WINT Water Intelligence, a leader in cutting-edge water management and leak-prevention solutions for construction, commercial and industrial applications, has completed a $15 million Series B funding round. The round was led by New York-based global private equity and venture capital firm Insight Partners and included participation from existing investors and numerous global construction and real-estate companies, such as Suffolk Construction, the Consensus Business Group, Tidhar, Electra, Ashtrom, Rogovin, and the Israel-Canada group. Water waste and leaks within built environments pose many risks to people, companies, and the planet alike. It can damage facilities, real estate, and construction sites, as water damage in facilities is a major source of insurance claims, with over $13 billion in annual payouts. Moreover, water waste and damage are also harming our planet, as it contributes to global water scarcity and carbon emissions since 13% of electricity consumption in the United States is related to water distribution and treatment.

The Flo by Moen Smart Water Leak Detector is a reliable gadget to help protect your home from water damage. Flo by Moen's Smart Water Leak Detector is the very best smart water leak detector we've ever tested, beating out our previous No. 1 pick, the Honeywell Home Water Leak Detector. While the two detectors are comparable, Moen is the more affordable of the two and, most of all, we were impressed by the near-instantaneous alerts (an imperative function of a smart leak detector) the Moen leak sensor sent to both of our iOS and Android devices, as well as via email. The Flo by Moen Smart Water Leak Detector passed all of our tests with flying colors and even continued to function after being submerged in water during our final round of testing. When a leak is detected, the sensor begins playing an alarm sound and flashes red, in addition to sending timely alerts in a matter of seconds. However, what it lacks in voice-control capabilities, it makes up for with a beautifully designed app full of useful data insights. The sensor also keeps track of the temperature and humidity within your home, which can help with moisture control.

Broken water pipes can lead to millions of dollars in damages. When it comes to building construction, all sorts of things can go wrong. The most common problem is water damage, according to insurance claim records. "It's the silent killer," says Yaron Dycian, chief product and strategy officer for WINT Water Intelligence. Water is also an increasingly scarce, and valuable, resource – a reality that is not lost on many big companies who are embracing sustainable practices.

An undercover investigation showed video of an Apple Genius Bar employee in Canada telling a customer that the simple repair to his Apple computer would cost as much as a new computer. The National went undercover with a hidden camera to an Apple Store in Toronto to see what the employees would say about a laptop with a darkened screen. After the employee went into the back of the store to run a diagnostic he came back with a shocking price quote. The employee said the most of the computer had been damaged with water, and therefore the customer would need to either spend $1,200 (USD $927) to fix it, or for around the same price, get a new one. However, when the same computer was brought to a third party repair shop in New York, it took Luis Rossman at Rossman Repair Group under two-minutes to fix the darkened LCD screen by bending back a pin, and he says he would never have even charged someone for fixing it.

How best to upgrade your lighting and electric devices to save money and cut your electric bill. From LED lights and Wi-Fi thermostats to water sensors and voice-controller personal assistants, the latest in-home tech could save you money. While buying the latest technology can cost a pretty penny, choosing the right gadgets could save you money. If you want evidence of this, look no further than your home. Between LED lights (that sip rather than gulp electricity) and smart thermostats (that can automate temperature when you're home or not), as well as many other "connected home" gizmos, you can reduce your monthly energy bills and reduce the odds of an expensive emergency situation, such as water damage.

The following is a guest post authored by David Pitman (@edavepitman), co-founder of Converge (@converge_co). I was told Fred was the man to talk to about inspecting buildings. But I don't know that he's ever used email," my reference said, advising that I call his phone. Surprisingly though, Fred has a website. The sole image on the site shows him standing on a roof in a ten-gallon hat staring jauntily down at the steep angle.