Know Your Usage
Submitted by: J Michael Kilpatrick
Description: a water monitoring device that tracks an individual’s own use
Designer’s Statement:
“Sometimes, to conserve water, one just needs to know how much they use. Immediate information allows them to make more concise judgment of their water usage and encourages them to Just Turn It Off. This proposed system allows individuals to know their water consumption as they use it. It is composed of a key pad connected to electric water valves at every water faucet. These components are tied into a computer with a program that records the hot and cold water used.
The Way it Works
1) Each user has an assigned number and they key in their number whenever the need to turn on the water.
2) The user keys in their number triggering the water valves to open and count the flow of water. Individual valves occur at the hot and cold pipes with the idea that hot waters requires more energy thus encouraging less use of hot water.
3) The amount of water displays at the key pad in real time.
4) Upon turning off the water, the user hits enter, the valves close, and the computer program records the information.
5) From the computer program, one makes reports comparing and contrasting the water consumption of each individual.
If this is not enough to curb water consumption, the computer program can assigned daily, weekly, monthly, or etc. limits to each individual. Upon reaching that limit, the valves will no longer will open and the use will need to lead his case to get more water. This method might suit a big household, dorm, fraternity / sorority, or the like.”