Irrigation in the building sector: why efficiency and automation now start from the heart of the system

For many years, irrigation in the building sector was considered a secondary matter. A necessary system, certainly, but rarely a strategic one. Today, that approach is no longer sustainable. Climate change, water scarcity, rising energy costs and increasing environmental responsibilities are radically transforming the way buildings are designed and managed.

And irrigation, once seen as an auxiliary function, has become one of the most critical points in balancing comfort, sustainability and operating costs.

Those who work closely with the market can clearly see this shift.

“More and more often, customers are no longer simply asking for a pump. They want to understand how to reduce consumption, risks and management complexity over the next ten or fifteen years,” says Tommaso Boldrin – Sales Manager, AW. “It is a real change in mindset, especially in the building sector.”

Irrigation under pressure: water, energy and responsibility

The first major topic shaping the market today is water efficiency. It is no longer just about saving water, but about using it intelligently and responsibly, reducing waste and environmental impact.

In offices, hotels and residential complexes, green areas play a key role: they improve quality of life, increase property value and contribute to overall well-being. However, without an efficient irrigation system, those same green spaces quickly become a source of inefficiency.

Many existing systems still show clear weaknesses:

• oversized systems “for safety”; 
• uncontrolled pressure levels; 
• exclusive use of potable water; 
• lack of data on actual water consumption. 

This is compounded by rising energy costs. Every cubic meter of water pumped inefficiently creates a double negative impact: environmental and economic.

“We often deal with systems designed ten or twenty years ago,” explains Tommaso Boldrin. “They work, but in an energy-intensive and imprecise way. Today, the market simply no longer accepts that.”

What the building market really needs

When it comes to sustainability, the building market is extremely pragmatic. The most common requests are clear:

• reduce water consumption without compromising landscape quality; 
• reduce energy consumption related to pumping; 
• enable the use of alternative water sources, such as rainwater or recycled water; 
• ensure reliability, as irrigation failures are immediate and highly visible. 

Sustainability, therefore, does not only come from advanced controllers or smart sensors, but from the quality of the hydraulic infrastructure supporting the entire system.

“We often tell customers: you can have the most advanced control logic in the world, but if the foundations are not efficient and stable, results will not come,” underlines the AW Sales Manager.

Lowara and efficiency working quietly

In this context, Lowara (a Xylem brand) plays what could be described as a “quiet but decisive” role. Pumps may not be the most visible part of the system, but they ultimately determine consumption, reliability and long-term performance.

Lowara solutions for building services are designed to:

• ensure high hydraulic and energy efficiency; 
• operate optimally under variable loads, typical of irrigation; 
• support tanks and water storage systems; 
• reduce mechanical stress and extend system lifespan. 

It is not just about peak performance, but consistent performance over time.

“What customers truly appreciate is reliability,” says Tommaso Boldrin, Sales Manager at AW. “In building services, no one wants to constantly intervene on the system. The pump simply has to work.”

From sustainability to digitalization: the second major shift

Alongside water efficiency, the second major driver transforming the market is digitalization. Smart buildings are no longer a futuristic concept, but an everyday reality for designers and facility managers.

HVAC, lighting and security systems are increasingly integrated and centrally controlled. Irrigation, however, has often lagged behind, managed as a standalone system disconnected from the rest of the building.

This creates new challenges:

• limited control across multiple sites; 
• reactive rather than preventive maintenance; 
• poor visibility on consumption and performance; 
• continuous reliance on manual intervention. 

The market is no longer asking for more technology, but for simpler and more reliable management.

Lowara as the foundation of smart irrigation

Lowara addresses digitalization with a very practical approach: adding stability, not complexity. Lowara pumps and systems can be easily integrated with:

• inverters; 
• pressure and flow sensors; 
• building management systems (BMS). 

This allows irrigation systems to:

• adapt in real time to actual demand; 
• avoid unnecessary starts and stops; 
• maintain correct pressure at all times.

The value of Lowara products in the final phase of the project

It is in the final phase—when the system is operational and must prove its value day after day—that Lowara products truly stand out.

Over time, Lowara solutions help customers to:

• reduce operating costs; 
• minimize unplanned maintenance; 
• ensure service continuity in automated systems; 
• create a reliable base for future system upgrades. 

“Many customers come back to us years later and say: the system still works like day one,” concludes the Sales Manager. “For us, that is the strongest possible proof of success.”

A clear message for the market

Today, irrigation in building services can no longer be improvised. It must be:

• sustainable, because water and energy are limited resources; 
• intelligent, because manual management is no longer feasible; 
• reliable, because buildings cannot afford chronic inefficiencies. 

Lowara meets these needs with a concrete approach, based on products designed to last and integrate seamlessly into modern building systems.

It may not be the most visible technology, but it is what makes everything else work.

And that is precisely why Lowara is increasingly at the heart of irrigation projects for the buildings of today and tomorrow.

Tommaso Boldrin
Area Sales Manager - Applied Water, Xylem