The construction industry uses considerable natural resources and with growing concerns over climate change and finite resources, there is increasing pressure on the industry to reduce their environmental impact. An increasingly important factor in sustainable construction is water conservation.
With population growth and changing weather patterns, water is becoming increasingly vulnerable to scarcity. By 2050 it has been estimated that the amount of water available could be reduced by 10-15%, with some rivers seeing 50%-80% less water during the summer months. The result is higher drought risk, caused by the hotter drier summers and less predictable rainfall.
To support reductions in water usage a range of new environmental discount schemes are now available for developers to save money on water connection charges. Water companies are offering this additional incentive to reduce water usage in domestic properties, if new homes incorporate products that deliver water savings to meet their qualifying criteria.
Currently the average water used per person per day is 142 litres in England and Wales, 165 litres in Scotland and 145 litres in Northern Ireland. Approved Document G of the Building Regulations stipulates that in new dwellings the maximum allowable consumption of potable water is 125 litres per person a day. Further savings can be achieved in new house building by specifying a range of water saving products, including:
- Low-consumption, dual-flush toilets,
- Flow limiters on taps and showers, and appliances,
- Reduced water capacity of baths,
- Water metering connected to automated home management systems,
- Reuse of rainwater, and greywater from sinks and showers.
Bathroom manufacturers have been designing new products offering water saving solutions for some time. Lecico Bathrooms were the first manufacturer to obtain water saving WC certification by the UK water label scheme, back in 2007. Since then, Lecico Bathrooms have continued to design and manufacture a wide range of water saving products, perfect for housebuilders looking to reduce water consumption. Find out more about Lecico Bathrooms water saving products at www.lecico.co.uk
For examples of water saving discount schemes see:
Severn Trent – www.stwater.co.uk
Thames Water – www.thameswater.co.uk
For further information on water saving bathroom products visit the www.uwla.eu
For further information in calculating water consumption – BREEAM Water Consumption Calculator www.breeam.com