Is your commercial building water efficient? Where and how water is used differs from one facility type to another. If your facility’s utility water rates are giving your facility manager a headache, it could be time to take a good look at how your building is consuming water. We’ve gathered the 5 things you can do to conserve water in your commercial facility that can be used as a checklist for how to make your building more energy efficient. Read on to learn how to save water and costs today!
1. Check for leaks
Seems like a no-brainer, but even just a small-to-medium sized leak could waste up to 250 gallons a day and cost your company down the road. While a small leak or issue like a running toilet may seem easy to ignore to some, these kinds of issues can add up quickly and should be addressed by a commercial building maintenance team as soon as possible. But before that can be done, make sure leak checks are on your commercial building’s maintenance schedule. Early and effective leak detection is paramount to ensuring your company doesn’t suffer from a serious leak in the future that may have started as an easy fix. Check your commercial building’s water bill for any abnormalities and inspect the bathroom fixtures and irrigation systems regularly to ensure everything is operating as it should.
2. Rethink automatic sensors
Even though your commercial building installed automatic sensors on the bathroom fixtures to save water, your automatic sensors could actually be costing you in water waste. For instance, if the automatic flushing mechanisms on your toilets are especially sensitive, they may misinterpret movement as a cue to flush and end up continuously wasting water. These kinds of automatic sensors can also malfunction in ways a manual tap or toilet system would not. This is especially important to note for commercial facilities such as entertainment centers or hotels that experience a large number of customers and guests. Make sure these restroom fixtures in your facility are operating properly to avoid unnecessary water use.
3. Change the flush valves in the restrooms
Depending on the type of commercial facility you operate, changing the flush valves in your business’ restrooms could make a sizeable difference in water use, especially if your company serves hundreds of guests and customers a day. And if your business is located in an older facility, the toilets may be using triple the gallons per flush compared to new models! This kind of repair also allows your company to keep the actual toilet itself, which will save your commercial facility the headache of having to conduct business with out-of-order facilities.
4. Install low-flow water fixtures
Replacing your commercial facility’s bathroom fixtures with low-flow fixtures will actually help you save water even when the taps are running. Watersense labeled fixtures (developed through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Program) conserve water by emitting higher pressure to produce an equal or stronger flow of water all while drawing less water than other fixtures. These kinds of high-performance, water-efficient fixtures are actually a relatively low-cost option for your commercial business facility to save water. If you’re looking for commercial building repair and maintenance services to change your restroom sink faucets, toilets, or shower heads to Watersense labeled fixtures, contact Calico Building Services today!
5. Maintain the cooling tower
How often does your company conduct routine checks on your building’s cooling tower? If you work in a larger building, your commercial facility’s air conditioning system relies on a cooling tower to function. Air conditioning systems use a large, oftentimes excessive, amount of water. If your building’s system has a cooling tower, make sure it’s receiving routine checks by an expert to ensure it’s working at its optimum level. With energy-saving measures implemented within the office and routine cooling tower maintenance checks, you can ensure that your cooling towers do indeed stay cool!
This article was brought to you by Calico Building Services. Through expert janitorial, repair and maintenance, and construction services, we are ready to ensure your commercial building and facility is operating at its highest, most energy-efficient level. We offer our premier services to industries that include hotels and retail businesses, financial institutions, universities, large corporate offices, and medical facilities. Our highly knowledgeable and skilled employees will make sure your commercial building receives the updates and retrofits it needs to become energy-efficient as well as the routine maintenance checks to ensure your cooling system is operating at its highest potential. Interested in learning more about everything we can do to help your commercial facility save water and cut down costs? Request a proposal from Calico today!
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About Calico Building Services
Calico Building Services, Inc. is a privately held company founded in 1986 by husband and wife, Ron and Kathy Strand. By developing a reputation for quality workmanship and superior customer service, the company has grown organically to become a leading provider of building, facility and property services in the Western and Central U.S. with reach and capabilities nationwide. Today, the company employs more than 900 team members and works with hundreds of strategic partners throughout the U.S.
Our core service areas delivered through the company’s three divisions include janitorial, repairs and maintenance as well as construction. With our relentless customer-centric commitment to quality and service, we serve: national retailers, banks, building owners, universities, medical facilities, government municipalities and facilities managers. Our numerous customers range from regional success stories to Fortune 500 companies.
We are proud to offer one of the most comprehensive and unique portfolio of services in the industry. From day one, personalization and offering mission-critical solutions to our valued customers has been our top priority. Depending on our customers’ needs and requirements, we can deliver our services as a self-performing company or we can deploy a network of Calico certified vendors and suppliers through effective project management. Whether they are fellow team members or certified vendors, we only hire the best and most qualified service personnel and technicians. Each of our divisions are managed and staffed by highly trained and experienced professionals in their respective fields.
There are many reasons why so many companies nationwide rely on Calico Building Services, Inc. for all their building, facility and property services. At the core, and the key differentiator, are our people and their constant commitment to excellence and unparalleled service.
