Revolutionizing Water Management: How Technology is Tackling Water Waste in Buildings.
ING went live in 2022 and has already saved over 3 million litres per year due to 35 reported leakages. In a couple of months, they were able to avoid 473 kg of carbon emissions by just monitoring their water and taking action efficiently.
In a world where water conservation is becoming increasingly vital, innovative solutions are emerging to tackle the pressing issue of water waste in buildings. In a recent Water Impact podcast, Brett Johnson spoke with Gregoire De Hemptinne, CEO of Shayp, about his technology that can eliminate the vast waste of water buildings worldwide.
The Water Waste Crisis . Capacity for Dramatic global impact.
According to Hemptinne, approximately 70% of overall water consumption is attributed to cities and buildings and over 20% of water used in buildings going is wasted. (leaky faucets, stuck toilets, broken pipes). Gregoire's technology aims to combat this issue by creating an intelligence layer over water consumption in buildings. A simple sensor added to the current metering can capture what is happening in real time and alert building management. Shayp aspires to make cities more resilient and reduce overall water bills.
It seems to be a travesty that so much water is wasted unnecessarily. The system provides a payback in about one year.
Identifying Water Waste
But what exactly constitutes wasted water? According to Gregoire, waste can come from various sources, including leaking toilets, malfunctioning heating systems, or even improperly functioning appliances. Shayp analytics platform flags these anomalies, allowing property owners to address them promptly and efficiently. For instance, a running toilet or a faucet that doesn't shut off can lead to significant water loss, and Gregoire's solution is designed to identify these issues before they escalate.
The Technology Behind Shayp
The Shayp solution that begins with data acquisition. The technology includes a retrofit device that is attached to the existing water meter, enabling real-time monitoring of water flow with a granularity of one data point every 30 seconds. This data is then analyzed and presented through an app that gives users insights into their water consumption and highlights any anomalies. The app also includes benchmarking tools that help property owners compare water efficiency across multiple buildings, which is particularly valuable for those managing large portfolios.
The initial setup and installation for Shayp system ranges between 200 and 300 euros, depending on the building's water consumption. The annual software subscription ranges 50 to 400 euros per sensor, depending on the insights required. Shapy has shown average savings can reach 21%, providing a return on investment within the first year, making it an economically sound choice for property owners. (see case studies)
Target Markets and Future Growth
Currently, Shayp is targeting the commercial and industrial sectors, where there is a high demand for efficient water management due to regulatory pressures and environmental commitments. Facility management companies and municipalities are also key customers, as they benefit from improved operational efficiency and monitoring of older buildings. Their technology is being used in France, Germany, the UK, Spain, and Italy.
Founded in Brussels Belgium in 2017, the company has made significant strides, currently monitoring 9,000 buildings across Europe. From 5,000 buildings in 2023 they are now added 4000 buildings and at 9000 with projects to add 6000 in 2026 and reach with plans to expand to 15,000. Staff of 12.
The key opportunity is to rapidly grow this company. With proper funding, de Hemptinne feels he could reach 200,000 buildings within 5 years.
How big is this market?
In commercial buildings specifically, adoption lags behind energy systems. According to industry analysis, smart water metering and commercial building water monitoring typically holds a 4–5% share within building automation/IoT tech stacks, compared to lighting/HVAC/energy systems.
That implies only a small minority of commercial buildings have full water monitoring solutions installed today. Given scattershot data and market signals: 5–15% of commercial buildings globally currently have IoT-enabled water monitoring systems that can provide real-time usage data and analytics (beyond basic separate utility metering).
The scalability. Company is currently breaking event and is seeking growth capital to add more staff and market. There are approximately 7 or 8 other companies in this marketplace. With a one-year payback it would seem there is a lot of runways for Shayp and its competitors.
This is technology that should be rapidly adopted. For more information on Shayp see this link. The global water challenge requires companies like Shayp to expand rapidly and supported by both public pressure and regulatory tailwinds. LINK
Tags: water management, sustainability, technology, water waste, building efficiency, environmental solutions, Shayp, Gregoire De Hemptinne, podcast, water conservation, Belgium,
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