Water Conservation

I-Wing Vacuum Producers

This project is complete. Since January 8, 2003, the University has been saving an average of $70 per day or $25,000 per year in avoided water and sewer costs. The installation cost for the vacuum producers was $32,000. Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) rebated $14,345 leaving a net cost of $17,655. The simple payback period is 0.7 years.

In addition, post project electrical power measurements will be conducted to determine the energy saved by replacing the10 hp motors associated with the original vacuum producers with new 7.5 hp motors. This should result in an additional rebate from Seattle City Light (SCL).

Sterilizer Water Saving Retrofits

Water saving kits obtained from three different manufacturers have been installed on some of the sterilizers in Health Sciences to evaluate their performance and capabilities. One product, Water Mizer, manufactured by Continental Equipment Co. located in Lawrence, Kansas, achieved the best overall performance, least operational noise and ease of installation. A purchase order has been initiated to provide and install Water Mizers on campus sterilizers. Installation of these water saving units will be scheduled with departments when they arrive.

The average sterilizer can consume between 1 to 5 gallons of water per minute on a continuous basis. This water is used to reduce the temperature of hot condensate prior to dumping to local drains. The Water Mizer eliminates this tempering water consumption during non-sterilizing machine cycles and substantially reduces overall water consumption. Approximately 60 campus sterilizers will be fitted with Water Mizers. The project cost estimate is $123,500. The anticipated SPU incentive rebate is approximately $30,800. It is anticipated that the University will save around $207,000 per year as a result of installing these water saving retrofit kits.

Ultra-Low-Flush Toilets

Ultra-low-flush (ULF) wall mounted toilets using 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) are now being installed to replace existing campus toilets that use 3 to 5 gpf. ULF fixtures are currently being installed in Padelford Hall. In addition, pressure assisted floor mounted ultra-low-flush toilets are replacing some existing toilets in selected buildings in the Southwest Maintenance Zone. It is estimated that the Toilet Replacement Program will cost about $1 million and take nearly a year to complete. It is anticipated that the University will save over $250,000 annually in avoided water and sewer charges.

Waterfree Urinal Round Table

A seminar on waterfree urinals was held at Lander Hall on March 26th. Participants asked questions of and exchanged information with a guest panel and each other. Some of the organizations that were represented were the Kent School District, Washington State Regional Justice Center, Seattle Center, Seattle University, McKinstry Mechanical Contractors and the University of Washington’s Facilities Services and Housing and Food Services.

Balmer Hall Water Conservation Project (Post-Monitoring)

This completed project has been post-monitored to measure the success of various water saving devices that were installed as a pilot program prior to proceeding with campus-wide work. To date, Balmer Hall is using an average of 35% less water than it did prior to the installation of UFL toilets, water saving flush-o-meters installed in existing urinals and reduced flow faucet aerators.

Duravit “McDry” Water-free Urinals

Lander Hall has become home to Duravit McDry urinals, the latest addition to the water-free urinal family. Duravit, is a German company, which manufactures the cartridge-free product named McDry so named in honor of McDonalds Restaurants where they were initially installed in Europe. Three Duravit McDry units are now located in the third floor men’s restroom.

Haggett Hall Renovation

The Conservation Project Development Team (CPDT) is preparing preliminary project proposals for SPU for installation of a dry cooler to replace City water connections to six existing single-pass-through refrigeration units. The CPDT will also pursue electricity conservation opportunities with this renovation project.

Kitchen Pre-Rinse Low Flow Sprayer Retrofits

Low water flow kitchen pre-rinse sprayer heads used to pre-rinse dishes, pots, pans and so forth are now available on the market. When a conventional sprayer unit is replaced with a low flow unit, substantial water savings can be achieved. SPU has distributed a number of these devices to various restaurants around the Seattle area and has been metering the water savings and response of users. Both have been very positive.

The CPDT will be working with Housing and Food Services to explore opportunities for retrofitting the low flow units in campus food service kitchens.

Distiller Solenoid Installations

A front page article appearing in the April 3rd edition of University Week featured the water conservation efforts of Mark Davis, a Biomedical Electronic Technician II with the UW Scientific Instruments unit based out of Health Sciences. Among the many different types of equipment that Mark’s shop repairs and maintains are de-ionized water distillers. One day, while he was repairing an older distiller, he realized that it was wasting lots of water. In fact, this particular distiller was using 11 gallons every hour which equates to 96,360 gallons per year or about $900 in combined water and sewer costs! Part of the reason for this high water consumption was that the distiller’s one and only water shut-off valve was broken. Replacing this automatic shut-off valve reduced some of the water wastage. However, Mark took his efforts one step further by installing an additional water shut-off valve like those found on modern distillers. Mark ended up sharing his insightful experience with the CPDT and in turn they provided him with a funding source to search out other distillers that can be modified and save lots of water. Although this is not a typical example of distiller water consumption, it is a great illustration of how one person’s efforts can provide a positive outcome for all of us and our environment. Kudos Mark!

Irrigation Projects

Two irrigation system upgrades consisting of new controllers with water monitoring capabilities are in progress. One project is at Meany Hall and the other is at Hutchinson Hall.

Electricity Conservation

Delta P Valves

The measuring apparatus to collect operating data for the Delta P Valves located in T-Wing West and T-Wing East have been installed. Over the years, with the addition of new buildings, the campus chilled water primary-secondary pumping system no longer balanced causing water flow to be erratic. The Delta P Valves are expected to achieve balance and conserve primary pumping horsepower. The kWh/year savings and associated avoided cost savings will be determined after enough operating data has been collected and analyzed.

Student Solar Array Project - Mechanical Engineering

The CPDT’s student representative, Nathan Miller, is heading up a team of University students currently working on a design for the installation of a solar array for the Mechanical Engineering Building. Nathan, a Mechanical Engineering student, and his team made up of other ME, EE and Architecture students are taking advantage of the Seattle City Light (SCL) sponsored Seattle Green Power Solar Demonstration Program. Nathan will receive funding for the solar project equipment from SCL.

The project plan consists of installing sunshade type solar panels on the south side of the Mechanical Engineering Building. They will generate up to 3000 watts of electricity that will be fed back to the building’s electrical system. Specifics are still being worked out. An additional benefit should be realized by using the sunshade type panels because they will reduce the heat gain the rooms on that side of the building suffer during the summer months.

Nordstrom Tennis Court Lighting

This project will replace the existing 1000 and 400 watt metal halide tennis court lights with T-5 fluorescent fixtures that should provide superior lighting and a substantial electricity savings. The expected total project cost is $121,000. The anticipated SCL incentive rebate is approximately $48,000. Projected reduction of electricity consumption could be in the neighborhood of 400,000 kWh which equates to $20,000 in annual avoided utility charges. The project is scheduled to begin this summer when much of the facility’s activities subside in favor of outdoor play.

Exit Light Retrofits

Physical Plant electricians continue to survey campus exit lights to develop an up to date inventory of fixtures that may be retrofitted and receive a fixed rebate of $20 per unit.