How To Improve The NABERS Water Rating of Your Building?
In the current scenario, potable water has become a precious commodity. Water shortage issues are arising at an alarming rate.
Surprisingly, buildings’ regular operations and activities use almost 20% of the world’s available drinking water. Therefore, it has become increasingly important for buildings to measure their water usage rate and reduce their ecological impact.
NABERS water rating is one such tool that helps building owners and managers measure the amount of water used while operating a building. With these data insights, they can take necessary steps to optimise their water consumption and implement ways to save fresh water.
In today’s blog, we are going to discuss NABERS’ water rating in detail and which commercial building can utilise this rating to optimise their water usage.
What is NABERS Water Rating?
Just like NABERS energy rating is concerned with energy-efficiency, NABERS water rating deals with the water-efficiency of a building.
It measure the amount of water consumed and recycled within a commercial building. A NABERS Water rating represents an independent rating system. It is based on real water data.
You can use a NABERS water rating to:
- Measure and understand your building’s water efficiency and possibility for cost reductions.
- Monitor the progress and show the results of modifications.
- Express your dedication to water efficiency by effectively communicating your performance.
NABERS water rating is available for the following commercial developments:
- Office buildings
- Apartment buildings
- Hotels
- Shopping centres
- Schools
- Hospitals (public)
- Retirement living
- Residential aged care centres
NABERS rating for commercial buildings is similar to water-efficiency section in the BASIX certificate. However, BASIX is only applicable for residential structures.
Why is Water Efficiency Important in Commercial Buildings?
Here are the few benefits of conserving potable water:
Water Conservation is Cost Efficient
As a building manager are owner he will want to save as much operational costs as possible. And water conservation helps you do that.
Estimations show that water savings can vary between 15 to 50% and the return on investment is predicted to be 4 years or fewer.
Benefits of NABERS water rating depend on the type of commercial building. However, water efficient buildings will always have a higher market value.
Water-efficient buildings are good for the environment.
As we have already mentioned earlier, potable water is a finite resource. And water scarcity is becoming a critical issue.
Therefore, water conservation has become an important element of sustainable building initiatives. Water efficiency aims to reduce the impact of commercial buildings on local environment.
When water efficiency is given priority, local government can better manage climatic conditions such as drought.
How is NABERS Water Rating Calculated?
Using the NABERS water tool you can measure the water consumption of the building on a scale of one to six stars. If you are building gets a one star rating that means you have minimal water efficiency measures with in your building and there is significant room for improvement.
Six stars, on the other hand, represent a market leading performance, highlighting the best water efficiency measures. NABERS water rating reflects the performance of your building in comparison to the rest of the similar buildings.
To ensure a practical rating system, the figures are adjusted for various factors. These include:
- Building area
- Hours or duration of building operation (for example, schools and shopping malls will have different operational duration)
- Climate zone
The NABERS water rating system doesn’t consider the following:
- Use of recycled water from both internal and external sources or
- Water obtained from on-site sources like rainwater tanks.
However, the overall quantity of recycled water from external sources is considered in the evaluation process but does not directly impact the star rating.
Instead, it is utilised to assist the building owner in understanding the complete water usage of the building.
Need a more detailed understanding of the NABERS water and energy rating for your building? Consult a building professional. Apart from the NABERS rating, building professionals can also help you obtain a BASIX certificate for your residential development.
How To Improve NABERS Water Rating?
Develop a water management strategy.
Once you’ve calculated a benchmark figure, set a target NABERS water rating goal. Consult building professionals to create realistic plans to achieve the target.
Manage leaks
Leaks can lead to 30% of a commercial building’s water wastage. Therefore, during maintenance checks look out for any leaks and take steps to manage them efficiency.
Improve the efficiency of cooling towers.
Cooling towers consume both water and energy. In fact, during peak hours, cooling towers can contribute to 40% of the building’s water consumption. Conducting regular maintenance checks. Introduce design elements to improve thermal efficiency. This will indirectly help improve water efficiency.
Leverage smart irrigation systems.
Conventional irrigation methods contributes to water wastage through excessive watering or ineffective timing. Smart irrigation systems use weather information and moisture sensors to figure out the exact amount of water needed for the landscape. This prevents excess watering.
Wrapping Up
Water efficiency in commercial buildings is important for sustainability and cost savings. To calculate the NABERS rating of your commercial building, hire building consultants. They can help you measure your building efficiency and identify opportunities for improvement. Their expertise helps to reduce the time and complexity of the calculation process.
