# Water efficiency in Portugal, from resident research to AQUA+ | Tog Lab > ADENE, Portugal’s energy agency, wanted a program to bring water efficiency to buildings, with buy-in from the people who use water every day. Tog, then called Tog Design, ran the research and a five-day design sprint together with Productized. One of the outcomes was the formalization of AQUA+, the URL: https://www.toglab.co/en/projeto-adene-aqua.html [Português do Brasil](https://www.toglab.co/pt-br/projeto-adene-aqua.html.md) · [Português de Portugal](https://www.toglab.co/pt-pt/projeto-adene-aqua.html.md) · [Español](https://www.toglab.co/es/projeto-adene-aqua.html.md) · [Italiano](https://www.toglab.co/it/projeto-adene-aqua.html.md) [Projects](https://www.toglab.co/en/projetos.html) Water efficiency Energy and waterInnovationDesign sprintPortugal # Water efficiency in Portugal, from resident research to AQUA+ ADENE, Portugal’s energy agency, wanted a program to bring water efficiency to buildings, with buy-in from the people who use water every day. Tog, then called Tog Design, ran the research and a five-day design sprint together with Productized. One of the outcomes was the formalization of AQUA+, the system that rates the water efficiency of buildings. ## The challenge In buildings alone, up to 30% of the water used could be saved. ADENE’s question was how to reach that potential with a program that residents, retailers and service businesses would want to adopt. The program needed a business model that created value for everyone involved and that the public would accept and value. ## What we did From conversations with the people who use the water to presenting the first results at a national conference. ## The research In-depth interviews and contextual observation in homes and workplaces in Lisbon. The focus was on understanding consumption habits through qualitative exploration. Each interview became a profile sheet with facts, saving habits, the biggest sources of waste and recommendations. Research sheets. The people interviewed are blurred. ## The design sprint Five days of intensive work combining business strategy, innovation, design thinking and behavioral science to design and test new business models in a short time. Design sprint outcome ## AQUA+ The design sprint made it possible to formalize AQUA+, a voluntary system for assessing and rating the water efficiency of buildings, created by ADENE to promote efficient water use. Beyond rating building performance, AQUA+ guides good practice in the design of new buildings and in renovations, encouraging equipment, systems and solutions that use less water. [Learn about AQUA+](https://www.aquamais.pt/) [ADENE website](https://www.adene.pt/) Finalist in 2022 ### Finalist at the FT/IFC Transformational Business Awards In 2022, AQUA+ was shortlisted for the awards run by the Financial Times and the IFC, part of the World Bank Group, in the Transformational Solutions, New Frontiers category. It was the first time a Portuguese initiative reached the final. Potential estimated by ADENE for the tourism sector alone, per year: - 4 billion litersof water saved - 20 GWhof energy, the use of about 5,000 homes - 3,000 tonnesof direct CO₂ emissions avoided Sources:[AQUA+ no Financial Times](https://www.aquamais.pt/aqua-distinguido-pelo-financial-times/) [O Instalador](https://www.oinstalador.com/Artigos/410370-Agua-um-elemento-essencial-para-os-objetivos-de-descarbonizacao.html) [Público Imobiliário](https://imobiliario.publico.pt/opiniao/agua-outro-lado-energia/) ## Água & Energia 2018 conference On December 18, 2018, ADENE and Diário de Notícias, part of the Global Media group, held the Água & Energia 2018 conference with authorities and representatives of the water and energy sectors in buildings. The first results of the H2 Design project were presented there: mapping and idea generation, spreading the best solutions, and the adoption of more efficient behaviors by consumers. [See the conference on the ADENE website](https://www.adene.pt/conferencia-aguaenergia-2018/) ## What this case study shows Listening to the people who use it every day changes how a public program is designed. ## Have a challenge that needs research and testing? We start with a conversation and, if it makes sense, a short round of research with the people who will use it. [Talk to us](https://www.toglab.co/en/contato.html) [Next case study: Nato Bom](https://www.toglab.co/en/projeto-nato-bom.html) ## More on this page - AQUA+ — water efficiency rating system for buildings, formalized from the sprint - 5 days — of design sprint with experts and representatives of the water and energy sectors - 5 profiles — of residents, property owners and business owners interviewed at home and at work - Up to 30% — of the water used in buildings can be saved, according to ADENE - Invisible consumption — Residents don’t know how much they use or where they waste it. Water hardly ever comes up in everyday conversation. - Many stakeholders — Residents, landlords, retailers, service businesses, manufacturers and public bodies, each with different interests. - Voluntary participation — The program would only work if people and businesses saw value in taking part. - Research — Interviews and observation — In-depth conversations and contextual observation in homes and workplaces in Lisbon. - Insights — Profile sheets — Interviews transcribed and organized into sheets with facts, savings, waste and recommendations. - Sprint — Five days of co-creation — New business model ideas designed, prototyped and validated with stakeholders. - Outcome — AQUA+ and the conference — The formalization of AQUA+ and the first results presented at the Água & Energia 2018 conference. - “In general, people aren’t really aware when it comes to water.” — Family interviewed in Lisbon - “I don’t think Portugal sees water as a resource that could run out.” — Resident interviewed in Lisbon - “I think water matters more than energy. We’ve been without gas before, I’m even fine without power, but without water it just doesn’t work.” — Co-living resident in Lisbon - From the least efficient building to the most efficient. - Alternative water sources, outdoor use, fixture efficiency, washing appliances, and hot water production and distribution. - Qualified AQUA+ auditors. ADENE manages the system and registers the ratings. - Real estate developers, real estate agencies, property owners and water efficiency solution providers. - Ten years, with updates possible after improvements to the building. - Start in the homes of the people who use it — The interviews revealed habits and waste that don’t show up in aggregate consumption data. - Bring everyone into the same room — With the water and energy sectors in the sprint, the ideas were shaped from the start by those who would apply them. - Leave with something people use — The work became a rating system that guides building projects, renovations and equipment choices.