Mechanical revisions to HVAC system pending, including adding gas heat, improving outdoor air economizer cooling capability and controls upgrade. In 1999, an increased budget of five to six million dollars is expected for further equipment upgrades and energy savings. King County's wastewater treatment plant at Renton is benefiting from money from US EPA which will help fund a new technology fuel cell. The annual power consumption at the Renton treatment plant is approximately seven megawatts. Using molten carbonate fuel cells, the treatment plant could produce 80 percent of its electrical power load.
New blowers consume less energy by optimizing efficiency over a wide range of operating conditions.
These conservation measures will save about 13 million kilowatt hours per year, or enough electricity to power about 1,000 residential homes. These retrofits have increased lighting and decreased cost, both very important factors in saving energy and budgets. The cumulative energy savings of these three projects could power 10 electrically heated homes. The remaining two systems will be upgraded within the next five years. The plan includes on-going scheduled preventative maintence which provides maximum efficiency and prolongs the equipment's life span.