Phase III of Act 129 | How You Can Benefit from Energy Efficient Programs

Enacted in 2008, Act 129 is Pennsylvania’s flagship energy efficiency law that requires major electric distribution companies to reduce energy use within its service territory by implementing energy efficient programs. In the first seven years of the law, utility programs have delivered $6.4 billion in benefits to Pennsylvania electric customers. Source: Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance (KEEA)

Phase III of Act 129 began in June 2016 and will end in June 2021. Customers who take advantage of programs such as the PPL Electric Utilities Business Energy Efficiency Rebate Program directly see bill savings through rebates for high-efficiency lighting, upgrades to industrial processes, advanced building controls, and construction of efficient new buildings.

Business customers can realize performance-based rebates at $0.05/annual kWh, to 50% of the project cost up to $500,000, for standard measures: lighting, food service equipment, refrigeration, controls/occupancy sensors, office equipment, HVAC, VFDs on pumps and motors, combined heat and power (CHP), or agriculture equipment.

For custom projects, performance-based rebates are available at $0.06/annual kWh. Savings are measured and verified, and pre-approval is required to reserve funding for both standard and custom projects.

Think Beyond the Bulb

Switching from fluorescent to energy efficient LED bulbs is a common and effective upgrade, but there are many untraditional upgrades and retrofits that will save you both money and energy. A wastewater treatment plant participating in the PPL Electric Utilities Business Energy Efficiency Rebate Program recently implemented controls on their aeration blowers. As a result, they saved 640,530 kWh/year and received a rebate of $38,432 within 3.7 years. Total cost of the project was $227,069.

More than Just Rebates

In addition to navigating the rebate process, technical expertise is available to identify savings opportunities in your facility, as well as assistance in publicizing your accomplishments to your community. By participating in Phase III of Act 29, you’ll not only see savings to your bottom line, but you’ll also:

• Support corporate sustainability goals.
• Improve work environment for employees.
• Lower operating and maintenance costs.
• Increase production outputs.

To find out more about how you qualify for the PPL Electric Utilities Business Energy Efficiency Rebate Program, visit pplelectricbusinesssavings.com.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Bud Fogleman, Outreach Consultant | CLEAResult | 814-660-2185

Source Water Protection

One County’s Approach to Managing Resources in a Sustainable Manner

In 2016, the Berks County Source Water Protection Program, in partnership with its member organizations, began development of a comprehensive source water protection plan for the entire County. Approximately 90% of Berks County lies within the Schuylkill River Watershed; while 10% drains to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The Schuylkill River Watershed is the primary source of drinking water for the City of Reading (pop. 87,000) and the City of Philadelphia (pop. 1.5 million). Approximately 40% of the Schuylkill River watershed is located within Berks County, making the County the largest source water protection area for the Philadelphia Water Department.

Berks County has a population of over 400,000 residents and this program currently covers 266,000 residents in the County. The countywide SWP Plan was completed in 2017. The countywide SWP Program is the first of its kind, and has become a leading model for watershed protection through local and regional partnerships in Pennsylvania. The program’s partners recognized that actions and watershed protection implemented in Berks County directly improves water quality for downstream urban communities, including the entire Philadelphia metropolis.

This source water protection program and its partners embrace the “One Water” concept, expressing the principles of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). IWRM incorporates a coordinated effort to plan, develop, protect, and manage natural resources in a sustainable manner. In this program, source water, stormwater, and waste water are all part of the same resource to be managed effectively. The benefits to working with the Berks County SWP Program include shared resources in public education, access to funding for Best Management Practices (BMPs), and leadership for coordinating the sustainable management of source water, stormwater, and wastewater.

Improving Plant Performance | Wastewater Engineering

JAMIE LORAH, PE | Water/Wastewater Engineer

High Strength Waste Review | Lincoln University

SSM performed a High Strength Wastes Review of the Lincoln University facilities and its Wastewater Treatment Plant which included a detailed review of  potential discharges from disinfectants and cleaning chemicals and materials, boiler blowdown chemicals such as corrosion control inhibitors and Biocides, and other chemicals including the use of Quaternary Ammonia products and their effects and toxicity to the treatment plant biomass.  SSM also performed treatment process troubleshooting and developed solutions for mitigating the effects from these harmful and toxic discharges.

Helping Communities Implement MS4 Stormwater Programs | Civil Engineering

KENT MOREY, PE | Sr. Civil Engineer

Kent serves as primary representative to nine MS4 communities throughout eastern Pennsylvania. He has prepared Pollution Reduction Plans for seven municipalities as well as assisting those municipalities in submitting their 2018-2023 permit Notices of Intent. Duties include assistance to municipalities in guiding them through their MS4 program as well as performing outfall inspections and preparing yearly/status reports.

• Berks County: Leesport Borough, Boyertown Borough, South Heidelberg Township, City of Reading, and Bern Township
• Montgomery County: Perkiomen Township
• Lebanon County: Annville Township
• Chester County: Oxford Borough and West Whiteland Township

Harnessing the Power of the Sun | Electrical Engineering

EMERICK MARTIN, PE | Sr. Electrical Engineer

RER Energy Group, Inc.

