Water
By Yaron Dycian, Chief Product and Strategy Officer, WINT Water Intelligence PROACTIVE WATER MANAGEMENT: BEST PRACTICES FOR BUILDINGS OF THE FUTURE
Fortunately, technology developments in the space of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science are powering a transformation of water management in the built environment. Innovative solutions that mitigate risk, reduce waste, and prevent property damage are showing a new way forward that drives changes in perceptions and approach. Continually cycling water in and out of buildings takes massive amounts of energy, which results in significant costs for businesses. Inefficient water management can result in direct costs, including the repair and replacement of damaged materials, as well as indirect costs such as business disruption, lost time, and increased insurance premiums and deductibles. In extreme cases, water damage can render a building uninhabitable, resulting in significant financial losses. Not to mention unquantifiable aspects of the business, such as brand reputation. The entire built industry ecosystem—owners, developers, management teams, contractors, designers and engineers—can now invest in technology-driven solutions that can dramatically improve efficiency and lead to immediately noticeable savings in terms of water consumption and cost. In an increasingly competitive market, with ongoing labor shortages, rising materials costs and an uncertain overall economic forecast, a robust water management proactive approach could be a major competitive advantage in any industry.
Building and operating a modern commercial property or industrial facility requires a major ongoing investment of resources. Unfortunately, inefficiency and mismanagement of water resources remain among the most significant threats to a building’s performance. In the United States alone, water treatment and delivery accounts for 13 percent of the country’s total electricity consumption, releasing up to 290 million metric tons of carbon every year—approximately 5 percent of total US emissions and equal to the carbon output of more than 60 coal-fired power plants. In California alone, water-related consumption of electricity, natural gas and diesel fuel results in carbon emissions equal to 7 million passenger vehicles. Commercial buildings and facilities across industries are responsible for a large percentage of that energy expenditure. Research found that in the United States, 17 percent of the public water supply is consumed by schools, hotels, retail, offices, and hospitals. Amplifying the urgency of the situation, industry benchmarks show that up to 25 percent of the water entering any building ultimately goes to waste. As building operations become increasingly complex and demanding, the need for better water management solutions is critical. The costs associated with water damage and water waste are growing. Awareness of the continuing carbon impact of inefficient water management is also leading the industry to search for ways to take a proactive approach to water management in the buildings of the future.
35
Fall 2024
csengineermag.com
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