As buildings continue to focus on improving energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact, SHARC Energy Systems has developed an innovative approach to utilizing wastewater energy for heating purposes.
SHARC’s wastewater energy recovery systems harness the thermal energy contained in wastewater and repurpose it for heating, reducing the need for traditional energy sources such as natural gas or electricity.
The SHARC system works by capturing the heat from wastewater—such as water from sinks, showers, and industrial processes—and transferring that thermal energy into the building’s heating system.
The process utilizes a heat exchanger to directly recover and transfer the thermal energy from the wastewater to the building’s space heating or domestic hot water (DHW) needs. By doing so, SHARC reduces the demand for conventional heating sources, making buildings more energy-efficient and lowering operational costs.
The best part about this system is that there is almost no limit to the scale at which it can operate.
Cost Savings in Action
To assess the impact of this technology, a study was conducted using a SHARC 2 MW Unit. While the study was specific to this system, the findings were also applied to other SHARC models ranging from 0.3 MW to 4.0 MW that have similar load profiles.
The study relied on domestic hot water consumption data from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and used typical hourly load profiles for office and residential buildings. In the study, the peak daily DHW load was about 1 gallon per person per day in office settings, and 44 gallons per person per day in residential environments.
The SHARC 2 MW Unit led to an average reduction in HVAC and domestic hot water energy costs of between 29% and 45%, as it enabled buildings to reduce their reliance on traditional energy sources. This translated into significant savings for building owners who used the SHARC technology.
Furthermore, the application of the SHARC system generated additional revenue for wastewater authorities. Annual thermal energy credits ranged from $2,500 to $4,000 per installation. This provides an incentive for municipalities and utilities to adopt wastewater energy recovery solutions.
In terms of environmental impact, the study showed a substantial reduction in carbon emissions.
For office buildings, carbon emissions were reduced by approximately 34%, while mixed-use residential buildings saw a remarkable 71% decrease in emissions.
This significant reduction demonstrates how SHARC’s wastewater energy recovery system can play a vital role in lowering the carbon footprint of buildings, as it helps reduce the demand for fossil fuels for heating purposes.
In conclusion, SHARC’s wastewater energy recovery systems provide an effective and sustainable solution for reducing heating energy consumption in buildings.
The 2 MW Unit study demonstrated that SHARC technology can lower heating costs, generate revenue for wastewater authorities, and contribute to a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
By recovering thermal energy from wastewater, SHARC offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional heating systems, making it a key player in creating more energy-efficient and sustainable buildings.
When to Use SHARC Systems?
SHARC Systems can be integrated into Commercial, Residential and Industrial buildings to reduce energy consumption and lower costs, including (but not limited to):
- Multi-Family Housing
- Student Housing
- Senior Living
- Community Housing
- Hospitals
- Micro-Breweries
- Hotel & Hospitality
- Commercial Laundry & Car Wash
- District Energy
- Commercial Food Production
- Pulp and Paper
- Textiles
Curious about how much energy and money a SHARC system could save you over time? Reach out to our team to discuss your project.