Life-cycle Cost Analysis of Using Rainwater Harvesting Systems in Hong Kong Residential Buildings

This paper investigates whether the use of Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RWHSs) to provide water for washing machines in Hong Kong residential buildings would be financially attractive. In such systems, rainwater is accumulated and reused for doing laundry, garden irrigation, flushing toilets, and even drinking. Thus, the analysis of RWHSs’ financial feasibility is essential for construction projects. RainCycle is used to validate financial feasibility, considering particular circumstances and data relevant to the Hong Kong context. A range of different scenarios by adjusting three factors are evaluated: catchment area, water demand, and discount rate. It is suggested that 2,000 m² would be a suitable catchment area in a typical Hong Kong residential building and it is demonstrated how water demand and discount rate influence the financial performance of RWHSs. In particular, the financial performance of RWHSs is sensitive to discount rates. The results suggest that the RWH system would be worthwhile for buildings with a lower number of floors, but would barely achieve financial validation in Hong Kong’s super high-rise residential buildings.