Case Study: UMB Allied Health Research Building
- Jun 23
- 2 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
University of Maryland, Baltimore, Allied Health Research Building
Baltimore, MD
CHALLENGE
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) campus covers 71 acres in downtown Baltimore and includes 58 buildings. Like most educational institutions, UMB has significant energy demands that impact operational expenses and environmental sustainability.
Utility providers measure water usage by both water and air volumes, which can lead to higher costs. The Allied Health Research Building was consuming over 7,500 gallons of water daily. To address this, the facilities manager explored innovative strategies to reduce water use and conserve energy while maintaining system efficiency.
SOLUTION
The Boland Water Technologies team installed an AF water-savings valve, powered by CMP Solutions, in the existing waterline after the meter. The device compresses air and gas before they pass through the water meter, reducing water usage. By creating a compression zone that does not interfere with the building system's pressure, the device forces the meter to register a more accurate reading of true water consumption.
Because the valves are constructed from medical-grade stainless steel, which is highly corrosion-resistant, no maintenance is needed. The installation took the team less than two hours.
RESULTS
After three months of monitoring water consumption bills following installation, the facilities team observed consistent water savings. They tracked the following results:
Daily Savings of 2,160 gallons of water a day
28% reduction in water consumption
Estimated monthly savings of $1,580
The savings in the Allied Health Research Building were driven primarily by reduced sewer consumption charges. Utility cost reductions scale with building size, as the makeup line diameter increases. The team plans to install two more valves in larger buildings on campus.