HydroSense: A self-powered wireless device for monitoring water usage in hotel showers

Global water consumption is increasing as the world's population grows. Hotels significantly contribute to increased water consumption in the U.S. and around the world. Most hotels do not monitor individual guest water usage, resulting in millions of gallons of potable water wasted every year by hotel guests. This paper presents HydroSense, a novel low cost, accurate, small size, low power, wireless device for monitoring water use from hotel room showers. HydroSense is targeted for the hotel industry to reduce costs by promoting water conservation among hotel guests. HydroSense fits most new and existing hotel shower fixtures and wirelessly transmits hotel guest water usage data simplifying infrastructure requirements. The proposed technology will promote an increased awareness of water conservation practices among hotel guests thereby helping to reduce potable water consumption for hotels. HydroSense will also reduce energy use by decreasing the energy demand of hotel hot water heaters. In this paper, the design of HydroSense is presented along with a preliminary market analysis, estimates on the water and energy savings resulting from installation, and projections for return-on-investment by a hotel. Additional applications of HydroSense for conserving water and improving water usage outside of the hospitality industry are presented.