Got a story? Ring us on 01732 748041 or e-mail twood@unity-media.com SHOWERS,WETROOMS&ENCLOSURES A smart start to eco showering Steve Saunders, senior technical manager at Triton Showers, emphasises the steps the installers can take to ensure efficient use of water and energy remain at the forefront of their customers’ minds... The introduction of the water efficiency labelling for all bathroom fittings has forced manufacturers to take responsibility for the provision of key efficiency details, while the Energy Saving Trust has made efforts to raise the profile of water efficiency in the home with its ‘At home with water’ report. Both of these help to place greater emphasis on the role of a shower in enhancing a property’s environmental credentials. With initiatives of this kind comes an opportunity for installers to help their customers to make informed decisions. There are several top tips installers should consider when the opportunity arises to fit an eco solution in a customer’s bathroom. MONEY TALKS The benefits of an eco shower can often prove simple for a customer to understand when they are translated to tangible cost savings. In order to do this, it is advisable to conduct a thorough assessment of the household’s occupants and their water use. Showering habits such as frequency and duration need to be considered from the outset in order to recommend a shower WWW.HPMMAG.COM that will best meet the household’s needs without compromising performance. Whether working within the framework of the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) or not, being able to assess the cumulative water use of a property will allow the installer to explain how much an eco shower is likely to be able to save. Ultimately, money talks and an attractive ‘whole life cost’ of a new shower is likely to be the biggest driver for a homeowner investing in green technology. FLEXIBILITY IS KEY As homeowners continue to maintain a ‘buy once, buy well’ philosophy when it comes to their household appliances, installers who can offer flexible showering solutions stand a strong chance of maximising their business credentials. There are a number of electric showers on the market which feature an optional eco or water saving option that can be switched on or off depending on the individual user’s preference. To take water management one step further, installers are also now able to offer their customers thermostatic electric showers with an adjustable timed shutdown feature, which can turn the shower off automatically after a predetermined period. Adaptability doesn’t have to be confined to new installations either as there are options available to adapt the performance of an existing shower. For example, if a customer is keen to reduce their water usage but doesn’t have the required budget to upgrade their shower, an eco shower head can be used to reduce water usage. This is one quick, easy, and affordable way to enhance green credentials without completely replacing the shower. CHANGE THE CUSTOMER’S MINDSET It is possible that one of the main reasons we 46 DECEMBER 2013 HEATING & PLUMBING MONTHLY don’t see an eco shower fitted in every home in the UK, is the preconceived assumption that reduced water use means reduced performance. This theory is certainly far from the truth. The latest eco showers on the market can limit flow rate to a maximum of as little as six litres per minute while still delivering an enjoyable showering experience which can prove particularly beneficial for those homes with multiple showers. The opportunity to manage flow rates certainly ought to be a key consideration. Triton was quick to react to this demand for water saving solutions by developing a number of eco showers. These showers are not only for those homeowners with a desire to increase their green credentials or save money but also to allow installers to work within the requirements of the CSH for the new build sector. THE CODE FOR SUSTAINABLE HOMES With the new build sector now required to aim for levels five and six of the CSH, a maximum consumption of potable water of no more than 80 litres per person per day is rapidly becoming an expectation. Although this may be a demanding performance target, it does require the developer to think carefully about how they manage water use which is where shower choice plays an important role. Household bills will inevitably continue to increase which is sure to have an impact on the measures homeowners will take to save money. It is important installers are poised to use this to their advantage. enquiry number 146 Triton’s T80Z Fast-Fit Eco The T80Z Fast-Fit Eco is designed to limit water consumption to a maximum of six litres per minute
HPM December 2013
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