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Waste Reduction Partners has recommended more than $108 million annual savings in energy efficiency strategies to over 1,000 businesses in NC,Read More
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Waste Reduction Partners has helped clients save over 1.5 billion gallons per year of water, which is an annual savings of over $15 million.Read More
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Since 2000, WRP has helped clients find ways to reduce or recycle over 267,000 tons of solid waste headed to landfills and save over $16 million.Read More
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WRP facilitates E3 services to enterprises in North Carolina with process intensive businesses or services. Funded by the EPA.Read More
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WRP has helped businesses and industries reduce utility operating costs by over $40.1 million since 2000, while meeting environmental sustainability objectives.Read More
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Waste Reduction Partners work with schools and other institutions on a daily basis helping them to be green and more efficient.Read More
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WRP works with local governments helping to improve their internal operations to be more efficient and environmentally sustainable.Read More
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The agricultural sector has challenges with pollution prevention strategies, waste management and recycling, energy and water management and operational cost-saving efforts.Read More
Retired Business Persons Needed
Put Your Expertise to Work for a More Sustainable North Carolina
Do you have a science, engineering or manufacturing background? Interested in helping businesses and industries improve resource efficiency and reduce waste? Waste Reduction Partners (WRP) is seeking part-time, retired volunteers to perform energy, water, and waste reduction assessments at businesses, industries and institutions throughout North Carolina.
Who We Are…
WRP is a volunteer technical assistance team working with North Carolina businesses and institutions to reduce utility costs, improve environmental performance and promote economic competitiveness. Waste Reduction Partners is a part of the North Carolina state program to provide technical assistance to business enterprises.
What We Do…
Assessors provide on-site consultations, cost analysis, and technical assistance on energy, water and waste management challenges.
Who We are Seeking…
Volunteers with a background in business, science, engineering or industrial operations. Good communication and computer skills are required.
What We Offer…
Flexible part-time schedules, stimulating assignments tailored to your interests and the opportunity to think and work within your community. A stipend is provided, and expenses are paid.
Webinar Announcement
Energy and Nutrient Optimization for Municipal
Wastewater Treatment Plants
Presented by: EPA Region 4, NC DEQ, Waste Reduction Partners
What: Activated sludge plants across the country have been able to reduce energy costs and improve nutrient removal by making simple, low-cost operational changes. This course will equip operators with the foundation to identify opportunities to reduce energy costs and optimize nutrient removal.
Attendees will:
- Review the fundamentals of biological treatment and nutrient removal
- Understand how to maximize performance and minimize electrical costs
- Learn to recognize plant capabilities beyond what is in the O&M manual
Who:
Dr. Larry Moore has 45 years of wastewater treatment plant design and troubleshooting experience. From 1983 until 2018, Dr. Moore taught undergraduate and graduate environmental engineering courses and conducted applied research at the University of Memphis. Over the last decade, Dr. Moore helped conduct energy conservation projects for approximately 60 municipal wastewater treatment plants in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, and Mississippi. These projects were funded by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. He received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of South Alabama in 1973 and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Mississippi State University in 1974 and 1983, respectively.
Grant Weaver is a licensed wastewater operator and professional engineer. Born in Kansas, Grant now lives in Connecticut. Grant is a contrarian who gets pleasure from empowering wastewater operators to make treatment plants work better than those who design and regulate them believe they should.
When: Thursdays from February 11 – April 29, 2021 - 10:00 to 11:45 a.m. EST
You must register to attend these free webinars. 
Continuing Education Credits: CE credits will be made available to North Carolina wastewater operators. Attendees must attend the two-session groupings shown below to receive the credit hours indicated. Operators seeking CE credit outside of North Carolina may receive supporting documentation upon request.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (404-562-8018) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (828-707-2834)
Agenda Topics
| Date (2021) | Topic(s) | Presenter(s) | CE Credit Grouping |
|
Feb 11 |
Welcomes, Course Overview, |
Brendan Held, Corey Basinger, |
CE01212101 |
|
Feb 18 |
Introduction to Biological Nitrogen Removal, Part 2 |
Grant Weaver |
|
|
Feb 25 |
Activated Sludge Introduction: O2 demand and supply Presentation: |
Larry Moore |
CE01212102 |
|
Mar 4 |
Activated Sludge & Bio-Tiger Model |
Larry Moore |
|
|
Mar 11 |
Introduction to Biological Phosphorus Removal, Part 1 |
Grant Weaver |
CE01212103 (3.0 Hours) |
|
Mar 18 |
Introduction to Biological Phosphorus Removal, Part 2 |
Grant Weaver |
|
|
Mar 25 |
North Carolina Case Studies Part 1 Brainstorm/whiteboard session/teaching applications |
Grant Weaver |
CE01212104 (3.0 Hours) |
|
Apr 1 |
No webinar session, pilot site visits |
N/A |
