Industry News

WINT Water Intelligence, a leader in cutting-edge water management, leak detection and water damage mitigation solutions, challenges stakeholders and governmental institutions to prioritize the management of water in real estate and address some of the most unnoticed sources of water waste.

Commercial buildings and institutional facilities consume 17% of the public freshwater supply in the United States and are also significant sources of waste. Up to 25% of that water is ultimately wasted due to the lack of proper monitoring and management of water.

A strategic approach to water management using artificial intelligence (AI), signal processing technology and deep data insights can help organizations reduce waste, cut costs, mitigate risk and meet sustainability goals.

WINT joins the concerns of experts gathering in Sweden Aug. 25–29 for World Water Week, an international conference on global water use, where trailblazers from all over the world share new ideas, learn from each other and collaborate on innovative solutions.

“Water is an essential resource, but we don’t have an unlimited supply,” said Yaron Dycian, chief product and strategy officer for WINT. “The global water system is under increasing stress. Water cooperation is the key to long-term water security and ensuring everyone has access to adequate supplies of clean, safe water. At WINT, we’re committed to working with thought leaders and decision-makers to develop and implement innovative strategies and technological solutions for the world’s water supply.”

According to the United Nations World Water Development Report, droughts affect more than 1.4 billion people. As of 2022, roughly half of the world’s population experienced severe water scarcity for at least part of the year, while one quarter faced ‘extremely high’ levels of water stress, using over 80% of their annual renewable freshwater supply.

Inefficient management of water supplies in the built environment contributes significantly to water stress and raises organizations’ carbon footprint. According to “The Carbon Impact of Water” report:

• On average, every cubic meter of water consumed generates 23 pounds of carbon emissions.
• Just one leaky toilet wastes more than 1 million gallons of water and generates 46 tons of carbon emissions in a year – as much as a typical passenger car.

“To ensure ESG policies and water sustainability are widely addressed, some oversight and regulation can be useful,” Dycian said. “It can help create clarity and ensure the right goals are put in place. Yet as with any government intervention, we strongly urge a minimalistic approach that will help guide the market while not creating overbearing requirements that can stifle innovation.”

WINT is partnering with organizations around the world to advance proactive water management technology throughout buildings’ lifecycles and helps its customers reduce water consumption by an average of 20%-25%. Last year WINT saved in total 652 million gallons of water for over 400 leading global enterprises which would have resulted in the release of 22,000 metric tons of carbon emissions. WINT’s AI-powered technology can:

• Monitor water flows to identify leaks and inefficiencies.
• Enable automatic and remote shut-off of water supply at the source of the leak to prevent water damage.
• Provide complete visibility to water usage across all water systems within the building.
• Detect sources of water waste and eliminate them.
• Accurately measure water consumption in real-time.
• Present detailed reports and dashboards that provide deep analytics on water and carbon footprint.

WINT equips contractors, developers and property management teams with holistic solution for managing water throughout the lifecycle of a building, from construction to operation. It is used globally by customers including Suffolk Construction, HP, PepsiCo, the Empire State Building, as well as many other leading enterprises, general contractors (GCs) and facility owners.

The WINT enterprise-grade water management platform includes portfolio-wide water monitoring and analysis for operation in large and mid-sized facilities. Green buildings who deploy WINT can add multiple credits to their overall LEED, BREEAM or NABERS sustainability score to increase their overall ranking towards certification.

The group’s president to speak to students and apprentices who attend the event’s student summit

Women in HVACR (WHVACR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration trades, announced today that it is a sponsor of the 2024 ServiceTitan Elite Trades Championship Series (ETCS) to be held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 11–13.

“This competition is like the Olympics for HVAC employees in that it showcases the very best HVAC technicians and apprentices from across the country who will compete at an elite level,” said Women in HVACR Executive Director Amy O’Grady. “Women in HVACR is thrilled to sponsor such an exciting event that celebrates the skills that hardworking men and women of the trades have to perform every day to make sure we stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.”

The ServiceTitan ETCS series is a competition of elite professionals and apprentices in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry who will showcase their skills in a custom-built arena. The program was built to celebrate the incredible range of skills tradesmen and women perform daily to install, maintain and repair America’s HVAC systems.

In addition to the competition, Women in HVACR president, Lori Tschohl, has been selected as a featured speaker at the ETCS Student & Apprentice Summit held alongside the championship competition. The summit welcomes hundreds of students who are studying or apprenticed to become skilled trades workers and allows them to experience some light hands-on activities to gain a deeper understanding of the trade, explore potential career paths and connect with industry professionals.

At the summit, Tschohl will give a 10-minute presentation and then answer student questions.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Women in HVACR to speak to the next generation of women about the advantages they have if they choose a career in the skilled trades,” said Tschohl, owner of Eagle Pipe & Mechanical, a leading HVAC contractor in Poulsbo, WA. “We’re excited about our role at the event and the student summit. We look forward to both the competition and to talking with students entering the HVAC industry.”

For more information about Women in HVACR, visit www.womeninhvacr.org.

Watts has announced the recipients of its inaugural Backflow Hero Award. Recipients were selected by the Watts backflow leadership team from nominations from the Watts sales organization and rep network.

