How can I live a more sustainable life?
Achint
April 30, 2023
Eco365: Maximizing Water Efficiency for Homes, Businesses, and Communities
By Ketul
Updated 07 Oct, 2024
6 min read
Contents
Millions of people now have to face the hard reality of water shortage every day rather than just a theoretical danger. Water scarcity is becoming a major problem in cities worldwide, causing everyday disruptions in everything from booming metropolises to fast-expanding urban areas. The effects are immediate and personal in cities like Mumbai, where people may only have access to water for a few hours per day. The inventor of Eco365, Goutam Surana, was spurred to action by this very situation.
The Brahmaputra River flowed freely and abundantly in the scenic surroundings of Gwalpara, Assam, where Goutam’s adventure started. He grew up in the shadow of such breathtaking scenery and therefore acquired a profound respect for the natural world and its bounty. However, the disparity between his upbringing and modern life struck him hard when he relocated to cities like Hyderabad and Mumbai for his education. Water was a luxury rather than an inexhaustible supply in Bombay. Water was scarce and frequently only accessible for one hour a day. For Goutam, this was a crucial time.
Goutam first saw the seriousness of the water situation and the pressing need for remedies to help preserve this finite resource during these formative years. He was inspired by the event to look out doable methods to incorporate water conservation into daily living. In the end, this vision inspired him to start Eco365, a business based on the idea that modest, sustainable adjustments to our water usage may have a big influence. One tap, one showerhead, and one water saver at a time, he set out to transform people’s perceptions of water.
Innovating for water efficiency
Eco365 started in 2010 with a single product: waterless urinals. Since then, the company’s catalog has evolved to include over 40 items ranging from taps and showerheads to flow restrictors and irrigation systems, all of which are developed with the same purpose in mind: to assist consumers reduce their water use. These breakthroughs did not arise from a direct road, but rather through trial and error.
According to Goutam, “We entered an uncharted market.”
“There were no clear reference points or existing models for what we were trying to do, so we had to create solutions that addressed local needs while meeting global standards.”
This flexibility is what makes Eco365 so successful. Goutam discovered early on that low-quality water is a common issue for water-saving devices, particularly in cities. If the water is dirty, reducing the flow of water may result in blocked taps and other orifices. Eco365 is always improving its designs to guarantee effectiveness while avoiding new issues.
Changing public perception with water efficient solutions
Transforming water-saving items from obscure plumbing fittings into widely used, simple-to-install solutions is one of Goutam’s biggest accomplishments with Eco365. Customers were hesitant to utilize these devices in the beginning because they thought plumbers were the only people who could handle them. But Eco365 made installation simple enough that anybody could install their water-saving devices—even those without technical knowledge.
It was a difficult process that required time for this perception to change. According to Goutam, their clientele is changing in three different phases. Those who were already committed to sustainability and were environmentally concerned arrived first. Consumers who were motivated by compliance then followed, especially after regional water boards like Bengaluru’s started urging residents to install water-saving aerators. The need to deal with growing water bills and practical issues related to water supply has propelled the third and greatest wave.
According to Goutam, “people are no longer just motivated by environmental responsibility.” They are reacting to the shortage of water as a matter of need. They search for methods to save water if it gets too costly or difficult to obtain.
Practical solutions for big and small slients
Working with a wide spectrum of clients, from individual homes to major organizations, is something Goutam and his team take great pleasure in. Eco365 has a straightforward yet efficient strategy: ease and quickness. For example, customers may email Eco365 photos of their plumbing configurations, and Eco365 would suggest the best goods based on those photos. They even occasionally provide complimentary samples for customers to try.
“My team is small but effective”
Goutam eventually discovered that sending out plumbers was both expensive and ineffective. Rather, the corporation decided to provide customers the ability to install the devices on their own. This reduces expenses and time while also increasing accessibility to water-saving options for everybody.
The challenge of water’s perceived value
Understanding how people see the worth of water is one of Goutam’s journey’s most thought-provoking lessons. The importance of water is pliable, he says. “It feels abundant and undervalued during the monsoon season, but during droughts, a small amount of water can feel like gold.”
The goal of Eco365 is to develop water-saving solutions in response to this shifting view. Although water is necessary, its significance isn’t usually evident until a person experiences a shortage. Goutam wants to assist individuals in changing before they are compelled to do so by providing straightforward, workable alternatives.
Personal commitment to sustainability
Work and personal life are closely linked in Goutam’s case at Eco365. He actively promotes sustainable behaviours in his neighbours and children, and both his house and workplace are outfitted with water-efficient fixtures. In an indication that the love of sustainability is indeed a family affair, his son even made sales of water savers to the neighbourhood during the epidemic.
Goutam prioritizes cutting waste in other aspects of his life in addition to water conservation. To reduce his influence on the environment, he constantly carries reusable bags and containers and stays away from throwaway products.
Scaling small changes for big Impact
Goutam feels positive about the future of water conservation in India despite the obstacles. Although a tiny portion of the population is now dedicated to embracing sustainable techniques, he recognizes that there is a great deal of room for development.
“Even if just 2% to 3% of the population is eco-conscious, when you scale that across 1.4 billion people, it’s a substantial number,” Goutam explains.
This perspective captures the essence of Eco365’s mission: when enough individuals accept simple changes, they may have a significant impact. To date, Eco365 has installed water-saving solutions in over 500,000 households and sold over a million units—a monument to the effectiveness of small, gradual changes.
Conclusion
The adventure Goutam Surana is on with Eco365 is about more than just creating a profitable business. It’s about changing people’s perspectives on water and giving them the power to make decisions that are good for the environment and their pocketbook. By means of inventiveness, perseverance, and a strong dedication to sustainability, Goutam has converted personal encounters into a potent catalyst for worldwide transformation.
Businesses like Eco365 provide a ray of light in the face of the growing global concern over water shortages, demonstrating that sustainable solutions are attainable for those who are prepared to put in the necessary work.
Related articles
Climate Optimism: Can we reverse the impact on the environment?
Ishita Paul
December 31, 2022
Why Composting?
missionsustainability
May 14, 2022
Ready to talk?
We work with individual initiatives, startups, and NGOs dedicated to forging a sustainable future with better design, marketing, technology & operations.