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When we talk saving water, it’s natural that your mind automatically jumps to your home: a leaking tap, an outdated hot water system, and shorter showers.
But what about in commercial properties? Office buildings and other business-related dwellings house multiple companies filled with dozens of employees.
We can all do our part to conserve water when possible, but water conservation in a commercial property is a little different.
Read on to learn some water-efficient plumbing tips from Watermaster, commercial plumbers serving businesses right across Melbourne.
Restrooms are a major culprit when it comes to water usage: according to City West Water, water use by toilets, showers, and basins in commercial buildings results in an average of 157 litres used per person per day!
Did you know that an older toilet can use up to 12 litres of water in a single flush? Compare that to the four litres used in energy-efficient toilets and already you can see the difference. Imagine four toilets per bathroom in a 10-storey building with restrooms on each floor.
That’s 40 toilets being flushed dozens of times a day!
An older toilet may be using up to three times the amount of water needed per flush. A commercial plumber can assess your current situation, and determine a solution to help save valuable litres in your building.
Good-quality automatic faucets reduce wasted water in public or commercial restrooms.
Water is only dispelled when the sensor is activated, meaning there’s no risk of someone leaving a tap running (or even dripping) when they are pumping soap, wiping their hands, or touching up their makeup. (Oh, and this innovative tool is also more hygienic – no handles to touch!)
Depending on your industry, you may rely on either simple or complicated heating and cooling measures.
An office building, school, or hotel, for example, probably engages rather straightforward heating and cooling techniques, unlike a space like a hospital, which also requires cooling of specific equipment like x-ray machines.
While it may seem like an absolute no-brainer, you might be surprised to learn some businesses maintain a steady temperature through their heating and cooling systems overnight. By cutting this overnight energy emission, you’re literally halving your output – instantly.
Reducing the temperature by a few degrees can have a big impact on your overall energy consumption in the long-term. Try resetting your water heater’s temperature to 50° C degrees. If you’ve never touched the thermostat, it’s might be pre-programmed as high as 60° C.
Standard practices from home translate to the office: only use the dishwasher when it’s full, and if you’re looking for an upgrade, remember: the more stars, the more energy-efficient a dishwasher is.
These incredible devices quickly – and we mean quickly – reach a desired hot or cold temperature, so you’re wasting less time waiting for that tap to heat up, all while using less water.
Particularly in kitchen-reliant industries like hotels, restaurants, and cafes, what starts out as a small leak can escalate into a problematic scenario. The longer you leave a leak, the worse it can get – and you can’t really ever know the full extent of the leak and the damage it’s causing. Identified a leak? Get it inspected and fixed right away!
It’s likely that your commercial grounds are being overwatered. If a timer was set many years ago and has not changed much since, there is a good chance a lot of water is being wasted.
Watering plants or gardens in the daytime – when they sun is at its peak – increases the chance of evaporation. Waiting until the evenings also ensures employees are getting startled by sprinklers while they’re enjoying lunch outside.
If landscaping is on the horizon, do your research and plant flowers that need less water to grow. You’ll be using less water and your gardens will require less maintenance – a win for all.
Mulching helps to prevent water evaporating during dry or warmer weather, ensuring your flowerbeds (or shrubs or trees) retain water for longer. Use it wherever possible.
With so much water being used across a variety of facilities and equipment, there are many great opportunities to save water in a commercial property.
We believe that the best way to involve your staff is to begin with education. Involve employees in water-saving efforts. Make it a point to highlight the importance of your mission during staff meetings and training or education sessions.
There are two main reasons why companies try to save water:
Firstly, businesses love to promote themselves as sustainable. It might be a little vain, but the truth is, people love to hear that a big company or building is committed to doing their bit for the environment, whether that’s reducing their carbon footprint, engaging energy-efficient technology, or recycling water.
Another (possibly harsh) truth is that even for businesses that don’t care about conserving water or being ‘eco-friendly’, doing their bit will save them money in the long term. Save money by:
Whichever way you look at it, it’s a win-win!
If you’re seeking commercial plumbing services in Melbourne, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Watermaster now! With a suite of commercial plumbing services available, no job is too big or too small for our Melbourne clients!
Watermaster Plumbing is a local plumber in Sandringham servicing Bayside homes and businesses. We’re setting a new standard in plumbing with licensed, friendly, and highly experienced professionals delivering a range of residential and commercial plumbing solutions.
