Aquarion Initiatives Diminish CO2 Emissions

BRIDGEPORT — Aquarion Water Company, with numerous customers in Newtown, has been working diligently on a series of measures to reduce its “carbon footprint,” or the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) it emits into the air — a reduction that equates to removing more than 1,000 cars from American highways this year, according to a release.

Globally, awareness of CO2 emissions has grown significantly during the last few decades with the debate over its impact on the Earth’s atmosphere. The use of fossil fuels continues to increase the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere, where, along with other gases, it forms a heat block or “greenhouse effect,” which has been proven to be detrimental to the Earth’s environment.

Recent awards from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Housatonic Valley Association, two leading environmental organizations, underscore Aquarion’s dedication to environmental stewardship.

Numerous initiatives demonstrate Aquarion’s resolution to reduce its carbon footprint. The most significant of these is a recent change in electric power providers, which will reduce CO2 emissions significantly through the new provider’s use of hydroelectric power in lieu of fossil fuels.

This move will save more than 840 tons of CO2 emissions in 2011.

Aquarion started experimenting with solar energy about five years ago, using it to run treatment systems at several of its reservoirs. In 2009, it partnered with TNC and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection to use solar and wind technology to help migrating eels pass safely over one of its dams to open waters.

Early in March, Aquarion completed another pilot project that harnesses solar energy to generate some of the power used at the company’s operations center in Bridgeport. A spokesman at United Illuminating said UI is monitoring Aquarion’s progress with this effort to determine whether a similar system would benefit any of its other commercial customers.

Most recently, Aquarion and a Shelton-based energy company negotiated plans to construct a larger solar energy system at the water treatment plant in that city. The new system will “track” the sun’s location throughout the day for optimum collection of solar rays, and is expected to reduce energy use at the plant by about 10 percent.

Aquarion replaced older, inefficient heating systems, converted systems to natural gas, and installed other energy-saving devices throughout its facilities, reduced it fleet size and downsized vehicle types.

In addition, fluorescent lighting upgrades have been initiated at Aquarion’s corporate headquarters and larger water treatment facilities, together with an LED lighting project supported by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund.

“Aquarion has long operated with a formal environmental policy that compels us to make environmental concerns an integral part of our planning and decision making processes,” said Charles V. Firlotte, president and CEO.

Aquarion Water Company serves approximately 580,000 people in 39 communities throughout Connecticut including Newtown. It is among the seven largest investor-owned water utility companies in the United States, and the largest in New England.