water

If our water usage patterns don’t change, the UK will have an ongoing water deficit of 4,000 Megalitres per day by 2050.  Reductions in leakage and domestic consumption are the two primary strands of water conservation targeted by Defra and the water companies.
 
Some areas of England are already restricting future development unless ‘water neutrality’ can be demonstrated. This requires both existing and new properties to reduce per capita consumption (PCC) to the extent that overall water usage levels do not increase.

Water conservation is the key to reducing energy bills.  Heating water accounts for nearly 1/5th of energy use in UK homes.

Reducing hot water demand is an effective way to help occupants conserve energy and reduce bills.  Some uses are fixed, e.g. the washing machine or dishwasher.  However, many are not. 

In the UK water conservation has been largely ignored since the summer of 1976 – until now.  
The impact of erratic rainfall patterns has highlighted the wider impact of overuse of water resources.

Even in the UK the change in weather patterns due to global climate change have resulted in, mostly, short term supply issues.  In addition to these ‘direct impacts’, the process of cleaning, processing, and heating water accounts for 6% of CO2 emissions in the UK.

In the UK water conservation has been almost treated with derision.  Excepting the summer of 1976, water restrictions are limited to occasional hose pipe bans.  However, the wider impact of excessive water usage is now becoming recognised.

The connections between water, the environment and energy costs are being highlighted by organisations as diverse as the United Nations through to local conservation groups.  

Daniel Lintell, Sustainability Manager at Triton Showers, discusses why energy efficient electric showers are perfectly placed to make a difference when it comes to sustainability, and explains what Triton is doing to lead the market and help housing providers move towards a more environmentally friendly future.

Environmental concerns are again in the media, the latest report by the Climate Change Committee is painting a bleak picture of the future if action is not taken to reduce the impact we have on the planet.  

Water, in the UK, has not traditionally been an area of concern, but understanding of the impact on the environment has begun to be more widely recognised. Despite our rainfall, population and demand continue to grow.  This alongside aging networks springing leaks puts our water system under strain like never before.

One water company has thrown out traditional practice and adopted a new method of working that tackles these issues and future proofs their network.

In the UK water conservation has been on the agenda, and largely dismissed by the public, for years. Our growing population and increased demand through lifestyle choices, will result in critical water situations more regularly, especially in the driest parts of the country.  

Minimising the environmental impact of homes at both the construction and occupation have recently become key issues. Groundbreaker Systems have been working on ‘green’ solutions for over 20 years.