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New study verifies that submetering results in water conservation

PRESS
November 30, 2004
Wellspring and Ember Team to Create Industry's First ZigBee-Based Water Submeter

Press Release | In The News

Making Sense of Submetering: Building Types and Options

San Diego, CA (July 11, 2002) — Researching the pros and cons of submetering systems to use on your existing building is overwhelming. After all, submetering solutions are based upon what type of building you own, and how it’s plumbed. For example, existing high-rise buildings can only use wireless submeters, while garden-style complexes can use about any kind of submeter.

To help owners and property manages better decide which submetering route to take, we’ve devised the following chart, which will shed some light on the issue. The chart revolves around the four different types of plumbing systems found in existing buildings.

Plumbing Type Typical Buildings Submetering Solutions Advantage/ Disadvantage Meter/Wireless
Meter Manufactures
Shared verticle hot and cold pipes with central boiler High-rise Point-of-use metering on each hot and cold entry point. Can be wired or wireless. Advantage: Current point-of-use meters measure energy in hot water for higher billing. Ratio Utility Allocation Billing is the only other solution. Disadvantage: Initial Cost Wellspring Wireless Utility Services
Shared cold pipes with individual unit hot water heaters Multi-story and garden style Solution 1: Meter on heater measures hot water use, cold water allocated based on hot water use Advantage: More equitable than Ratio Utility Billing Allocation, higher cost recovery ABB, Badger, Invensys, Master Meter, Precision, Sensus, Schlumberger/Neptune, Techem, Viterra, Wellspring Wireless Utility Services
Solution 2: Meter on heater measures hot water use, cold water measured at point-of-use Advantage: More equitable than allocating cold water, protection from allocation controversy Wellspring Wireless Utility Services
Single cold water entry with individual unit hot water heaters Single story and some newer multi-story 1 Branch meter Advantage: Best construction for ease of metering and cost recovery of both water and hot water energy ABB, Badger, Invensys, Master Meter, Precision, Sensus, Schlumberger/Neptune, Techem, Viterra, Wellspring Wireless Utility Services
Single entries for hot and cold with central boiler Single story and some newer multi-story 2 Branch meters – option to allocate hot water energy Advantage: Most practical solution, cheaper than point-of-use ABB, Badger, Invensys, Master Meter, Precision, Sensus, Schlumberger/Neptune, Techem, Viterra, Wellspring Wireless Utility Services

About Wellspring
Wellspring is the world’s most complete water and energy sub-utility offering metering systems—as well as reading, billing and collecting services—for all building types. Wellspring is based in San Diego, California and Bristol, Pennsylvania. For more information, call 858-824-0900 or visit www.wellspringacquisition.com.

For more information, contact:
Wade Smith, CEO, (858) 824-0900
wsmith@wellspringwireless.com