TaKaDu wins Sustainia Award
Last night, in front of an audience of more than a 1,000 people in Copenhagen, Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri, Chair of the UN climate panel, IPCC, announced the winner of the Sustainia Award, a global award honoring innovative, sustainable solutions and ideas, DNV said in its press release.
“The TaKaDu technology is an excellent solution to how we can optimize our most valuable resource: Water. Their state-of-the-art technology helps to reduce water loss and ensure supplies to a growing population,” said Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri.
Currently 25 to 30 percent of the world’s water production is wasted due to faults in distribution. The winning innovation monitors water grids and warns suppliers of leakages, pipe bursts or other irregularities. This technology made TaKaDu stand out to the award committee formed by four champions in sustainability; former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, former prime minister of Norway Gro Harlem Brundtland, Chair of IPCC Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri and EU Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard.
The award is initiated by Copenhagen-based sustainability think tank, Sustainia, in collaboration with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s initiative Regions20, UN Global Compact and the EU Commission. Behind Sustainia is also a wide range of companies including DNV GL, Novo Nordisk, Philips Lighting, Cisco, Realdania and Microsoft.
“DNV GL is proud to be a partner and founding member of the Sustainia Initiative, and we congratulate TaKaDu on deservedly winning the Sustainia Award. It’s a leading example of tangible solutions that can make a real difference and shows that the innovative solutions are already here and can contribute to a sustainable future,” said DNV GL Group President & CEO Henrik O. Madsen.
Water losses during distribution is a key challenge for the world’s water supplies. Older networks typically suffer from higher inefficiencies, but water loss is a symptom of much broader challenges, utilities worldwide find it harder to maintain networks in the face of ageing pipes, increased demand from growing populations, stretched resources and the effects of climate change including extreme weather.
The TaKaDu technology retrieves and monitors large sets of data from sensors in the water networks and analyzes them in real-time. The software-based service automatically locates and classifies irregularities, such as leaks and pipe bursts, and alerts utilities immediately. The technology is currently deployed in six countries; Australia, Chile, Israel, United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal.
Amir Peleg, CEO and founder of TaKaDu: “We are truly honored to win Sustainia Award 2013 among the many pioneer solutions and strong innovations nominated. This award, and the remarkable mission behind it, will raise awareness of our technology, its unique analytical approach and the great impact our solution has to secure the planet’s most valuable resource, water, in a time where climate change and a growing population gravely challenge our water supplies.”
Laura Storm, Executive Director of Sustainia: “With this global green award, Sustainia and our many partners, including DNV GL, bring focus to readily available innovations, from across the globe, with the potential of changing our cities and sectors to sustainable practices. By presenting tangible green alternatives, we show companies and consumers that they can be part of the solution by seizing on the opportunities available. It’s time to make people part of the solution.”