Converting waste to resource, new heat recovery system among first in the nation to use wastewater for building heat
Converting waste to resource, new heat recovery system among first ... King County
sdgtalks
South Lake Union Energy District Implements Sewer Heat Recovery System
Introduction
As part of its commitment to sustainability, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. has partnered with King County to implement a large-scale wastewater heat recovery system in the South Lake Union Energy District. This innovative system will provide an alternative energy source for heating and cooling buildings, while reducing carbon emissions and improving building resiliency and operating performance.
Background
The sewer heat recovery system is manufactured by SHARC Energy and is capable of both heating and cooling purposes. By utilizing King County’s sewer system heat, the system is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 99 percent compared to a typical laboratory building in Seattle. Recognizing the potential benefits of sewer heat recovery, the King County Council authorized a pilot program, and Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. is the first project to move forward with installation. Two spots in the pilot program remain open for other commercial users.
Installation Milestone
This summer, crews from McKinstry successfully cut and connected the County’s original 100-year-old brick-lined main sewer line to Alexandria’s system, proving that such a system can be installed in a dense, urban landscape. Sewer heat recovery systems are already in use in other countries like Canada, Germany, and Japan, offering an affordable and renewable energy alternative for heating and cooling buildings.
Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – The sewer heat recovery system provides an alternative energy source, reducing carbon emissions and promoting clean energy.
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The installation of the system demonstrates innovative approaches to decarbonizing laboratory buildings and improving building resiliency and operating performance.
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – By implementing sewer heat recovery, the South Lake Union Energy District contributes to creating more energy-efficient and sustainable built environments.
- Goal 13: Climate Action – The system helps to cut greenhouse gas emissions, supporting climate action goals and targets at the federal, state, and county level.
Benefits for Commercial Users
- Reduced energy costs
- Contributions to green building certification
- Financing supports, such as King County’s C-PACER Program, to help developers meet stringent energy codes
- Significant reductions in potable water use
- Potential eligibility for state renewable energy credits in the future
Quotes
“By fostering advanced technologies that provide reliable, sustainable, renewable energy sources for heating and cooling, King County is making it easier for commercial buildings to go green. Applying proven Sewer Heat Recovery technology is the latest progress we’ve made to re-engineer our region’s built environment, making the places where we live, work, and gather more energy efficient to cut greenhouse gas emissions.” – King County representative
“Sewer heat recovery is a creative approach to reach our climate goals, and I am very pleased to see that it will be coming to South Lake Union. It will take innovative and cross-sector partnerships for our region to develop sustainably, create eco-friendly jobs, and save energy, and I believe this is an excellent first step.” – Local official
“As the preeminent owner, operator, and developer of collaborative life science mega campuses, Alexandria has long been a leader in sustainability. Our South Lake Union Energy District demonstrates our innovative approach to decarbonizing our laboratory buildings. This large-scale wastewater heat recovery system will provide an alternative energy source to heat our buildings and will improve building resiliency and operating performance.” – Eleni Reed, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
“The partnership between King County and Alexandria portrays a framework that can be used nationwide for electrifying and decarbonizing a building’s heating and cooling loads, while reducing energy costs, saving freshwater usage in cooling towers, creating ‘green’ economy jobs, and helping achieve climate action goals and targets at the federal, state, and county level.” – Partnership representative
“McKinstry is proud to be a trusted design-build partner working to deliver on Alexandria’s vision for the project, including bringing to fruition the heating and cooling system that’s putting this project on the map as one of the largest sewer heat recovery systems in North America. The new campus creates more than 5,200 construction jobs for our local economy and bolsters the Puget Sound region’s green economy.” – McKinstry representative
Contact
Contact Alison Hawkes from the King County Wastewater Treatment Division at ahawkes@kingcounty.gov or 206-848-0947.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13: Climate Action
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to these SDGs because they focus on sustainable energy solutions, innovative infrastructure development, and climate action in urban areas.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
- SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies.
- SDG 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
- SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
The article’s content indicates efforts to increase the share of renewable energy, upgrade infrastructure with sustainable technologies, reduce environmental impact in cities, and integrate climate change measures into policies and planning.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator for SDG 7.2: Share of renewable energy in the total energy consumption of laboratory buildings in Seattle.
- Indicator for SDG 9.4: Number of commercial buildings in Seattle that have implemented sewer heat recovery systems.
- Indicator for SDG 11.6: Reduction in carbon emissions and water usage in laboratory buildings using sewer heat recovery systems.
- Indicator for SDG 13.2: Integration of sewer heat recovery systems into urban development plans and policies.
The article mentions the reduction in carbon emissions, water usage, and energy costs achieved through sewer heat recovery systems, indicating potential indicators for measuring progress towards the identified targets.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix (7.2) | Share of renewable energy in the total energy consumption of laboratory buildings in Seattle |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies (9.4) | Number of commercial buildings in Seattle that have implemented sewer heat recovery systems |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management (11.6) | Reduction in carbon emissions and water usage in laboratory buildings using sewer heat recovery systems |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning (13.2) | Integration of sewer heat recovery systems into urban development plans and policies |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: kingcounty.gov
Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.
