.

Energy and water play a significant role in the utilities with the current technological competitive landscape and are to be reckoned with in targeting any benchmarking program in terms of energy conservation. Ratings could be given for every work being done based on engineering experiences and judgment for achieving energy and water conservation plus other predicted factors to enhance the planning and services design considering the practical strategies with the followings:

Enhanced Envelope Performance (Reduces Infiltration and Conduction),

Glazing Shading and Enhanced Solar Performance,

Use of Natural Lighting,

Low Energy (LED) Light Sources,

Lighting Controls Systems,

Significant PV Installation for Electrical Lighting Post,

Cooling Towers (Instead of Air-Cooled Chillers) through District Cooling,

Demand (CO₂) Controlled Ventilation,

Displacement Ventilation (With Some Free Cooling Potential),

Energy Recovery Wheels in Fresh Air AHUs (Air Handling Units),

Specification of High-Efficiency Pumps and Fans,

Low-Use Water Outlets,

Grey Water Capture and Recycling, and

Use of Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) for Cooling Towers and Irrigation

However, for the above to be achieved, the Engineer has to plan the utilities system and design requirements to be aligned with the requirement of the local authority and with references to the specific British or American Standards including the approved local standards as well as the requirements of the clients and the stakeholders in valuing the concept of energy conservation within the competitive landscape.

With the enumerated features, the utilities comprise of services dealing with the notional interface point of approximately 1-meter or as applicable outside the building line that has been defined as the interface between MEP and Utilities / Infrastructure. From this point, the MEP design is to provide the required containment, plant, and equipment. However, the utilities are services composed of utility connections such as MEP with the following:

Power System, this refers to the electrical cabling and the electrical grid.

Chilled Water System, this refers to the infrastructure district cooling.

Potable Water System, this refers to the water supply network distribution.

Domestic Hot Water, this refers to the infrastructure district heating.

Treated Sewage Effluent, this is commonly known as TSE which is recycled water.

Foul and Waste Water Drainage is the sewerage water network to the TSE plant.

Storm Water Drainage, this is the surface run-off water usually discharged to a water body or treated and reused

Fire Hydrant Water Network is the hydrant water collection station which the Firefighters use for fire suppression within the city landscape

The Importance of Energy Conservation

With all the utilities, this paper covers partly and briefly the importance of Treated Sewage Treatment System, Renewable Energy, Chilled Water Plant, and the importance of the Building Information Modeling within the Energy Conservation and Sustainability platform.

One of the examples of energy conservation as the author has mentioned as shown in the figure with Renewable Energy using Wind Energy and Solar Technology in conserving the energy within the electrical grid for power distribution in the community.

Figure 02, Electrical Grid for Power Distribution (image credit, Scott Anderson)

However, before proceeding, let me identify the importance of energy conservation, what it means to us and how it works, its implication in our daily lives as well as awareness in support of the global environment climate change. It is now mandatory to reduce the quantum of energy being used from the grid source by energy-efficient usage. With all the options brought on the table, the common energy that individuals use can be decreased through innovative alternative solutions. Reducing common energy consumption is one of the easiest ways of helping our mother Earth.

Energy conservation plays an important since it has a significant role in reducing the effect on global climate change. Replacement of non-renewable resources with renewable energy can impact environmental possibilism in the competitive landscape. [Gomeseria RV; (March 2018); ‘Environmental Possibilism,’ VIEWPOINT for further details of the impact of climate change brought on the competitive landscape] Energy conservation in the design is often the most inexpensive solution for energy shortages and is a more environmentally friendly alternative than increased energy production.

Another example of Renewable Energy using the Wind Energy, image courtesy took from Deirdre Imus Environmental for energy conservation in the electrical grid distributed within the competitive landscape.

Energy can be considered as the capacity of a physical system to perform work or the ability to perform to complete any type of work which could be a physical or mental activity. The chain of converting different forms of energy into heat and power could be understood through the followings:

When oil burns it gives off heat which is converted to light and also power

The heat is also used to boil water and turn it into steam

Steam from the water generates heat

When steam trapped, its pressure turns a turbine

The turbine is coupled to an electric generator

The generator produces electricity from the steam

The electricity generated is distributed and powers light bulbs

Using a light bulb gives off light and heat

The above also illustrates the effect of using natural resources on climate change and the need to conserve energy within the utilities for sustainable living.

