Yvonne Orgill, MD at the Unified Water Label explains why using water wisely can help in the drive for more energy efficiency in our homes.
Lifestyle and behaviour changes during the COVID pandemic, as well as climate change have all contributed to increasing the pressure on our water supply, making it even more important that we all understand why using water wisely matters.
Water is a precious resource and at the Unified Water Label Association we strive to drive home the message that it is not just water efficiency which is important but education, and providing information that allows people to make their own choices about using water wisely. We want people to understand the link between heating the water we use in our homes, and the impact on energy efficiency and our carbon footprint.
The Unified Water Label is an easy to understand smart tool that can help consumers make an informed choice about the bathroom products they select for their homes.
Bathroom products are at the heart of water use in the home as over 60% of water used in the domestic environment is used in the bathroom, and 25% of energy used in the home is associated with heating hot water, with 18% of the UK carbon emissions emanating from the home.
Currently, the average household in the UK uses around 330 litres of water a day, that’s around 140 litres per head, every day. However recent surveys show that most households underestimate hugely how much water they think they use. We want to change this by helping people think about the value of water and giving them the choice to select innovative products that can help them use water, and energy, efficiently without any loss in performance.
There is a growing demand from consumers for these products, repeated research into bathroom buying habits has highlighted that consumers would be positively influenced to buy products if they had more information about water efficiency. Results showed that more than 80% of respondents said that water efficiency was quite or very important when purchasing a WC or a shower, yet almost 40% were not made aware of how much water the products would use. This clearly shows that there is an opportunity for the industry to make this information more readily available.
Many manufacturers offer smart technology products that deliver good performance but use less water and energy, expelling the myth that water saving products don’t perform and are unpopular with consumers.
Manufacturers, installers, distributers and retailers must all seek to promote products that are registered and educate consumers on these options. Plumbers also need to have the knowledge to advice on compatibility to help consumer make the right choices.
It will benefit our planet if we all work together to help consumers become more aware.
Our #dontforgettheplug marketing campaign is also addressing this message. Together the industry is helping consumers make the link between water, energy and carbon issues, understand more about how much water they use, and promote the benefits of reducing water wastage.
You can find a directory of products and more about the Unified Water Label here
