Dive Brief:
- Budderfly has added water conservation technologies to its energy savings solutions for small- and medium-sized businesses through a “strategic acquisition,” the company announced earlier this month.
- The new water conservation capabilities are a result of Budderfly’s acquisition of AcquaFlow, whose laminar flow control valve improves water meter accuracy, Budderfly founder and CEO Al Subbloie said in an email. Budderfly bought AcquaFlow last September, a company spokesperson said.
- The addition of water conservation technologies to its suite of energy efficiency solutions is expected to help users reduce on-site water usage by 20% to 30%, according to a June 13 news release. Budderfly plans to deploy its water conservation technologies at more than 200 new and existing customer sites across the U.S., with further expansions slated through the end of 2024, the company said.
Dive Insight:
Budderfly’s water conservation technologies now include low-flow fixtures, intelligent leak detection systems and AcquaFlow’s flow control valves, the company said. These flow valves “lower customers’ water and sewer costs by compressing air volume in municipal water lines and reducing vibration at the meter,” the company said in the release.
The valves are “installed downstream from the [utility] water meter on the property side of the water line” and improve the meter’s accuracy without altering its mechanical function, Subbloie said.
“This first batch of installations targets high-volume water users motivated to limit their environmental impact and reduce operating costs,” he added.
Building owners and operators in Budderfly’s focus industries, which include casual dining, quick-service restaurants, hospitality, fitness and health facilities, community centers and education facilities, where consumption is high and waste is prevalent, often overpay for water and sewer services by up to 30% due to inaccurate meter readings, the company said.
“Water conservation, like energy consumption reduction, is an essential part of sustainable business operations, and our water solution is now a standard add-on to our preexisting technology stack,” Subbloie noted.
In April, Budderfly announced that it is deploying its water conservation systems as part of a suite of efficiency upgrades at Genghis Grill restaurant locations through an agreement with restaurant platform company Craveworthy Brands.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that water and wastewater systems contribute 2% to total U.S. energy consumption, while energy accounts for as much as 40% of operating costs for drinking water systems.
“By reducing the amount of water [that needs] to be pumped and the amount of waste that needs to be treated, we can significantly reduce the amount of energy consumed by water and wastewater systems,” he said. “Our water-conservation technologies also reduce on-site energy demand for water heating, as every gallon of hot water [that is] not consumed does not need to be heated.”
In addition to water conservation technologies, Budderfly’s energy-as-a-service model provides customers with energy-saving technologies such as new HVAC systems, LED lighting, refrigeration equipment, sensors and controls, smart panels and solar at no upfront cost, the company said.
Clarification: This story was updated to clarify the scope of Budderfly's efficiency upgrades at Genghis Grill restaurant locations.
