Reusing and repurposing the limited freshwater resources we have will become increasingly important due to rising demand and climate change. Capturing air conditioning condensate is one solution to increase water reuse in buildings and reduce overall water usage. This solution is already in motion, with Microsoft’s Herzliya office’s in Israel already saving 3 million litres per year from their air conditioning units and using it to irrigate the campus and cool the building.
To find out more about this water reuse solution, we spoke with Green H2O Founder and CEO, Carey Kelley.
Tell us about your company:
GREEN H2O INC looks to prevent the depletion of our aquifers by replacing the use of potable water in building systems with air conditioning condensate. Billions of gallons of clean condensate are produced each year but most of it is being wasted.
We have also created GreenH2O Rewards which has partnered with over 30,000+ stores to donate to water-related charities when you shop online. It also automatically applies the best discount code so you can save money and save water.
Why is water scarcity such a global concern?
Many places across the globe are in danger of running out of water. Water-intensive industries extract directly from aquifers, undermining water security.
As reported in the documentary “H2O the Molecule that Made Us”, in the South Western United States, the ground is sinking at a rate 1 inch very few years because water is getting drawn from aquifers faster than it can be replenished.
We need to reduce uptake from aquifers and reuse the water we already have.
What impact do you think climate change has on water security?
Water is now traded as a commodity on the open market due to depletion and extreme droughts, in part due to climate change. Just look at Lake mead which is at its lowest level in history.
There are instances where water rights and the ability to use water from rivers in the west are being restricted. Many farmers are even being forced to fallow their land due to lack of water.
If you could change one thing about the way we use water currently, what would it be?
I would implement a nationwide/global water recycling program to collect and repurpose all the air conditioning condensate from every air conditioner in residential, commercial, manufacturing and industrial buildings.
Using the same model as waste management, where we collect the water and replace non-potable water use with this wasted by-product. Also a typical home has other sources of wasted water, including: dehumidifier, furnace humidifier, water system back wash and swimming pools, all of which could be collected and reused within the building or collected and repurposed.
How does your organisation help mitigate the problem?
We are looking to start collecting and repurposing condensate within the building systems of new and existing developments to replace the use of water from our natural resources with a source that is wasted.
What is your vision for the future of water?
We look to implement a nationwide/global water recycling program and implementing closed loop water system within buildings and developments.
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