Water Challenge to Universities

May 18, 2018

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Agenda

• Water Conservation in New York City

– Water Demand Management Program

– Sector-specific water challenges

• Water Challenge to Universities Program

– Overview and potential participants

– Tracking water use and workshops

– Program structure and timeline

– Recognition and benefits to your university

• Registration and More Information

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Water Demand Management Program

Working toward a 20 million gallons per day (MGD) reduction in current demand by 2022

Municipal: Retrofit and replace

water fixtures in schools, parks,

colleges, hospitals, and NYCHA,

DEP and FDNY facilities

Residential: Replace inefficient

fixtures in residential buildings

Non-Residential: Create

voluntary conservation programs

in various sectors and provide

cost sharing

System Optimization: Continue

leak detection, pressure

management and metering

Water Supply Management:

Adopt Water Shortage Rules

Upstate Customers: Develop

and implement demand

management plans for 10 upstate

wholesale customers

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Hotel Challenge

10 participants

4 winners

Sector-Specific Water Challenges

30,000 gallons/day

11,000,000 gallons/year

Restaurant Challenge

15 participants

8 winners

Hospital Challenge

3 participants

1 winner

26,000 gallons/day

9,000,000 gallons/year

35,000 gallons/day

13,000,000 gallons/year

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Universities in New York City

The 14 largest universities in New York City use over 2,300,000 gallons per day and

853,000,000 gallons per year for their central campus buildings and green space alone

5% reduction 120,000 gallons/day; 43,000,000 gallon/year

230,000 gallons/day; 85,000,000 gallon/year10% reduction

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Universities in New York City

Universities in New York City are well positioned for a Water Challenge

Synergy with the New York City’s Carbon Challenge

AASHE’s STARS Program offers an existing framework for water conservation:

• Building Operations and Management: credit available for water management

or benchmarking program

• Water: credit available for establishing baseline for future water reductions

“Pumping, delivering, and treating water is a major driver of

energy consumption, so institutions can help reduce energy

use and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with

energy generation by conserving water.”

– AASHE Star Technical Manual

Water Conservation = Energy Conservation

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Challenge Overview

The 5% Challenge: To meet the reduction goal, participants in the University

Challenge must reduce their water usage by at least 5% from their baseline

consumption. The baseline is two years of water usage prior to the start of the

challenge.

Structure of the Program

1. Tracking Water Use. DEP will track all water usage through AMR and provide

participants with monthly reports.

2. Water Reduction Strategy. Participants will be encouraged to develop a

Water Conservation Campaign, mapping a strategy to meet the Challenge

goal.

3. Regular Workshops. DEP will convene quarterly workshops to provide

updates on the Challenge and encourage the exchange of ideas, as well as

support new initiatives and/or to resolve issues as they arise.

4. One-on-One Meetings as needed.

5. Promotion and Recognition. DEP will provide promotion and recognition of

the Challenge participants including press conferences, news releases, and

information posted on DEP’s website.

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Tracking Water Use and Workshops

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DEP provides monthly summaries

of your water consumption• Compares your current water

consumption with previous years

• Compares your water use per square

foot with other challenge participants

Example report from the

Restaurant Water Challenge

DEP convenes quarterly workshops

• Water conservation organizations

• Technology groups

• DEP’s Water-Energy Nexus Tool

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Program Structure and Timeline

Two Year Program: August 1, 2018 – July 31, 2020

Benchmarking Period: August 1, 2018 – July 31, 2020

Tentative Schedule for First Year, 2018-2019

– August: Kick off Meeting – Introduce MyDEP, how to access meter information

– October: Workshop #1 – Water Conservation on Campuses

– January: Share Water Conservation Campaign Plans

– April: Workshop #2 – Academic Year Recap; Lessons learned

– July: Workshop #3 – Water/Energy Nexus Tool

Tentative Schedule for Second Year, 2019-2020

– October: Second Year Check-in Meeting; Sharing Plans and Lessons Learned

– January: Workshop #4 – Industry Specialist

– April: Workshop #5 – Academic Year Recap; Lessons Learned

– July: Two-Year Wrap-up Meeting – Recognize Winners; Share Lessons Learned

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Benefits of Participation

• Builds off of your Carbon Challenge

successes and opens a new

opportunity for sustainability

• Helps you earn AASHE STARS points

• Contributes to immediate and long

term cost savings

Water Reduction Goals

• 5% reduction Winner

• 7.5% reduction Silver Winner

• 10% reduction Gold Winner

DEP will promote and recognize

participants and winners through:

• Award events

• News releases and posts on DEP’s

website

Recognition and Benefits

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Hotel Water Conservation Challenge Closing Event with Assistant

Commissioner of DEP’s Bureau of Environmental Planning and

Analysis

Award Icon from Restaurant Water Conservation Challenge

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Potential Challenge Participants

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Registration and More Information

Sign up for information today

Formal invitation to follow

Contact information

waterchallenge@dep.nyc.gov

Photo Credit: William Warby