If you were given funding for a small engineering project that would make your everyday life better, what would you do?

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Engineering Project
Water is an essential and basic need of every living thing on our planet. The conservation of this resource is thus paramount to make sure that it sustains life. Bathing is among the activities that wastes a lot of water; there is no means of determining the exact amount of water that is adequate. Additionally, the heating systems of water in many households are located far from the faucets. For this reason, it takes time for the water to heat up, and thus some water goes to waste while waiting for it to get warm. The challenge can be solved by installing the heating device directly on the taps or heating the water supplying pipes so that as the water passes through, it gets warm.
The installation of water heaters in the taps could significantly reduce the time the water takes to warm. The process can be done by having an instant heating unit fixed close to the water discharge section. The technique utilizes a boiler unit that is fitted below the water outlet area in a tap and thus allowing the water to warm before being released. Having the tap fixed directly on the heating system reduces the amount of water that might come out before being heated, and hence water wastage will reduce considerably. For instance, the boiling area can be placed under the sink to allow for proximity to the tap. The boiling taps requires that one utilizes the safety measures that are given in the manuals to avoid any accidents. An on/off button will ensure that there is a regulation of the hot or cold water that is released from the tap.

With the system, there will be less wastage of water in homes while one is waiting for it to get warm. As a result, water will be conserved and thus used in other activities. Proper maintenance of the unit and replacement after some time will be critical to ensure effectiveness.
An alternative method is the heating of the pipes that supply the water. The procedure will entail the use of heating systems around the pipes. The pipes can undergo pre-heating to a particular temperature and then continuously heated as water flows so that the water heats up through conduction and convection. The pipes require insulation so that there is minimum heat loss to the surrounding. Alternatively, an outer pipe can be fitted so that a conduit remains in between the pipes. Hot water can be passed through this space that will heat up the pipes, and as water passes through them, heat is absorbed thus warming. A recirculation system can be utilized to make use of the drained hot water used in a bath. The hot water is taken back to the heating section, which minimizes the amount of energy needed to keep the water in the conduit hot. The system will make sure that water becomes warm instantly when one opens a tap, and that every faucet will produce hot water when opened. Consequently, many homes will save water that could have gone to waste. Also, with heated pipes the problem of having pipes bursting during winter due to the extremely cold temperatures that cause excess contraction is eliminated. In turn, this saves a lot of water that could have gone to waste in the process.

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