19 September 2016
The earth is certainly a very watery place. Water is our largest natural resource and, especially in Scotland, you would think that we had plenty of it. Yet, only 3 per cent of the world’s water supply is fresh, and of this only a third is usable.
As the Earth’s population increases so too does the pressure on the water supply. Combined with the effects of Global Warming, ensuring our water usage is sustainable has never been more important. That is why sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at Anglian Water Business, all day, every day.
Effective water management begins with first understanding where and how it is used across an organisation. Our goal is to understand how each organisation uses water, and find ways to help reduce their consumption, saving them money in the process.
We do this through our Active Water Management® service which takes the hassle out of monitoring our customers water consumption, ensuring customers only use what they really need to. Through a variety of techniques we analyse water use and alert our customers to any opportunities that can reduce their consumption levels which will save money, time and contribute towards sustainability targets.
For example, we can install smart meters that will constantly monitor consumption, allowing easier diagnosis of excessive water consumption. Essentially we will do what the customer doesn’t have time to do. We will review consumption data, automatically produce High Consumption Alert reports and will notify customers of any irregular consumption which may be indicating inefficient practices, faulty equipment or leaks.
Checking for leaks and insulating pipes are an essential and simple part of reducing water consumption, as well as buying water-efficient equipment and knowing where your stop tap is located. By saving water we also save energy, reducing the amount that, for example, requires to be heated.
By encouraging businesses to adopt these measures we are able to reduce carbon footprint through reducing water consumption in turn, passing back large savings to our business customers.
Water is vital to the success and long-term future of our planet and it is great to be able to recognise the strong contribution and variety of efforts to support the environment of this year’s shortlisted businesses.
The VIBES Awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the efforts of businesses in Scotland to act in a responsible way with the environment and I’m sure will inspire others to treat the environment with care and respect, and encourage the adoption of sustainable practices, not just in water usage, but across all business activities.