Tips for Energy Saving by Reducing Water Consumption

Installing sub-meters to track hot and cold water separately in these operational areas makes it much easier to track exactly where water is being used the most. This detailed insight allows hotels to spot inefficiencies or leaks much faster than relying on a single main meter reading. It also helps teams prioritize improvements and maintenance efforts where they’ll have the biggest impact, leading not just to water savings, but to reduced energy use associated with heating, pumping, and treating that water. Over time, the data collected from sub-meters can inform smarter investment decisions and help create a culture of continuous improvement across hotel operations.

In addition to heating the water, energy is also used to pump, treat, and sometimes cool water throughout the building. Whether it’s moving water to higher floors or maintaining pressure in irrigation systems, these processes require energy. When less water is consumed, the demand on pumps and treatment systems is reduced, leading to further energy savings. 

Examples of equipment and procedures that help reduce energy from heating water:

• Cold-start taps and mixers: These taps default to cold water when set in the middle, meaning hot water is only used when consciously selected. Great for handwashing and brushing teeth where hot water often isn’t needed.

• Low-flow showerheads and taps: Using aerators or low-flow fixtures reduces the volume of water used without affecting the experience for the guest. Less water used means less hot water demand, directly cutting heating energy.
  

• Insulating hot water pipes: Wrapping hot water pipes in insulation reduces heat loss as water travels through the building, meaning the boiler or heater doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the right temperature.
  

• High-efficiency water heaters or boilers: Replacing old boilers with new, energy-efficient models (especially those with better temperature control and heat recovery systems) can significantly lower the energy needed to heat water.
  

• Heat recovery systems: Some systems can capture heat from wastewater (like from showers or laundries) and use it to pre-heat incoming cold water, reducing the overall energy required for heating.
  

• Smart controls and timers: Installing smart controls that limit when water heaters operate, for example, only during peak occupancy periods, can avoid unnecessary heating when it’s not needed.
  

• Solar water heating: Where space and conditions allow, solar thermal panels can pre-heat water using renewable energy, massively reducing reliance on gas or electric water heaters.
  

• Point-of-use water heaters: Installing smaller, localized heaters closer to where hot water is needed (e.g., staff rooms or individual sinks) can reduce heat loss from long pipe runs and limit the need to heat large volumes centrally.
  

• Automatic tap shut-offs: Sensor-activated taps in public bathrooms ensure water (and thus hot water) isn’t left running longer than necessary.
  

• Regular maintenance checks: Ensuring boilers, heaters, pumps, and valves are regularly serviced keeps them running efficiently and prevents energy wastage due to faults like leaking valves or limescale buildup in heating elements.