Development of a Multi-Family Water Conservation Project Tool

Abstract

In order for building operations to be successful long-term, the building must perform well and meet the needs of the occupants in a safe, cost effective manner. Utility costs, especially water costs, impact the performance of the building. Effective water conservation programs can significantly reduce operational costs. Designing and implementing an effective water conservation program for use in multi-family residences throughout a large portfolio poses a number of challenges that impact the success of the water conservation effort. Establishing a targeted program designed to deliver substantial savings requires a strong methodology. Without such methods, the program could be ineffective or fall short and therefore not be sustainable. To encourage conservation, many federal and state agencies as well as local utilities are providing guidance and incentives for water conservation. The agencies push for conservation to reduce demand for potable water and the need for infrastructure expansions. For the end user, the need for conservation is driven by the cost impacts associated with usage and rates. Water conservation reduces these impacts. The purpose of this project is to construct a program and tool to be utilized by the multi-family facility manager providing the framework and methodology for creating a sustainable water conservation program specific to her portfolio. The key deliverables are: a written guide explaining the components of a robust water conservation program, an Excel tool for use in estimating the project’s return on investment (ROI) and a demonstration of the tool using data from a typical multi-family structure. This tool will be based on real world experience with implementing water conservation efforts across a national footprint of buildings and will be geared toward the typical industry demands of simple installations and measurable water reductions with a high rate of return in a short time-frame.