Looking to slash your commercial property’s water bills without impacting performance?
Let’s start with the basics…
Commercial property owners everywhere are frustrated by rising utility costs. Water bills are often one of the largest expenses. And most properties use way more water than they need to.
Here’s the silver lining…
Water efficiency upgrades that pay for themselves. Simple, cost-effective changes that curb water waste, save you money and increase property value all at once.
Inside you’ll learn:
- Why water efficiency matters for commercial buildings
- Water efficiency upgrades that provide measurable ROI
- How to get started with water treatment systems
Why Water Efficiency Matters for Commercial Properties
Commercial buildings are thirsty.
According to the EPA, commercial properties use 17% of all water from public supplies in the United States. Offices, hotels, restaurants, campuses… you name it. Commercial real estate uses billions of gallons of water every year.
The problem is
that most commercial buildings waste a significant percentage of that water through inefficiency. Between old fixtures, leaky pipes, boiler rooms and hidden leaks… the loss can really add up. Meanwhile that wasted water equals wasted money.
Before you start investing in upgrades, invest in your water treatment systems. Working with dependable plumbing services you can ensure your water treatment systems are installed correctly and maintained year-round to operate at peak efficiency.
Ok but besides saving you money, why does water efficiency matter?
This shouldn’t come as a surprise… but water efficient buildings:
- Have lower operating costs (water bills and sewer charges)
- Have greater property value and green ratings
- Are often required to meet city regulations around water use
These changes not only save you money month after month. They add real value to your property and help you meet any local benchmarking requirements.
Talk about a win-win-win situation.
Water Efficiency Upgrades That Deliver Real ROI
Alright, enough background. Let’s talk about water efficiency upgrades that actually save you money. Pick a couple from this list and get started. Before you know it those savings will start to add up.
Low-Flow Fixtures
You’ve heard it before… but that doesn’t make it any less true.
If you have old toilets, faucets and urinals, swapping them out for modern low-flow fixtures can make a huge impact. Water-efficient toilets and urinals can save buildings up to 50% in water usage per year.
Let that sink in for a minute.
Halving your water bill by simply replacing some fixtures. That’s right away you’ll start seeing money back from this single upgrade. Look for EPA certified WaterSense fixtures. They’re independently certified to save water and perform.
Smart Water Meters and Monitoring
Wait… you can monitor how much water you use?!
If you’ve never considered water monitoring before, you’re not alone. Most people don’t think about monitoring their water use until there’s a problem. By then it’s too late.
Smart water meters allow you to monitor water use in real time across your entire property. You’ll easily be able to pinpoint exactly where excess water use is happening so you can address the problem.
Benefits of smart water monitoring include the ability to:
- Quickly identify high usage areas
- Detect leaks early
- Easily measure your water savings from other upgrades
- Benchmark against similar buildings
The money you’ll save from leak detection and efficient use often covers the cost of the monitoring system in the first year.
Leak Detection and Repair Programs
If you own a commercial property, leak detection should be at the top of your list.
Even small leaks can cost you thousands of gallons per month. And most leaks go unnoticed until your next water bill arrives. Prevention is the best way to control leaks.
Set up a regular leak detection program to catch leaks early. Schedule annual inspections of the building’s plumbing system. Install leak detection sensors and audit water use with smart meters.
Leaks are one of the fastest ways to save on water costs. Catch them early, and you’ll save yourself some serious money.
Cooling Tower Optimization
Cooling towers are another massive user of water in most commercial buildings. They rely on water constantly evaporating from the system and can be the largest consumer on the property.
The good news is…
Simple changes to cooling tower operations can net you water savings of up to 30%. Try increasing the cycles of concentration, installing a conductivity controller or regularly maintaining your cooling tower to reduce scale buildup. All these measures will reduce your water intake going into the cooling towers.
Greywater Recycling Systems
Ready for advanced water savings?
Greywater systems recover lightly used water from sinks, showers and condensation drains. The water gets treated and rerouted for use in toilets, irrigation systems and cooling towers.
Greywater systems can significantly reduce your total water demand. The installation cost is higher than most upgrades we’ve mentioned… but the long-term savings are well worth it.
Efficient Irrigation Systems
Outdoor irrigation can be the hidden money pit for commercial properties.
Old style sprinkler systems waste water through evaporation and runoff. Switching to drip irrigation cuts outdoor water usage by up to half. Delivering water only to the plant’s roots drastically reduces water lost to evaporation.
Combine drip irrigation with native plants and smart irrigation controllers that adjust watering based on the weather. You’ll save water and cut down on maintenance costs.
Getting Started With Water Treatment Systems
Here’s my advice when it comes to water efficiency in commercial buildings.
Start with an audit.
Figuring out where your water is coming from and where it’s going will help you prioritize your upgrades. From there you can start making changes that will pay for themselves in just a few months.
Follow these steps to start seeing water savings:
- Audit your existing water use. Where is all the water going?
- Fix all leaks – low hanging fruit that will save you money
- Replace old fixtures in bathrooms and kitchens with low-flow alternatives.
- Install smart monitoring so you can track usage and catch leaks
- Investigate larger uses like cooling towers and irrigation systems for efficiency.
Bonus points if you work with professional plumbers to assess your water treatment systems and drinking water quality.
You don’t need to upgrade everything at once. Start with the easy wins and reinvest the money you save into larger projects.
Pulling It All Together
Making your commercial property more water efficient is easy and profitable.
Between climbing water costs, regulations and better tenant expectations. Water efficiency is the direction the commercial property industry is moving.
Each of the upgrades listed above has been proven to provide a measurable return on your investment. Some will pay for themselves in months. Others will take longer to recoup the cost. But each and every one of these water efficiency changes will:
- Save you money on water costs
- Increase your property value
- Reduce waste and help preserve our precious water supply
Don’t wait until your next water bill comes due. Start with one or two easy upgrades and watch those savings roll in.
