Using Statistical Control Charts to Monitor Building Water Consumption: A Case Study on the Replacement of Toilets

Abstract

This manuscript proposes the usage of Statistical Control Charts (SCC) to monitor water consumption in buildings. The charts were employed to study the impact of replacing toilets, providing visual and statistical feedback to measure the efficiency gain resulting from the replacement of outdated flushing equipment with newer devices. The case study was conducted in a building from a university in the South of Brazil. The building has four restrooms, from which a total of 41,554 readings were collected during a 15-month period using digital water meters. After the toilets were replaced, a reduction averaging 30.22% in water consumption was observed (from 7.51 L/flush/day to 5.24 L/flush/day). Additionally, the control charts were able to pinpoint dates when unique events happened during the water-consumption monitoring process.

Mapeamento bibliográfico de referências sobre a conservação racional de água em edificações: estado da arte atual e lacunas de pesquisa sobre o tema

“…A substituição dos equipamentos preexistentes por equipamentos economizadores gera uma diminuição do uso de água potável significativa. [17] afirma que houve uma redução de 30,22% por dia ano uso da água em um edifício, considerando a substituição dos vasos sanitários apenas. [18] observou uma redução na energia do ciclo de vida além da redução do consumo de água, se tratando dos mesmos equipamentos economizadores.…”

Data-Driven Surveillance of Internet Usage Using a Polynomial Profile Monitoring Scheme

“…For instance, to count a few: monitoring of highway safety [22], calibration system [23] and chemical gas sensors [24] with a general linear model, plasma etch process in semiconductor manufacturing with nonlinear profiles [25], social networks and healthcare with a logistic model [26][27][28], engine procedure in the automotive industry with autocorrelated profiles [17] and customer satisfaction with a nonparametric approach [29]. Furthermore, it is noteworthy to mention that there are several practical applications of control charts for monitoring quality characteristics; see, for example, [30][31][32][33].…”