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August 2024
The Role of Smart Technologies in Water and Energy Conservation
Key Takeaways:
- Smart technologies like sensors and smart meters are used to track energy and water consumption and identify ways to conserve natural resources.
- Farmers, businesses, and utility providers can use this real-time data to improve their energy and water efficiency and reduce their environmental impact.
- Smart water technologies can be a cost-effective way to lower energy costs and reduce the strain on the water supply.
- Consumers can use smart water meters and other technologies at home to save money on energy bills and reduce their water use.
With climate change, water scarcity, and energy efficiency at the forefront of everyone’s minds, it’s natural to wonder what actions we can take to reduce our energy usage and conserve our water resources — both as individuals and as a society.
While technological solutions don’t provide a quick fix to the global energy crisis and water quality issues, these advancements can help us reduce our energy and water usage and build a more sustainable future.
Let’s look at the role of new technologies in water and energy conservation, and how you can use renewable energy and smart water management systems at home.
How Do Smart Technologies Lead to More Efficient Water and Energy Use?
Smart technologies lead to more efficient use of resources by monitoring energy and water consumption and providing real-time data so that businesses, individuals, and other stakeholders can make more informed decisions about their usage.
For example, if you have a smart thermostat, refrigerator, or washing machine with WiFi connectivity, then you may already have an idea of how these devices work. Internet of Things (IoT) devices can take the time of day, the cost of electricity, and other factors into account to optimize your water and energy usage.
The National Association of Realtors explains how this kind of smart home tech leads to water and energy savings by taking your daily habits into account to allocate resources more effectively. The most advanced solutions use artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to facilitate water conservation and resource optimization.
At a larger scale, utility companies can use smart technologies to monitor their energy and water distribution networks and build more sustainable infrastructure.
What Smart Technologies Are Currently Being Used to Conserve Water and Energy?
Smart technologies in water and energy conservation tend to fall into three categories: sensors, software, and appliances or infrastructure. For example, smart water meters can track water use, while software is used to process and analyze this data so that smart appliances can adjust their usage based on real-time information.
Here are just a few examples of smart technologies at work:
Smart Meters
Smart meters are electronic devices that track your energy consumption: usually water, electricity, or gas. Often, these look just like a regular energy meter, but they have WiFi connectivity and can send usage information back to your utility company, who can use this data to provide more accurate billing or personalized usage recommendations.
Your energy company may have already installed a smart meter at your home; if not, you may be able to request one from your energy provider.
On the other hand, if you want to track the energy usage of a particular appliance, you may be in the market for a smart plug instead. Simply plug these into a wall outlet and see how much electricity a specific device is using. You can even use a smart plug to control your devices remotely and turn them off when you’re not at home.
Smart Appliances
Smart appliances go one step further than smart meters by using real-time information to optimize their energy usage. For example, a smart washing machine with automatic load-sensing can adjust the amount of water it uses based on the size of the load.
A smart refrigerator can adjust its temperature, let you know when you need to replace the water filter, and even run self-diagnostics if something goes wrong.
Meanwhile, a smart thermostat controls your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, adjusting for temperature, humidity, and other variables. It may even account for occupancy levels to avoid wasting energy when no one’s at home.
Irrigation Systems
According to the United Nations (UN), “Agriculture is the largest consumer of the world’s freshwater resources,” using more water than municipal water systems combined. But without access to real-time information, irrigation is often a guessing game, leading to evaporation in arid regions and over-watering when rain is on the way.
On-demand irrigation systems can take the weather and environmental conditions into account to avoid excess watering and unnecessary water loss. They can turn on when the soil moisture falls below a certain level, or turn off when they detect rain.
Water management technologies aren’t just for large-scale farmers: if you have a lawn or garden, you can use smart sprinkler controllers to optimize your irrigation schedule, or use a smart sensor for leak detection anywhere in your house.
Smart Grids
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the term smart grid refers to an “electricity network that uses … advanced technologies to monitor and manage the transport of electricity … to meet the varying electricity demands of end users.”
