Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Developing a Wireless Device for Monitoring Water Usage for Hotel Showers
EPA Grant Number: SU835724Title: Developing a Wireless Device for Monitoring Water Usage for Hotel Showers
Investigators: Johannes, Tyler , Hawrylak, Peter , Cornell, Claire , Mongold, Kameron , Nichols, Will , DeCook, Ryan , Flint, LeRoy Albert , Lewis, Rocky , Li, Xiang , Redding, Victoria , Singh., Anshuman
Institution: University of Tulsa
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Phase: I
Project Period: August 15, 2014 through August 14, 2015
Project Amount: $15,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2014) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
Hotels consume a significant amount of water in the U.S. and around the world. Most hotels do not monitor individual guest water usage and as a result, millions of gallons of potable water are wasted every year by hotel guests. The objective of this work is to develop a novel low cost, accurate, small size, low power, wireless device (HydroSense) for monitoring water use from hotel guest room showers (Figure 1). HydroSense will be marketed to the hotel industry to reduce costs by promoting water conservation among hotel guests. The device is designed to fit most new and existing hotel shower fixtures and wirelessly transmits hotel guest water usage data. The proposed technology will help reduce potable water consumption for hotels and will promote an increased awareness of water conservation Figure 1. HydroSense device. practices among hotel guests. This project will also reduce energy use by decreasing the energy demand of hotel hot water heaters. The primary goals of Phase I were to build and test a working prototype and to conduct a preliminary market analysis. An interdisciplinary team composed of chemical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, and management and marketing students was formed in August 2014 to accomplish these goals.
Figure 1
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Development of a working prototype
A working prototype of the wireless shower device has been successfully assembled and operated. The device consists of a flow meter, a circuit board, and a WiFi component that allows the circuit board to connect to the internet. The prototype was used in several trials to measure the flow rate through a standard showerhead.
Calibration of the flow meter
An in-line flow meter was calibrated using a standard bucket and stopwatch approach. Our tests results confirmed that the flow meter operated within the manufacturer’s specifications.
Market assessment
A preliminary market assessment of HydroSense indicates that Hawaii and California would be good initial target markets. Both these states have large tourism industries, increasing demands on limited potable water resources, and an environmentally conscious social culture. For these two markets alone, an estimated 25 billion gallons of water per year is used by hotel guests.
Business elements with revenue and cost saving streams
HydroSense will enable hotels to realize cost savings by reducing water costs, energy costs (due to decreased demand on hot water heaters), and sewer costs. These cost savings, along with potential revenue streams for the hotel, make this project economically attractive for the hotel industry. Based on our estimates, the annual saving and revenue generated per hotel room is $59, the return on investment (ROI) is 47%, and the payback period is 8 months. The target selling price of HydroSense is $40.
HydroSense app prototype
A prototype app was developed to help hotel guests monitor their own water usage. This free app will allow users to monitor their water consumption through real time data. The app will also provide customers with information on how to conserve water on a day-to-day basis. The app will also generate revenue through advertisements. HydroSense plans to give the proceeds from these advertisements to participating hotels to increase the incentive for hotels to adopt the product.
Conclusions:
The team successfully assembled and operated a working prototype of the Wi-Fi enabled shower monitoring device. In addition, a preliminary market assessment for HydroSense, shows that the states of Hawaii and California are ideal targets for introducing the technology into the marketplace. Furthermore, an analysis of revenue and cost saving streams indicates that HydroSense would be economically attractive for the hotel industry and that the payback period for the device is less than a year. The primary goals for Phase I were therefore successfully completed. With these goals completed, the next phase of the project will focus on self-powering the device, reducing the cost and complexity of the device, and expanding the business plan.
Supplemental Keywords:
Water conservation, Urban water planning, Sustainable water managementP3 Phase II:
Developing a Wireless Device for Monitoring Water Usage for Hotel Showers | 2016 Progress Report | 2017 Progress Report | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.