Water monitoring within
the real estate sector
Sustainability is becoming more and more central to institutional investors’ commercial real estate investment plans, with a particular emphasis on minimizing energy use and CO2 emissions. Unfortunately, comparable issues, such as water consumption, are frequently neglected. This is a missed opportunity, as there are numerous ways to investigate and actively interact with the issue. In this article there will be a detailed explanation of water monitoring in the real estate sector and the benefits it brings to the environment and society.
Water monitoring within the real estate sector
The world’s largest climate change opportunity is decarbonizing the real estate sector. In the past, we have considered the following as the most obvious.
- Manufacturing
- Transportation
- Agriculture
The real estate industry is responsible for
- 33% of worldwide carbon emissions
- 40% of energy usage
- 25% of the global water consumption
- 40% of all raw material consumption
The commercial real estate industry is one of the leading contributors to
- Greenhouse gas emissions
- C02 emissions
- Water wastage
- Energy wastage
Current climate technology is limited in its ability to dramatically reduce carbon emissions. With tenant demand for greener buildings and the age of existing buildings increasing, the need for new climate technology innovation has never been greater.
What most people don’t know is that water has its own carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions, Every drop of water has a direct relationship towards energy consumption, greenhouse gas, and CO2 emissions, saving water should be at the top of the priority list.
The commercial real estate industry is taking steps towards efficient energy management by installing solar panels and smart energy meters. But no significant step has been taken for protecting the precious resource- water! In this blog, there is detailed information on the water usage of commercial real estate and suggestions to improve their water efficiency.
The carbon footprint of water in the commercial real estate industry.
Commercial Real estate is the single most significant contributor to climate change. It accounts for 40% of global CO2 emissions.
Even worse, commercial buildings waste 30% of their water and 20% of their energy through hot water wastage. Overall wastage of water accounts for a significant part of the global CO2 emissions in the commercial real estate industry.
According to UN forecasts, 40% of the world’s population would experience water scarcity by 2030. Water is so crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). None of these SDGs can be met without water and sustainable water management. 25% of the water consumed globally is due to the real estate industry. Accordingly, the real estate sector can and must play a key role in sustainable water management.
Water efficiency does have a number of advantages, including
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
- A lesser carbon footprint
- Savings in water, energy, and money.
Water monitoring in the real estate sector will not only have a major influence on your utility cost, but it will also have a substantial impact on the value of your properties.
“ With the world continuously progressing and more skyscrapers soaring, it is high time that establishment owners consider alternatives that will make their buildings water-efficient ”
It is impossible to become a sustainable real estate company without water monitoring.
- A simple overflown toilet can consume 2.1 million liters of water per year and waste 24.25 tons/49,074 lb of CO2
- A faulty hot water tap can waste 1.5 million liters of water per year and waste 39 tons/79366 lb of CO2
- An overflowing toilet not reported will cost you over $5,000 a year
- According to the centre for sustainable energy, heating hot water accounts for about 20% of your commercial energy use/costs
- An office employee uses a minimum of 59 litres/person. An overflowing toilet left unresolved can waste 5,700 litres a day, which costs $5000 per year.
- Typically 30 % of water wasted in a building is due to leaks, excessive usage, human errors and appliance failures.
- 10% of hot water in your commercial building is being wasted due to faulty appliances, human error and unseen issues.
High risk of water leaks within the real estate industry
With 95% of properties having a Burglar/ fire alarm. Surprisingly less than 1.5% of properties have a water alarm system and an even less % of these can actually conserve water. Interestingly a property is 3x more likely to be damaged by a plumbing leak than by burglary. This would lead to a fundamental question as to why is there such a low number of water alarm systems worldwide, especially in the Real estate sector.
The answer is simple: for water monitoring in the real estate sector to be fit for purpose, it must add value to the end user in terms of water conservation with a clear ROI along with protecting your asset against the damage caused by plumbing leaks.
“Decarbonizing and effectively managing water in the commercial real estate industry
is the right thing to do for our planet, and it’s the investment opportunity of a lifetime”
SMART FLOW’s role in water monitoring in the real estate sector
SMART FLOW is a real-time intelligent water monitoring company, that utilises AI and algorithms with the assistance of human intervention.
SMART FLOW water monitoring technology eliminates all the costs and consequences of
- Property protection from water leaks
- Wasted energy due to hot water
- Human error and appliance failure
- Inaccurate water bills.
Ready to take the first step towards water monitoring? Contact us at smartflow@mysmartflow.uk
SMART FLOW is a real-time intelligent water monitoring company, that utilises AI and algorithms with the assistance of human intervention.
- +44 203 3688131 (UK)
- +353 16855220 (IRL)
- smartflow@mysmartflow.uk
- 86-90 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NE.
- Unit 4F, Fingal Bay Business Park, Balbriggan, CO Dublin