sben members Water Plus, who are multi award-winners for water management and were Finalists for a UK Customer Satisfaction Award, in 2024, along with being Finalists for Responsible Business of the Year, in the 2024 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards, share top tips to keep future energy – and running costs down. 

Taking a fresh look at how water is used across sites, whatever the sector you’re in, can lead to energy and carbon reductions and boost efficiencies.

It can cut your business energy bills ahead, while decreasing overall running costs.

And the great thing is, it’s not an either/or choice – you can do both in parallel – and it’s not difficult.

Where less water needs to be moved at sites, or less needs to be heated, then there are energy savings and a reduction in carbon emissions too.

And small actions with water can make a big difference to utility and operating costs – and can be low-cost to implement.

There are carbon emissions linked to all water used at buildings, so you cannot go Net Zero without considering – and looking closer at – the water you’re using and the way it’s being used.

With additional sustainability reporting requirements for larger businesses – including for Boards, suppliers and customers, looking to water – to help power decarbonisation progress – is worth the time.

Tap into the saving opportunities – in your business water

Sites taking action with water have cut hot water use this year – and seen a 37% average water-saving, in 2024, on daily use – including sites in Staffordshire – and two other counties, in a large-scale project delivered by the Water Plus team.

This included small, low-cost additional water-saving technology, increasing efficiency of taps, showers and reducing the amount of water needed for toilet flushing.

During one site visit, which Key Account Managers at Water Plus do, we pointed out additional water that was near a large vat, that was being heated for a process, at a manufacturing site – and highlighted how some small steps around turning off running taps, and adding shut-offs and trigger handles for hoses, could cut water use – and save energy.

The upside of all this is that manufacturers – and other businesses – could start reducing energy use this week, ahead of the months of colder weather.

Tracking water use during the year – and next steps

A manufacturer with data loggers, that Water Plus installed on water meters, was notified of an increase in water use by the Water Plus Advanced Services team, when their baseline water use increased from 3,000 litres an hour to 18,000 litres an hour, in January 2024. The additional daily water data available meant the business could take steps to reduce this use quickly – isolating two large leaks at their site, preparing them for repairs – with use dropping back to baseline levels within 48 hours.

If you’ve already got regular water checks in place and daily water use updates and efficient taps, showers and toilet facilities at sites, then there are other options to explore, including water recycling and re-using the heat from hot water in processes.

These options can deliver for the future, deliver for the environment – and deliver for the bottom line and reduce unit, or product costs.

Reusing water for cooling, or other things, optimising pressure – and optimising the amount of water used through automated cleaning cycles – are all areas to consider.

Plus, controlling overflows and auto shut offs – and fixing leaks – are all ways you can increase the power in water and reduce carbon emissions linked to organisations.

Dive into exploring more about business water management

Key Account Managers, at Water Plus, are regularly visiting locations to work with multi-site and larger industrial customers to review how they’re using water and putting in place bespoke water management plans, alongside showing how to boost trade effluent efficiencies.

Its customer service team, which gain National Qualifications in Customer Service, are also helping businesses and raising awareness around the importance for businesses to note meter readings regularly, at least once a month – if the water meter is safe to access – and to provide these online, through the MyAccount platform – which is provided by Water Plus, to help customers easily update information for their water account and bill.

So, engage with Water Plus to access the information, insight and opportunities we’re highlighting to help customers – and businesses not yet with us – and we can help deliver progress towards your energy reduction and carbon reduction goals.

More on the 37% average water-saving, delivered across a range of sectors, is here too: www.futurenetzero.com/partner/water-plus/.

Water Plus has won a Global Gold for Water Management in the Green World Awards 2024 – and in 2023, along with nine Green Apple Environment Awards, including for Carbon Reduction, Partnerships and water management. It also won a UK Customer Satisfaction Award, in 2023, from the Institute of Customer Service.