Energy efficiency evaluation for the water supply systems in tall buildings

High-rise housing, a trend in densely populated cities around the world, increases energy use for water supply and corresponding greenhouse gas emissions. With emphasis on improving the energy efficiency in the water supply systems, this paper proposes an energy efficiency evaluation measure for the water supply system designs and demonstrates its potential applications in a typical high-rise water supply system. In the proposed measure, the energy efficiency in a water supply system is defined as the potential energy required at the demand locations divided by the pumping energy of the supply system. The outcome of this paper provides useful benchmark references not only for the water supply system designs but also for the water demand management programmes in buildings. Practical application: An energy efficiency evaluation measure for the water supply system designs is used to establish benchmark references for not only the water supply system designs but also for the water demand management programmes in buildings.