Experiments in Water Conservation

This time last year, we were just beginning our work with the Facilities Green Team through the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies.

Over the course of their 10-week internship, our Green Team researched methods by which the University can save water on campus, how that translates to dollars saved, and how to communicate the importance of water conservation to resident students.

To study water use reduction in residential buildings, they developed and followed standard operating procedures to conduct experiments at randomly sampled plumbing fixtures in eight of Montclair State’s residence halls. The team collected data and performed analyses to determine that by using more efficient faucet aerators and showerheads, the University could save over $300,000 and more than 39 million gallons of water over a period of five years. In addition to the analyses, they developed graphics and informational materials to be shared with resident students to increase their awareness of water conservation and, hopefully, encourage them to use less water.

Before they moved on, the team gave Facilities some homework. They designed an experiment to test which method is most effective for saving water in the residence halls: fixture replacements, resident education, or a combination of fixture replacements and resident education.

Everything is in place for this experiment to run. If it weren’t for the pandemic, we’d be collecting data from this right now. As it stands, we plan to collect data when residents return to campus and will share the results of the experiment in 2021. We won’t ruin the fun and tell you which buildings we’re watching. Stay tuned!