|
|
Apr 8 |
North Carolina Case Studies Part 2 |
Grant Weaver |
|
|
Apr 15 |
Energy Management, Part 1 |
Terry Albrecht, Ron Haynes |
CE01212105 (3.0 Hours) |
|
Apr 22 |
Energy Management, Part 2 |
Terry Albrecht, Ron Haynes |
|
|
Apr 29 |
North Carolina Case Studies, Part 3, One month follow-up, wrap-up |
Grant Weaver, Brendan Held |
CE01212106 (1.5 Hours) |
Additional Resources:
Nutrient Removal Optimization: Case Studies
Pilot Partnership for Optimization Pays Off, Streamlines, December 2019
EPA Case Study: Alexander City, Al. December 2016
Energy Management Guides
Wastewater Energy Management BMP Handbook 2019
COVID-19 Response: Utility Management Resources
Webinars
Energy Saving Strategies during COVID-19
The latest incentives and energy management resources by Duke Energy and Dominion Energy for business and institutional customers
Controlling Utility Costs during COVID-19: NC Hospitality and Tourism
Demystifing Cleaning in the Age of COVID-19
Managing Energy during Facility Shutdowns
For Public Facilities
Managing Energy During Curtailment and Shutdown
For NC Manufacturers
Presentations and Guidance
Updated 4/23/2020 COVID-19 AHU Recommendations - Appalachian State Energy Programs
State of North Carolina Comprehensive Resource Site: COVID-19 Response
Including Executive Order 124, pertaining to Utility Provider prohibitions
ASHRAE FAQ Guidance on Building Shutdowns and Occupant Re-entry
AIA Re-occupancy Assessment Tool
Restoring Water Quality in Buildings with No Use - EPA Guidance
WRP Services During COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the WRP team is serving clients with virtual technical consultations to help address specific energy, water, environmental and cost-reduction project goals. The following lists review some the services that the WRP technical team can provide as adaptations of our on-site, holistic assessment visits:
Energy Management Services During the Pandemic
WRP virtual energy assessments may be easiest to accomplish when the client has specific project needs as opposed to our normal “holistic” approach. A successful virtual assessment will be dependent upon a client furnishing needed information which may include the following, depending on the specific project:
- 12-month utility history (always needed)
- Lighting layout (count) and fixture types
- HVAC information (many times photos of nameplates will work)
- Building size and layout
- Operating hours and occupancy count
Virtual assessments require more interaction and correspondence with the client via email, video and conference calls than normal site visits. PDF’s of lighting and HVAC system inventories and layouts can be valuable, if available, as well as site photos of equipment and nameplates.
Remote technical assistance/assessments we can provide include the following:
- Utility review, facility benchmarking
- Lighting upgrades
- HVAC replacement evaluation
- Recommissioning needs
- Water heating replacement evaluation
- Motor replacement evaluation
- Other equipment replacement evaluation
- REAP energy assessments
- Maintenance review
Water Efficiency Assistance – Virtual Assistance
Many of the WRP Water Team on-site assessment activities can still be performed remotely with client cooperation with pre-assessment data requests and some extra communications via conference calls for information sharing. Here’s a partial list of activities and services.
- Analyze water-use information to determine if usage is in a normal range and benchmarks with similar organizations, as well as identifying anomalies.
- Create water balance charts to further define where water is being used and determine if unaccounted for water indicates a leak.
- Calculate water use on existing equipment, fixtures and appliances such as cooling towers, parts washers, toilets, sinks, dishwashers, clothes washers, and drinking fountains through photographs/descriptions of name plates. Provide performance standards for new equipment.
- Reevaluate the appropriateness of meter size for current water use.
- In conjunction with customer personnel, measure toilet, shower heads and sink flows and determine cost/benefit analysis of upgrades.
- Conduct interviews by phone with customer personnel to ascertain possible problem areas.
- Address current outdoor irrigation practice and review opportunities for improvements.
Solid Waste Assistance – What We Can Do for You Remotely:
The WPR Solid Waste Team is still able to serve you effectively remotely to address many of your waste reduction and recycling objectives.
- Discuss your facility’s by-products and explore potential recycling outlets or other management solutions.
- Provide a list of service providers that serve your geographic area.
- Share best management practices (BMPs) and case studies regarding what other businesses have done to develop a green team, reduce waste and/or improve their recycling program.
- Share resources that will help you reach your particular solid waste reduction goals.
It is important the that the client provides the following information to assist our team’s remote research:
- Copy of one month’s solid waste and recycling service billing.
- Estimates of volumes or weights generated.
- Pictures of the by-products your facility hopes to divert from the waste stream.
- Product specifications, safety data sheets, or other information to help understand the composition of waste streams.
Request Assistance Today!
To request no-cost assistance, click to Initiate a Project on the Waste Reduction Partners website and a team lead with contact you soon.
No-Cost Food Waste Reduction Assessments
In the U.S., it is estimated that 24% of food grown ends up in a landfill or incinerator. Much of this waste happens in our homes, but businesses along the food supply chain significantly make our food systems more efficient. Businesses that address food waste reduction strategies will save on disposal costs, improve employee job satisfaction, and enhance public relations.
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