USEPA Award

The Landis Sewerage Authority (LSA) has taken a diverse approach toward implementing its goal of becoming one of the most environmentally friendly wastewater treatment plants in the state of New Jersey. With the objective of achieving a near zero carbon footprint and optimizing the recycling and reuse of byproducts from the treatment process, LSA uses treated biosolids to fertilize 550 acres of corn, hay, straw and southern yellow pine trees and operates a windmill, solar array and CHP system to generate electricity for the  facility.  Executive Director Dennis Palmer announced that the LSA was recently recognized by the USEPA with a national Energy Star Award for 2010 for its combined heat and power (CHP) plant. A portion of the biogas produced by a wastewater treatment plant’s anaerobic digester is typically used to heat water for use on site. The remainder is flared and goes unused. The LSA realized this traditional approach presented an opportunity for increased energy savings and instead utilizes the otherwise wasted biogas to fuel a 170 kW CHP system. In addition, heat produced by the system’s internal combustion engine is captured and used to produce hot water for facility space heating and to warm the the anaerobic digester. Biogas and electricity production are maximized by a digestive enhancing natural peat extract called Biological Activity Enhancer (BAE) from Prodex, a JSH International Company. Palmer stated BAE helps Landis SA maximize the amount of biogas produced which is used to fuel the 170 kW CHP system and increased the gas production so both the generator and boilers could run at the same time. This eliminated the need for supplemental fuel oil in the very cold months and improved air emissions.  “Our ENERGY STAR CHP award winners are demonstrating environmental leadership by utilizing highly efficient combined heat and power systems which are clean and reliable approach to generate electric power and thermal energy,” said Elizabeth Craig, Acting Director of the Climate Protection Partnerships Division at the Office of Air and Radiation at EPA. “By using combined heat and power, the Landis Sewerage Authority is decreasing energy costs and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases which contribute to global climate change.”  EPA is proud to recognize the outstanding pollution reduction and energy efficiency qualities of this project by presenting the Landis Sewerage Authority with a 2010 ENERGY STAR CHP Award.  The CHP system requires approximately 34 percent less fuel than would be used by a typical energy supply system. Consequently, the CHP system effectively reduces CO2 emissions by more than 800 tons per year. This reduction is equivalent to the annual emissions from more than 140 passenger vehicles