Traditional electricity grids are prone to overloads and blackouts when the electricity supply is too high or too low to meet demand. A smart grid can adjust for demand in real-time, and uses two-way transmission to draw energy from solar panels, wind turbines, and other renewable energy sources.
Connecting to a smart grid allows consumers to sell back electricity from their own solar panels, while microgrids allow communities to disconnect from the main grid and keep the power on even when the electricity network experiences a blackout.
What Are Some Examples of Smart Technologies in Water and Energy Conservation?
New technologies have a key role to play in water security and sustainable development around the world. But what are some examples of smart technologies at use in the real world? Here are three different case studies of smart technology in action:
Singapore
As one of the world’s major smart cities, Singapore is leading the way when it comes to environmental sustainability and urban water resource management. Not only does the Public Utilities Board treat wastewater so it’s safe for reuse, it uses a fleet of drones to monitor its reservoirs and identify issues like turbidity and algal blooms.
Australia
Australia’s arid ecosystem means water is a “highly variable resource,” according to the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). Policymakers spent over $1.5 billion on water infrastructure projects intended to ensure a consistent water supply, including support for the Smart Approved WaterMark Scheme, which certifies water-efficient products.
A separate project at the University of Melbourne proposed a “smart water grid” that would allow individual consumers to harvest stormwater and sell it back to the grid, similar to how homeowners can sell back excess solar power.
California
California’s recurring state of drought means that water use restrictions are a common occurrence — and drought shaming, or calling out neighbors for excessive water use, even has its own hashtag. The city of Fresno went a step further and started sending out automated water use violations based on smart meter readings.
According to the University of Chicago, the program led to a “significant reduction in outdoor water usage of 2.9%, or 17 gallons per household per day.” (However, the study’s authors note that the “political backlash” led to a “fine moratorium”.)
What Are Some Challenges in the Adoption of Smart Technologies for Energy and Water Conservation?
From smart electric grids to smart irrigation, these new technologies present plenty of opportunities for energy and water utility companies to become more efficient. But as with any new technology, some challenges remain. Here are just a few of them:
Cost
Installing new smart technologies and water infrastructure isn't cheap. When the Seattle City Council decided to roll out smart meters citywide, it budgeted $84 million, and went $17.4 million over budget. Governments, utility companies, and consumers will need to share the cost of adopting smart water technologies to fully reap the benefits.
The good news is that, like solar panels and heat pumps, they pay off in the long run, but the up-front cost can be a hurdle for many businesses and homeowners.
Technical Hurdles
Most smart devices aren’t self-contained: They require WiFi connectivity and advanced software to process the data they collect. That means they need reliable access to the Internet, even if they’re used in remote locations or on farms. They may also require technical expertise that consumers may not already have.
When it comes to smart irrigation systems, the USDA explains how Dr. Sandra Guzmán helps farmers “get past the new-tech jitters and explain how machine learning can be a powerful addition to irrigation practices that producers have become familiar with.”
Consumer Behavior
As evidenced by the experiment in Fresno, energy consumers may be reluctant to use smart meters if they’re seen as an infringement on their autonomy. Policymakers need to be aware of these privacy concerns and make an effort to publicize the benefits of smart meters, such as lower costs and reduced water usage or emissions.
Some consumers have also raised concerns about the RF radiation produced by smart meters, although Cancer.org claims that it is “very unlikely that living in a house with a smart meter increases risk of cancer” because the amount of exposure is small.
How Can Governments, Industries, and Communities Collaborate on Energy and Water Conservation?
Smart technologies in water and energy conservation range from smart energy meters that consumers can use at home to large-scale smart irrigation systems. Governments and industries have a role to play in the adoption of smart technologies, but individual homeowners and local communities can play their part too.
Anyone can install a home water filter or a smart water meter, and use a smart sprinkler or irrigation system for their backyard. Communities can invest in a microgrid or energy storage system to serve as a backup in the event of a power outage.
By reducing our water usage and increasing our energy efficiency, we can work toward our shared goals of smart water management and environmental stability.
Learn more about water conservation and water restoration projects to see how you can play your part.