The Backflow Hero Award recognizes those who have made a significant impact in the field of backflow prevention and individuals that embody the following qualities:

• Passion for Protecting Drinking Water: Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to safeguarding drinking water from the dangers of backflow.
• Innovative and Creative Thinking: Generates fresh, inventive ideas around backflow prevention.
• Commitment to Education: Actively seeks and provides continuing education about the importance and methods of backflow prevention.
• Enforcement of Best Practices: Upholds and promotes the highest standards and best practices in backflow prevention.

The 2024 Backflow Hero Award recipients are:

Dave Watson – Dave Watson Associates

Dave began working in the cross-connection control field in the 1970s, traveling from town to town to explain the need for CCC programs as the codes were being developed. Dave is dedicated to finding the best products to protect systems while managing the impact on customers. Over the years, he has recommended vacuum breaker designs, offered constructive improvement ideas, and produced backflow preventer repair videos.

Dave teaches at all Michigan Plumbing & Mechanical Contractor’s Association (MPMCA) cross connection testing classes. He also presents to inspector groups such as PIAM, Tri-County, and SEMPIA. In his early years, he trained pipe fitters at GM, Ford, and Chrysler. He constantly interacts with local code authorities, addressing product listings and installation issues, and speaks directly with customers to gather feedback.

Jim Purzycki – Backflow Apparatus and Valve Company (BAVCO)

Jim is a highly experienced expert in backflow prevention and cross-connection control, with over 40 years of dedication to the field. Water agency personnel frequently seek his advice, and many of his innovative ideas have influenced backflow products available today. Jim is deeply committed to education, having served as an instructor and moderator at numerous backflow and water conferences nationwide. He remains an active mentor, teaching others about backflow prevention.

Jim is heavily involved with the American Backflow Prevention Association (ABPA) at both national and local levels. He collaborates closely with manufacturers and approval bodies like the University of Southern California Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research (USCFCCCHR). He has developed a comprehensive catalog of spec sheets, models, and parts for various assemblies and maintains a website with training videos on backflow assembly repair, installation, and maintenance. His three warehouse locations cover the entire U.S., reflecting his lifelong commitment to backflow prevention across all brands.

To learn more, visit watts.com/our-story/backflow-hero-award.

70% Have Experienced Bad Restroom Conditions

It’s back to school time and this year a survey got the deets about teens’ handwashing habits, restroom evaluations and whether or not they stay home from school when they’re sick. The Healthy Handwashing Survey™, conducted by Bradley Company, connected with 1,012 high schoolers ages 14 to 18 to gather their insights and opinions.

Handwashing & Health

First, the survey found teens are educated about the benefits of handwashing since 97% believe sudsing up with soap and water is an important action for maintaining their overall health. Despite that, nearly two-thirds admit on occasion they’ve cheated by skipping the soap and simply rinsing with water. In addition, one-third say they frequently see others leave the school restroom without washing up at all.

When it comes to removing the most germs from their hands, students have also learned that handwashing with soap aces hand sanitizer. 72% correctly believe their hands are less germy when they lather up with soap and water than after using sanitizer.

In general, students are conscientious about staying healthy. 74% take steps to avoid a sick classmate by eliminating physical contact and staying away from them. In the bathroom, students circumnavigate germs by operating the toilet flusher with their foot and using a paper towel to mitigate contact with doorknobs and faucets.

Restroom Complaints

Unfortunately, the survey revealed that most students use their school restrooms sparingly. 64% say they visit the facilities just once or twice a day. When asked why they avoid the facility, about 40% cited the fact that it’s usually dirty or smells bad.

70% report they’ve actually had a particularly unpleasant experience due to the condition of the facilities. Besides unpleasant smells, too many people in the restroom, clogged/unflushed toilets and stall doors that don’t latch closed cause the most negative feelings about school restrooms.

When they encounter a bad bathroom situation, 57% simply leave without using the restroom and nearly half say they steer clear of using that restroom in the future.

Teens also take issue with their peers’ negligence in restrooms. They’re particularly bothered by reckless behavior that causes damage to the facility (57%) and used paper towels left on the floor or in the sink area (53%) that makes the space look unkempt.

Overall, 48% of high schoolers say their school restrooms are average, which equates to a C grade, and 26% feel the conditions are poor, meaning the facilities got a D.

Restroom Recos

When asked how their school bathrooms could be improved, 56% responded that they would like them to be cleaner and stocked more frequently. More privacy with taller doors and no gaps between panels is another top request, along with more deodorizing or air freshener.

“Unfortunately, poor restroom conditions lead teens to think less of their school and cause them to believe it’s poorly run,” said Jon Dommisse, vice president of marketing and corporate communication for Bradley. “Our research shows that restroom conditions speak volumes about public establishments, including schools, so restroom cleanliness and maintenance is a must.”

Even when they are away from school, teens use restrooms as a barometer. Two-thirds say they have made a conscious decision to choose a business, such as a restaurant, store or gas station, because they know it has well-maintained restrooms.

Sickness Drives School Misses

While it’s an age-old joke, the survey found that the majority of teenagers do miss school when they’re sick. Three out of four say they stay home when they’re ill and the call is typically theirs to make – as opposed to their parents. However, for one out of five, the decision is influenced by whether or not they have tests to take or projects to complete.

The annual Healthy Handwashing Survey from Bradley queried 1,012 high school students Jan. 4-17, 2024, about their handwashing habits, school restrooms and germ avoidance. Teens were from around the country and were fairly evenly split between male and female.

For more information, visit www.bradleycorp.com/handwashing.