What are the Benefits of Water Reduction in the Building Process?
While there are many strategies and systems that building owners can use to reduce their water consumption and become more sustainable buildings, it is best to have water conservation engrained right into the facility from the beginning. This type of green building construction will help buildings be more efficient while cutting down on utility costs.
During construction, millions of gallons of water can be wasted if systems are not put in place to reduce excessive consumption. Dust suppression tools use up the majority of water resources on construction sites. By using energy efficient water hoses, closed-loop water recycling, or other dust suppression methods, water usage can be greatly reduced.
Construction costs may also be lowered by using less water or recycled water systems. Additionally, it can help to cut down on waste that is produced throughout the building process, resulting in a lower carbon output and a positive impact on the environment.
How to Reduce Water Usage in Schools?
Approximately 6% of total water use in commercial and institutional facilities takes place in schools. The largest uses of water in school facilities are heating and cooling systems, restrooms, drinking fountains, cafeteria kitchens, science labs, and outdoor fields and grounds. There are a number of green materials schools can use and tactics they can employ to reduce their consumption, including:
- Utilizing faucet aerators, which decrease the amount of water that flows through taps. Aerators can cut water consumption by 30% to 50%.
- High-efficiency dual flush toilets conserve water that is often wasted. The average toilet uses 3.5 gallons per flush, while a high-efficiency option only uses 1.28 gallons.
- Water efficient plumbing fixtures can be installed throughout the school to eliminate inefficient systems that add to heavy water consumption. These fixtures include urinals, showerheads, and hose hookups.
- Detecting and repairing leaks as quickly as possible is the best way for schools to reduce their consumption and water waste. One leaky faucet can waste five gallons a day, adding up to 3,000 gallons per year.
- Landscaping with native drought tolerant plants, and mulching regularly can also reduce the amount of water that is needed for irrigation. Plants such as succulents and cacti, or ground cover plants like rockrose or moss phlox, can thrive with little water. Mulching plants regularly help the soil to remain moist, reducing the need for frequent watering.
- Adopting a water conservation policy within the school can also help students get on board with reducing the amount of water they use and contribute to a more sustainable building. Schools should encourage and practice these conservative procedures throughout the day-to-day.
- Encouraging the use of refillable water bottles among students and faculty to reduce plastic waste and encourage everyone to conserve water resources.
- Installing Smart Water Meters to provide detailed information on usage patterns. These meters can detect leaks and inefficient systems while monitoring usage to reduce costs and lower consumption by up to 27%.
- Collecting and utilizing rainwater from collection barrels on roofs, in parking lots, or throughout the school’s campus. This water can be used for landscape irrigation, cooling systems, and in some cases, it can even be recycled into drinking water.
What are the benefits of reducing water usage in schools?
There are numerous benefits to reducing the amount of water consumption and managing usage within schools. Some of these include:
- Cost savings: Utilizing less water can decrease operating costs by 11%.
- Energy savings: Reducing water usage can decrease energy use by 15%. Thus, less energy is required to process, deliver, and heat water, resulting in reduced air pollution.
- Reduced stress on natural resources: Water conservation practices can decrease water use by 10%, which helps minimize the effects of drought and water shortages over time.
It is important that building owners take action to reduce their water consumption and eliminate all waste when possible. By creating water efficient, eco-friendly buildings and adopting systems for conservation, the built environment can reduce any negative impact and encourage sustainability for a better future.
Water Management in Communities
Access to fresh, clean water is often taken for granted. However, in states where water resources are scare, water management becomes a top priority for communities. There are many organizations and groups dedicated to helping communities with water management. New technologies have allowed communities to better track and manage water resources with the goal of getting the right amount of water to the right people with little to no waste.
One such technology is advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), or smart water meters. Smart water meters more accurately track how much water is being consumed by households, businesses, and other people in a community. They can also better detect when leaks occur and alert the right community leaders to take action against water waste.
Smart water management is also important from an economical standpoint. When water usage is tracked accurately and leaks are detected and addressed, government entities can reduce utility expenditures and focus spending on other important community initiatives.