30.07.2021
Droughts and population growth are making it more difficult for humans to reliably access the “blue gold” that’s essential for life. Although saving water may not be at the top of your organization’s priorities, it’s a wise cost-saving measure that can also help save the planet.
When maintenance managers cut the water usage in office buildings, apartments, and hospitals, they can:
- Save more money on water bills
- Fulfil their promise to be eco-friendly
- Prevent expensive property damage
Maybe you’ve already taken steps to conserve water. You might think, “Are there more ways I can save water at my organization?” Fortunately, you don’t have to make drastic changes to save water. Small, daily changes will help your team see that it’s possible to learn how to save on your water bill.
How can we conserve water? 6 tips to try
The European Commission estimates that Europe can save 40% of the water it currently uses. With the right approach, your organization can conserve water and save money at the same time. Learn how to save on your water bill with these six water-saving tips for organizations.
1. Audit and monitor your water use
If your team is wondering, “How can we conserve water?” The best place to look is your current water usage. That means assessing and auditing your water consumption as it is today.
Do you notice any unusual upticks in water usage or costs on your water bill? Are particular buildings using more water than others? Does your water usage peak at a certain time of day? Every building is different, so take a critical look at your water use to find effective changes for your situation.
It’s also important to monitor your usage as you take water-saving measures. Tools like Shayp make it easy to monitor your water use in real-time. Don’t wait for a surprise water bill—Shayp gives you the power to immediately respond to leaks or unusual usage with an easy plug-and-play sensor.
2. Train your employees
Human behaviour is often the cause of high water usage. Facility managers should take the time to train employees and residents on how to save water in daily life by:
- Running appliances, like dishwashers, only when they’re full
- Shutting off faucets when they aren’t being used
- Posting signs throughout the office with water-saving tips
When everyone on the team is committed to saving water, it’s much easier for your organization to cut a noticeable percentage off your water bill.
3. Install water-saving appliances
Water-saving appliances are often just as effective as traditional appliances, but they use just a fraction of the water. This means your organization can use significantly less water without a noticeable change in performance.
Curious about how to save water in daily life? Consider installing more efficient appliances like:
- Low-flow or dual flush toilets
- Aerated faucets
- Tankless water heaters
- Faucets with shutoff timers
- Smart AC units
Not sure if an appliance is water-efficient? Look for The European Water Label to understand how efficient an appliance actually is. Water-saving appliances are usually more energy-efficient, too, which is great news for energy management.
4. Recycle greywater
While reused water is subject to regulations in the EU, it’s a smart way to recycle water for non-potable uses in your building. For example, instead of paying to use freshwater for both your AC units and irrigation, you can use the same water for both. Install a system that recycles water from your building’s AC units to irrigate the lawn to reduce consumption.
5. Respond to leaks immediately
Even a small leak can waste over 56 litres of water a month. If your organization manages multiple buildings with hundreds of faucets, the water waste adds up quickly.
Ideally, your building maintenance team should frequently check for problems and repair a leak as soon as it happens. But it’s still common for undetected leaks to cause thousands of euros in damage.
Your team can’t catch every leak on their own, and that’s where tools like Shayp help you save more water. Our technology monitors your building remotely, alerting your team as soon as we identify a leak. Instead of asking your team to perform unnecessary maintenance for future leaks, Shayp allows your team to focus on the problems that matter most.
6. Rethink your landscaping irrigation
On average, European irrigation is only 50–70% efficient. If your organization uses a sprinkler or irrigation system to water your property, you should check to make sure it’s operating correctly.
- Water only the soil: Check to make sure your sprinklers aren’t watering the sidewalk, concrete, or rocks. You want to make sure every drop of water is actually soaking into the ground; otherwise, evaporation will waste the water.
- Use timers: Try to water in the evening or early morning. This will cut down on evaporation and ensure that the water you paid for is actually put to use.
- Check for leaks: It’s common for sprayer heads to break or malfunction, showering streams of water everywhere. Check your sprinkler heads and system every day to prevent expensive leaks. A system like Shayp can do this automatically for you.
- Install moisture sensors: These sensors will shut off the water flow if the ground is already wet. This is a great way to avoid watering your property when it’s raining.
Learn how to save on your water bill
How can we save water in a world where excess is the norm? It comes down to making a few small changes that lead to more savings over time.
Water conservation is not only great for meeting your environmental promises but it’s also essential for saving more money on your utility bills. Shrink your organization’s footprint and manage your costs more effectively by using these six tips on how to save water.
If it’s time to take the next step in your water-saving journey, you can save thousands of litres of water a year with Shayp. Our prize-winning technology reduces water consumption by 20% thanks to real-time machine learning. See how Shayp works with a free demo.