Simulating Household-City Water and Energy Conservation Opportunities
Location
ECC 303
Event Website
http://water.usu.edu/
Start Date
4-3-2012 2:30 PM
End Date
4-3-2012 2:50 PM
Description
Water-energy linkages have received growing attention from water and energy utilities as utilities recognize that collaborative programs can implement more effective conservation and efficiency improvements at lower cost and with less effort. Water supply accounts for 4% of U.S. total energy consumption and water heating consumes 14% of household energy. However, water and energy conservation programs are often not collaboratively planed. Further, city-wide water and energy use and conservation estimates assume deterministic (homogenous) household characteristics and often do not include uncertainties in water and energy system parameters. Here, we present a stochastic simulation-optimization model that considers uncertainties and variability in household water and energy use and conservation. The model also embeds the city’s energy consumption to extract, convey, treat and distribute water to households, and treat wastewater. At the household scale, water and energy use are modeled stochastically using Monte Carlo simulation by considering the likelihood of each value water and energy parameter can take (i.e., probability distributions of use frequency and duration, use volume or flowrate, household size, hot water use percentage, water heater efficiency, etc.) for major household toilet, shower, faucet, clothes-washers, dishwasher, and outdoor water uses. We develop probability distributions for model parameters from a recent, large, national, disaggregated water use dataset comprising 1.4 million water use events over 7,900 days by 400 single family households in 11 U.S. cities. We embed the household water use simulation model in a city scale optimization model that selects the cost minimizing mix of conservation actions that achieve specified city-wide water and energy conservation targets within certain budgets. The optimization includes the energy required to extract, convey, treat, and distribute water to households and treat wastewater. The model helps cities size and target city-wide water conservation actions to meet water and energy reduction targets. The research method helps improve accurate integrated household-city estimate of variable water and energy uses and identify promising opportunities to save water and energy. Model application is shown for Salt Lake City, UT.
Simulating Household-City Water and Energy Conservation Opportunities
ECC 303
Water-energy linkages have received growing attention from water and energy utilities as utilities recognize that collaborative programs can implement more effective conservation and efficiency improvements at lower cost and with less effort. Water supply accounts for 4% of U.S. total energy consumption and water heating consumes 14% of household energy. However, water and energy conservation programs are often not collaboratively planed. Further, city-wide water and energy use and conservation estimates assume deterministic (homogenous) household characteristics and often do not include uncertainties in water and energy system parameters. Here, we present a stochastic simulation-optimization model that considers uncertainties and variability in household water and energy use and conservation. The model also embeds the city’s energy consumption to extract, convey, treat and distribute water to households, and treat wastewater. At the household scale, water and energy use are modeled stochastically using Monte Carlo simulation by considering the likelihood of each value water and energy parameter can take (i.e., probability distributions of use frequency and duration, use volume or flowrate, household size, hot water use percentage, water heater efficiency, etc.) for major household toilet, shower, faucet, clothes-washers, dishwasher, and outdoor water uses. We develop probability distributions for model parameters from a recent, large, national, disaggregated water use dataset comprising 1.4 million water use events over 7,900 days by 400 single family households in 11 U.S. cities. We embed the household water use simulation model in a city scale optimization model that selects the cost minimizing mix of conservation actions that achieve specified city-wide water and energy conservation targets within certain budgets. The optimization includes the energy required to extract, convey, treat, and distribute water to households and treat wastewater. The model helps cities size and target city-wide water conservation actions to meet water and energy reduction targets. The research method helps improve accurate integrated household-city estimate of variable water and energy uses and identify promising opportunities to save water and energy. Model application is shown for Salt Lake City, UT.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/runoff/2012/AllAbstracts/40