Enterprises face with constraints in water saving

The findings from a survey in 300 hotels, buildings in the souther region, conducted by HCM city Center of Energy Conservation show that the top energy consuming factor is the air-conditioning system (65%), followed by hot water system, accounting for over 15% of the total energy consumption.

Generally, most of the hotels are using gas or oil fueled boiler, or electric water heaters with low performance, thus energy proportion for heating the water becomes higher.

"Regarding energy saving potential in buildings and hotels, people often think of the big system using electricity or oil such as cooling systems, lighting, boiler, whereas water supply system is also considerable in ​​energy consumption. Therefore, as our audit results show the potential for huge savings from this system, the attending businesses are taken aback" said Mr. Kim Tuoc.

As calculated, if a hotel replaces its old shower system, consuming 10 liters/minute, with new technologies shower heads, with application of mixing the small air bubbles (air induction technology) into the water to make users still fully enjoy its drenching water power, it will help save up to 35% of used water.

Non-Capital Investment in Energy-saving Technology

As it is reported, in 2012, EEC HCMC officially put the ESCO project into operation, providing comprehensive energy solutions, including designs and implementation of energy savings projects, energy conservation, and leasing energy infrastructure to contribute to energy efficiency in enterprises. The model has been applied across the world, especially in industrialized countries.

Accordingly, the enterprise does not have to spend money on installation or replacement of energy-saving appliances in the building. ESCO could make an advanced investment for entire cost of the project and will recover the capital and profits later based on the sharing of the benefits from energy efficiency project after a certain time, and the shares are prior negotiated with agreement by the two parties.

By that time, ESCO will make full investment in new air conditioning system and new light systems for businesses. In return, ESCO will acquire part from a total of VND30 million from savings, depending on the agreement between the two parties until the entire initial investment cost recovery.

Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Dai, chief engineer at the Legend Saigon Hotel, one of the first hotels in HCM City joining ESCO project reveals that the replacement of old shower taps with a new technology system of water-saving shower taps could reduce 180 liters of diesel oil per day and 4500 liters of water/ month.

"After conducting the audit, we realize that the replacement of water-saving shower taps is one of the most feasible and effective solutions. With the savings level as it is today, it is expected that within 5-7 years, we could recover the investment".

By Trong Tan