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Boston — Aug. 18, 2015 — PRNewswire — WegoWise, a building efficiency software provider, released findings from a two-year study of water efficiency in multifamily buildings. The study found that, on average, California apartment buildings have achieved only 5 percent water savings since January 2013.
Of the buildings that did show savings over the two-year period, WegoWise discovered an average 12 percent decrease in water use. Overall, apartment buildings in the study saved substantially less water than the 25 percent reduction required by California Gov. Brown's executive order.
However, the few apartment buildings that implemented retrofits reported markedly higher savings than other buildings in the study, achieving a 25 percent reduction in water use. Retrofits ranged from comprehensive water fixture overhauls (sinks, showers, toilets) to landscaping upgrades, like drip irrigation replacements.
"Typically, multifamily building owners pay for their buildings' water bills rather than passing on costs to tenants. Without that financial incentive, residents often do not conserve water through behavioral changes," said Barun Singh, founder and CTO of WegoWise. "WegoWise sees this split incentive issue regularly, and our findings highlight just how much catching up many multifamily buildings need to do as a result.
"Yet our study also confirms that many California apartment buildings are brimming with untapped efficiency potential," Singh added. "Apartment building owners that do implement targeted upgrades can meet statewide goals while lowering utility expenses and boosting cash flow. That's a pretty compelling incentive."
Dramatic savings were often the result of simple measures, such as toilet upgrades. One hotel in East LA saved more than 30 percent annually after a toilet retrofit. Community Corp. of Santa Monica, an affordable-housing developer, decreased water use by over 12 gallons/bedroom/day — a 24 percent drop.
The WegoWise study drew upon a database of nearly 600 multifamily buildings across the state from January 2013 through May 2015. Data includes 21,000 units, almost 32,000 bedrooms, and 2.4 billion gallons of water use over the two-year period.
WegoWise provides software for more efficient buildings. By automatically integrating a broad range of energy and water data, WegoWise delivers a complete picture of utility use. The intuitive software helps building owners make smarter efficiency decisions that increase cash flow and boost asset value. More than a thousand real estate institutions have added millions to the bottom line with WegoWise. Learn more at wegowise.com.