Figure 03, Wind Power Distribution (image credit, Deirdre Imus)

Horticulture/ Irrigation and Water Management Conservation

The use of Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) rather than using potable water for Horticulture / Irrigation should be a part of the water management and energy conservation strategy. TSE supplied by the local body/government, is available throughout the infrastructure and distributed based on the demand required for particular areas within the competitive landscape.

Using TSE, the principles of water conservation has utilized as shown in the figure above where watering the field on Green Circles in Irkhaya Farms in Qatar. The left corner image is my projects for the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Doha West where the collected sewage within the urban cities and municipalities in Qatar have processed into a Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) and delivered revert back to the infrastructure landscape for irrigation water system applications rather than using potable water from Kahramaa water network.

Figure 04, Green Circles in Irkhaya Farms (credit image; Irkhaya Farms)

Figure 05, Doha Sewage Treatment Plant (credit image, Arcadis/Hyder)

TSE irrigation is an essential parameter in planting concepts for energy conservation in water management especially in the desert regions, as water is a rare commodity in arid climates.  Water conservation strategies are one of the choices for landscape design either using the treated sewage effluent water or the grey water which is being captured and recycled from buildings and other infrastructure. By an integrated system between the buildings and the landscape areas, efficient water management can be implemented using the greywater recycled from the building for horticulture/ irrigation purposes. Some of the water conservation strategies that may be applied within the utility infrastructure includes the followings:

Using xerophytic species of plants that are adapted to dry condition

Using water-retaining organic matter for the soil

Installation of windbreakers and fences to slow the winds and reduce the evapotranspiration within the landscape area

Watering in the early morning before the sun’s heat is intense helps to reduce the water loss from evaporation in the landscape

Use treated greywater that has been collected in the building instead of freshwater to conserve energy

Reduce use of fertilizers since they encourage rapid growth which results in higher water requirement

Use trickle, drip irrigation, and root zone systems. Since the water is applied directly to the soil and the root, rather than onto the plant, evaporation from leaf surfaces is reduced

Provide a sensor technology for the monitoring of the watering system and of the soil conditions. The release of water should be triggered by sensors in each planted area so that all plants are supplied with sufficient water and no water run-off occurs.

Set the timer so that the landscape is irrigated early in the morning or in the evening when wind and evaporation are lowest, and

Using TSE water for irrigation purposes within the landscape areas

The above water conservation strategies mentioned above give a positive impact as well as assure energy conservation depending on the practices and demand requirement.

The sewage within the domestic infrastructure should flow through to the pumping station and on to the sewage treatment plant facility using a sustainable sewer network. The sewage water is treated according to the environmental processes and methodology requirement by physical, chemical, biological processes until the effluent meets the biological level to produce safe water for the environment.

The TSE process in the utility system is clearly defined as one of the sustainable utilities in conserving human, commercial, and industrial by recycling water rather than using and wasting fresh water. TSE is now commonly used for horticulture, irrigation, and industrial purposes. Use of Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) has been broadened and is used for flushing of water closets as well as for the Cooling Heat Rejection. These are the key components in a sustainability strategy to reduce both on-site energy consumption and potable water consumption.

A complete analysis should be done for determining the Peak Irrigation Demand, holding tank requirement for the water closet flushing in high rise buildings, and also the Peak Cooling Tower Water Make-Up Water Demand. That aids in ensuring that the quantum of Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) is reliable and correct for a 24 hours storage tank, with a potable water backup connection as well as an external connection for filling by water tankers.

Conclusion

With all the above mentioned and carefully taken care of our environment, this will lead to helping the future of environmental movement with the practical strategies as discussed in a sustainable context.

Write-Up References can be Read from this Links;

Gomeseria RV; (September 2018); "Energy Conservation for Utilities Means Sustainability;" VIEWPOINT JOURNAL, September 2018 Edition, Official Quarterly Magazine of the CEAI Publication, Consulting Engineers Association of India (CEAI)

Gomeseria RV; (December 2018); "Environmental Advocacy & Conservation;’’ Durreesamin Journal (ISSN: 2204-9827) December Vol 4 Issue 3, the Year 2018