• Clifton Springs NY 355 KW Solar PV | Designed two separate 480/277 Volt services for the NYSEG utility interconnections of 205 KW and 150 KW ground mounted Solar PV Arrays including the required coordination with NYSEG to extend their aerial primary line to the two sites. The system included the arrays, inverter, solar system metering, and interconnection to the manufacturer’s distribution system.
• AGP Plastics Trumbauersville PA 806 KW Solar PV | Design the 480/277 Volt power distribution interconnection to an existing 2000 Amp Switchboard including 2 New 400AT/600AF Breakers for the Switchboard, Inverter Combiner Panels, PPL Disconnect Requirements Outside Near PPL Transformer, and overall coordination with PPL. The Inverter Combiner Panel includes 60 Amp breakers for the interconnection of each inverter. The system included the arrays, inverters, and solar system metering.

Identifying Sources and Assisting with Grant and Project Funding Submissions | Consulting Engineering

CHRISTINA CRAWFORD, PE |Manager, Project Management

PA H2O Grant Application

Birdsboro Municipal Authority

SSM provided assistance with the preparation and submission of the PA H2O grant application to the Commonwealth Finance Authority for the wastewater treatment plant upgrade. The project was awarded a $5 million dollar grant. Additional project work included processing the grant agreement and the pay application to receive the grant funds.

Improving Plant Performance | Wastewater Engineering

DAN CONNOLLY, PE | Manager, Water and Wastewater Engineering and Design

City of Bethlehem | Fine Bar Screen and Detritor Upgrades

The City of Bethlehem selected SSM to provide engineering services to improve the preliminary treatment processes at the City’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The WWTP, permitted for 20 MGD, receives flow from the City’s combined sewer collection system and can experience storm flows as high as 50 MGD. Existing preliminary treatment equipment included four traveling rake screens with 5/8” vertical bar spacing, and four detritors. The primary goal of the project was to replace the existing screens with four new flexible rake screens having 1/4” vertical bar spacing. As a result, debris collected from each pair of screens is processed by a new washer/compactor reducing organics and the volume of the material to be disposed. In addition to addressing future changes to the detritor system, engineering services included preparation of PADEP WQM Part II Permit, preparation of contract documents, bid phase management and construction inspection.

Additional project work included installation of new slide gates to isolate the screens; replacement of the existing floor grating; replacement of severely corroded doors; repair of the concrete channels; and application of a new protective coating. The new screens improve the overall performance of the WWTP by reducing the amount of rags and plastics collecting in downstream tanks and eliminate problems caused by blinding of the screens during wet weather events.

Rehabilitating Community Roadways | Municipal Engineering

MARK STABOLEPSZY, PE | Director, Municipal Engineering and Planning

Perkiomen Township | Haldeman Road Rehabilitation

SSM provided civil engineering services for the rehabilitation design for 0.9 miles of a former state highway that was turned back to the Township. It included storm sewer and roadside drainage upgrades, select base repair, levelling course and bituminous overlay.

SSM performed field survey and prepared base plans, determined project scope and bid quantities, performed design, prepared project bid specifications and drawings, coordinated bid phase activities, and handled all construction phase activities, acting as the Township’s agent during the construction phase. We maintained coordination with PennDOT municipal service representatives. This project was completed in 2017. The construction cost was approximately $503,000.

Renovating Existing Building Systems | Mechanical Engineering

MICHELLE HOHL, PE | Mechanical Engineer

Marymount University

Berg Hall and Rowley Hall HVAC Upgrade

Berg Hall and Rowley Hall are both dormitory buildings located at Marymount University in Arlington, VA. The existing dorm rooms in each building were served by fan coil units supplied by a two-pipe heating and cooling system. The scope of the project was to replace the existing fan coil units, greater than 270 individual units, and upgrade the existing two-pipe system to a four-pipe system in each building. Work in Berg Hall also included replacement of the existing air-cooled chiller with two new 35-ton water-cooled heat recovery chillers, and the addition of a dry cooler. The existing boilers were also replaced with a new 600 MBH boiler, and new pumps were provided for the heating system as well as the cooling system.

SSM performed a detailed field survey of each building. The existing fan coil units were located in extremely tight spaces above the ceiling. Converting the system from a two-pipe system to a four-pipe system required detailed coordination with existing architecture and other utilities. SSM conducted the field survey over the Winter break while students were not on campus, and then quickly completed the design to meet the aggressive permit submission deadline.

Keeping the Structure Safe | Structural Engineering

JEFF THOMS, PE | Sr. Structural Engineer

Structural Engineering for Adaptive Residential Reuse of Former School

Kramer Marks Architects | Duffy School Apartments

When the Marcella L. Duffy School was established as Florence School No. 1 in the 1870s, the four-classroom building was the first public school in the community. Located in Florence, New Jersey, this project involved the development of 53 units of affordable, senior housing. The original 1870s school building required substantial on-site inspection during construction. A three-story wood framed addition extended the building. The project emphasized the adaptive reuse and rehabilitation of the Duffy School into an apartment building featuring historic renovation / revitalization of the former school, completed in 1924, plus new amenities for today's lifestyle. The sustainable design features of this project satisfy the standards of New Jersey’s ENERGY Efficient Homes and USGBC LEED© for Homes programs.