After yet another dry spring in large parts of the UK, Stuart Reynolds, UK Marketing & Product Management Director at AKW - a leading provider of accessible bathrooms and kitchens – discusses why housing associations should care about water efficient bathrooms and how to achieve them easily and stylishly.
Water efficiency matters
Water efficiency doesn’t just impact tenant bills, it also affects a housing association’s asset performance, sustainability targets and long-term maintenance costs. Switching to water efficient bathrooms products will:
• Lower costs for tenants – even modest reductions in hot water use can add up to a difference in household affordability, particularly for those on low incomes.
• Reduce maintenance and operation costs – less water flowing through ageing infrastructure can extend the life of plumbing systems and reduce boiler and hot water demands too.
• Help meet ESG and net zero targets – water efficiency is another way to support the reduction of carbon emissions, lower energy consumption for heating water and help improve ESG reporting.
• Improve tenant comfort – water efficiency can also help deliver more reliable hot water systems for tenants, reduced condensation risks and better-performing homes.
Water efficient bathrooms
Each person in the UK uses approximately 150 litres of water per day and this amount is set to rise. Therefore, it makes environmental as well as financial sense to ensure high water usage items - like showers and toilets - are as water efficient as possible. Particularly as the average bathroom is installed for approximately 25 years in social housing before a refurbishment.
Showers - When it comes to energy- and water-savings in housing association bathrooms, installing a reduced or variable flow electric unit that has different flow options makes sense, as it can be more cost effective in terms of the water saved over the shower’s lifespan. AKW’s flow limited showers enable housing associations and tenants to achieve impressive water savings, as well as promote safe, reliable showering.
AKW’s Arka TMV3 Mixer Shower water-saving model - this is fitted with a flow limiter for a maximum flow rate of 8 litres per minute. Using much less water than a standard shower unit, it also features rounded paddle levers to control the temperature and flow, is WRAS approved and is ideal for use by those looking for a durable showering solution that looks good but delivers in terms of its environmental credentials.
AKW’s SmartCare Plus, SmartCare Lever and iTherm electric care showers - these support housing provider’s water and energy consumption targets, as they all come with an eco-default setting (which can be over-ridden if needed) that limits flow rate to 6 litres per minute. For the ultimate in assisted-showering water savings, the SmartCare Plus electric shower can also be operated using an accompanying remote control.
Toilets – A standard modern toilet uses around 6 litres of water per flush, but more efficient designs can significantly reduce this over time. Many housing association providers are choosing to use the AKW Livenza Plus close-coupled toilet, which features a 3/6 litre dual flush cistern to help minimise water usage while maintaining reliable performance.
Wash basins - The deeper the wash basin, the more the user is tempted to fill it. AKW’s Livenza Plus basins are smaller than standard wash basins, offering 62% less volume than AKW’s largest one, allowing for significant water saving potential.
Bidets – it might seem strange to include bidets in a water saving discussion, but a bidet uses approximately 0.2 litres to 0.5 litres of water per use, compared to a toilet that uses anything from 3 litres to 13+ litres for an older model. Also, it replaces the need for toilet paper, which is a water- and energy-intensive item to produce.
There are many ways that social landlords can build water efficiency into bathroom refurbishments. By making small changes, the impact on tenant bills, sustainability targets and asset performance can be considerable, so why not find out more about how to make the switch?
To find out about water saving with AKW why not see the products available - https://akw-ltd.co.uk/waterenergyguide/ or check out the Livenza Plus water efficient toilets at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fMNa-8I8ac.
For more information, please contact AKW on 01905 823298, Email: sales@akw-ltd.co.uk or visit www.akw-ltd.co.uk
Images © AKW
- Log in to post comments