How Cooling Tower Upgrades Can Help Meet ESG Goals
- Suzanne Matulis
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
As ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting moves from voluntary to expected—especially among industrial operators and infrastructure-heavy sectors—companies are being asked to quantify and reduce their environmental footprint. While cooling towers may not be the first thing that comes to mind, they present one of the most underutilized levers for achieving ESG targets.
In this post, we’ll explore how upgrading cooling towers with Infinite Cooling’s WaterPanel™ and TowerPulse™ can directly improve performance on key ESG metrics, including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water stewardship, and operational transparency.
🔍 ESG Frameworks: What Do They Measure?
Across ESG rating systems and sustainability standards (e.g., GRI, CDP, SASB, TCFD), common environmental metrics include:
Metric Category | Common KPIs |
Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (indirect energy-related) emissions |
Water Use & Efficiency | Total water withdrawals, discharge, and water recycled (%) |
Energy Efficiency | Energy intensity per unit of output or square footage |
Wastewater & Discharge | Volume, treatment, and quality of discharged process water |
Environmental Risk/Impact | Exposure to water stress, regulatory risk, community opposition |
1. Reduce GHG Emissions with TowerPulse™
TowerPulse™ is a sensor-driven analytics platform that continuously monitors cooling tower performance, enabling operators to optimize energy consumption from pumps, fans, and connected systems like chillers or condensers.
Impact on Scope 1 and 2 Emissions
Reduced fan/pump electricity use = lower indirect emissions on site and from purchased energy
TowerPulse™ has enabled energy savings of 700,000 kWh/year at a CHP facility, cutting GHG emissions by 500 tons CO₂ annually
Supports:
GRI 302 (Energy)
CDP Climate Change Module
SASB: Infrastructure, Chemicals, and Real Estate sectors
2. Improve Water Stewardship with WaterPanel™
WaterPanel™ captures evaporative plume water from cooling towers, reducing reliance on municipal or groundwater sources. This is especially impactful in water-stressed regions or facilities under pressure to minimize drawdown.
Impact on Water Metrics
Reduces makeup water needs
Enables reuse of ultra-pure water, avoiding additional treatment
Lowers total withdrawals, blowdown volume, and wastewater discharge
Supports:
GRI 303 (Water and Effluents)
CDP Water Security
SASB metrics for Electric Utilities, Semiconductor, and Data Center sectors
3. Boost Transparency and Operational Control
Regulators, investors, and community stakeholders want real-time data, not just annual estimates. Both WaterPanel™ and TowerPulse™ provide quantifiable, verifiable metrics that can be used in ESG reports, audits, and stakeholder communications.
What You Can Track
Gallons of water saved
kWh of energy avoided
CO₂e emissions reduced
Time-based performance trends
Early detection of drift, fouling, or water leaks
Supports:
TCFD disclosures (metrics & targets)
ISO 14001 environmental management systems
Voluntary ESG frameworks (e.g., Green Bond or Sustainability-linked KPIs)
4. Align with Corporate Sustainability Commitments
If your company has set Net Zero, Water Positive, or Zero Discharge goals, cooling towers must be part of the strategy. Infinite Cooling’s technologies provide tangible pathways to progress:
Corporate Goal | How TowerPulse™ + WaterPanel™ Help |
Net Zero Operations | Reduce electricity-driven emissions at utility/process level |
Water Neutrality or Positive | Capture, reuse, and reduce water withdrawals |
Reduced O&M Footprint | Less chemical use, lower maintenance |
Social License to Operate | Minimize plume, drift, and community water usage concerns |
📈 Final Thoughts: Cooling Systems as ESG Catalysts
Cooling tower upgrades may not be top of mind in ESG strategy sessions—but they should be. WaterPanel™ and TowerPulse™ deliver measurable results across multiple ESG pillars, often with short payback periods and long-term resilience benefits.
Ready to map cooling tower improvements to your ESG targets? Contact Infinite Cooling to request a facility-specific impact analysis.