Continuing its commitment to supporting decarbonization across sectors and exploring the solutions discussed in its “Roadmap to Decarbonizing Cities” report, Danfoss brought together leaders in the water and wastewater industry on November 20 for a panel discussion on how the industry can work with the public sector to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption. The event, held at the Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant in Los Angeles, was a follow-up to the company’s first Decarbonizing Cities discussion in Washington, D.C. in May, focusing on the construction industry. Organized in conjunction with the Trade Council of Denmark’s Water Technology Alliance, last week’s event was moderated by Danfoss North America president Rick Sporrer.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, water and wastewater plants account for as much as 40% of energy use by municipal governments. At the same time, global water demand is rising. The industry will simultaneously need to develop solutions to increase water supply while adopting technologies to reduce carbon emissions and energy usage in order to meet climate goals.
With these challenges in mind, Danfoss brought together leaders from industry, climate and public sectors to discuss how these sectors can work together to create a more sustainable water and wastewater industry. Attendees took part in two panel discussions focused on the challenges of building net-zero water and wastewater systems and how utilities can leverage existing decarbonization technologies.
Panelists included Newsha Ajami, chief development officer for research at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s Earth and Environmental Sciences Area; Adam Link, executive director of the California Association of Sanitation Agencies; Jesper Køks Andersen, consul general of Denmark in Chicago and director of the Water Technology Alliance; Greg Wetterau, vice president of CDM Smith, a M.d.-based engineering firm; Lindsey Stuvick, sustainable resources manager at Moulton Niguel Water District in Laguna Niguel, Calif.; Jeanette Smith, regional sales manager at Danish pump manufacturer Grundfos; and Danfoss water expert Joseph Hlaihel.
Hyperion acting executive plant manager Hi-Sang Kim gave opening remarks alongside Sporrer, and Anna Naimark, deputy secretary and special counsel for water policy at the California Environmental Protection Agency, gave the keynote address on "The Urgency of Decarbonizing Cities: A California Perspective.”
With cities accounting for two-thirds of global energy consumption and more than 70% of global carbon emissions, according to the International Energy Agency, decarbonizing our cities is essential to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. Last year, Danfoss released its “Roadmap for Decarbonizing Cities” whitepaper, exploring how available technologies and solutions can decarbonize multiple sectors, such as construction, transportation, commercial buildings and utilities. The goal of the Decarbonizing Cities events has been to continue the conversation with Danfoss and industry experts and advocate for a green transition in our cities.
“Proven, reliable and scalable technologies already exist, but we need to address knowledge gaps, drive policy developments, harness funding mechanisms, and underline the importance of collaboration between different stakeholders in the value chain by showing best-practice examples,” said Sporrer. “Sustainable water management enhances a city's resilience to climate change impacts, ensuring continued access to essential services while offering long-term economic benefits for both governments and end-users.”
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