World Environment Day Tomorrow: Save water, energy and money

Tomorrow (June 5th) is World Environment Day. By using water wisely we can save water, energy, and money, as well as cutting down our household’s carbon footprint.

Around 30 % of a household’s energy bill comes from using hot water. By using less water, (especially hot) you should reduce your energy bill, and meter users should see a reduction in their water bill.

The benefits of wise water use don’t stop there. Collecting water, treating it, and pumping it to our homes takes a lot of energy. Water UK say water companies in England and Wales are responsible for approximately four million tonnes of greenhouse gas emission (CO2 equivalent) every year, and that they also account for about 3% of total energy used in the UK.

Furthermore, according to Waterwise, the UK’s leading authority on water efficiency, the energy used to pump, treat and heat the water in the average family's home each year produces the carbon equivalent of a return flight from London to New York.

Dame Yve Buckland, Chair of the Consumer Council for Water, said: “All of the water sent to our homes is treated to drinking quality standards, whether it is for drinking, cooking, cleaning, flushing the toilet, or even watering the garden.

 “Taking five minutes to consider some of the Consumer Council for Water’s water saving tips could pay off in the long run and .... reduce your carbon footprint.”

The Consumer Council for Water’s top water saving tips:

·    Replace worn washers on leaky taps.  Dripping hot water taps waste energy and could add over £18 to your annual water bill.

·     Take showers rather than baths, or shorter showers. For every minute cut off your daily shower you could save £5-£10 off your energy bills over the year. Or install a water saving shower head, which can cut the water used by about 30 %.

·     Fill kettles as needed. Two-thirds of us waste energy by boiling more than we need.

·     Make sure your dishwasher or washing machine is completely full and avoid using the half load setting. Half-load cycles use much more than half the energy and water of a full load. 

·     Washing machines use huge amounts of energy, 90 % of which is through heating water. Reducing the temperature from 40 to 30 degrees will reduce energy consumption by 40%.

·     Around a third of the water we use goes straight down the loo, so using a water displacement device, such as a hippo (available free from most sewerage companies), can help save water with every flush. DIY option: fill an empty plastic bottle with water and place it in the cistern.

·     Install a water butt, which collects rain water, and use the water for gardening and washing the car, instead of paying to use drinking quality water through a hosepipe.

·     Hot water cylinder thermostats should be set at 60°C/ 140°F. Any higher uses energy unnecessarily and could lead to scalding.

·     Insulate the hot water cistern. Fitting a jacket that is at least 75mm thick could save around £35 each year.

See more water saving tips at www.ccwater.org.uk.