Waterwise and the UK Water Efficiency Strategy Steering Group have called on energy secretary Alok Sharma to include water efficiency measures that save energy in the government’s new Green Homes Grants retrofit scheme – to save energy, save water and save customers’ money.
In a joint letter, Waterwise managing director Nicci Russell and Steering Group chair Daniel Johns pointed out the grant scheme excludes water efficiency measures that would reduce the energy and carbon associated with heating water in the home. This is despite the fact that heating water is the second largest source of household greenhouse gas emissions after space heating, accounting for 17% of home energy use. They pointed out too that using less water is critical to safeguarding the environment and supporting sustainable housing growth.
Russell and Johns said: “Part G of Building Regulations specifies a maximum flow rate for taps and showers to meet the optional 110 litres per person per day water efficiency standard in new homes. We propose these flow rates be used to define products eligible for inclusion within your department’s energy efficiency retrofit schemes.”
They also repeated a call for a mandatory, independent water efficiency label displayed on all water-using products at the point of sale, linked to tighter Building Regulations and water supply fitting regulations, and said when such a label is in place, A-rated products should fall within the scope of government retrofit programmes due to the energy and water savings that they would deliver.
Comments