Department of Environment & Conservation
Robert Martineau, Commissioner

As energy costs rise, it pays to focus on efficiency. In the average home, the two largest uses of energy are climate control (58%) and hot water (16%). The average family spends around $27 a month on heating water. Imagine what costs a city incurs for treating water and wastewater for their residents: a task that can consume up to 60% of the entire energy budget for a city!

Realizing the potential impact from energy savings, TDEC and EPA Region 4 formed the Tennessee Water and Wastewater Energy Efficiency Partnership in 2011. The Partnership grew to include a collaboration of staff from EPA Region 4, TDEC, TVA, the University of Memphis, University of Tennessee — Municipal Technical Advisory Service, the Environmental Finance Center (University of North Carolina) and Schneider Electric. Tennessee is the first state among the eight states of Region 4 to complete its first round of energy pioneers.

The Tennessee program consisted of an individual energy assessment for each facility and a series of four workshops that facilitated action plans and funding options for capital improvements. Participants in the program included Columbia, Fayetteville, Franklin, Caryville-Jacksboro, Lenoir City, First Utility District of Knox County and Nashville's Metro Water Service.

All seven participants found potential energy savings at their wastewater treatment plants. Additionally, Lenoir City Utility Board found potential energy savings at its water treatment plant. The combined potential savings for all eight facilities is over 7 million kilowatt hours per year, which would reduce CO₂ emissions by 6,696 tons, equivalent to 1,190 cars removed from the road for a year or 739 homes powered for a year. Projected annual savings ranged from $15,750 to $210,000, with the average facility having a potential reduction of 17.8%.

Learn more about energy conservation measures, energy reduction and cost savings for these partners:

• Caryville-Jacksboro Utilities Commission
• City of Columbia
• Fayetteville Public Utilities
• City of Franklin
• First Utility District of Knox County
• Lenoir City Utilities Board
• Nashville Metro Water Services

Utility Energy Management Resources and Tools

• TN Water and Wastewater Energy Efficiency Partnership Workshop Materials