HPM
GREEN
COMMENT
“From taps to showers, specifi ers can play an
important role in cutting down on water usage,
without compromising the user experience”
Greater measures required
to minimise water waste
In many areas of the country, the long, hot summer of 2018 has gone down in the record
books, with the mercury hitting record levels. The heat has raised awareness of the
increasing demand placed on our precious water resources and the issue of water
effi ciency. Chris Tranter, senior product manager at Bristan, highlights how specifi ers can
achieve water saving with the latest bathroom fi ttings.
In the UK, we each use an average
of 141 litres of water every day – but
as the temperature rises, so does our
water usage.
During the summer months in
particular, the issue of water effi ciency
becomes even more important and
consumers are urged to think about what
they can do to use water more wisely.
For specifi ers working on a housing
development, water saving products can
be a big attraction as developers look
to demonstrate their green credentials.
Bathroom fi ttings can have a big impact
on how much water a household uses,
but as technology advances it can be a
challenge to keep up to speed with the
various options coming onto the market.
The good news is that with water
delivery products, effi ciency can be
achieved in many different areas. From
taps to showers, specifi ers can play an
important role in cutting down on
water usage, without compromising
the user experience.
FLOW REGULATORS
The key is to balance customer
requirements in terms of performance
and water saving. One popular option is
a fl ow regulator, which can be retrofi tted
into both taps and showers. These work by
limiting the fl ow inside the connection,
reducing water without making a
signifi cant impact on user experience.
To put this into perspective, most
standard showers distribute a fl ow rate
of 13.5 litres per minute, whereas fl ow
regulated showers offer a rate of ten litres
per minute – delivering signifi cant water
savings over the course of the year.
WATER SAVING TAPS
Flow regulators can also be used on the
majority of taps in the bathroom and
around the home. A standard basin tap
running at mains pressure can easily
deliver more than 12 litres per minute,
which is far more than is required for
most tasks. Even halving this would have a
big impact on water consumption without
impacting user experience.
Another option is to fi t a tap that offers
subtle resistance at the halfway point,
raising the user’s awareness of the fl ow.
The good thing with both these options is
that performance is not compromised.
With water effi ciency now a key
consideration for many specifi ers, Bristan
recently announced an important change
to the design of its existing range of basin
mixer taps, with the addition of Neoperl
fi ve litre/min aerators. The alteration
ensures that the amount of water delivered
by the fl ow regulators is now completely in
alignment with BREEAM requirements, at
the same time as enhancing the look and
feel of the water fl ow.
This means that the process of
specifying products is simpler because
Bristan basin mixers can be selected when
using the The Green Guide Calculator to
ensure they are meeting daily water usage
targets as defi ned by water authorities and
the Water Label scheme.
Bristan’s Artisan Evo
Digital thermostatic shower
ECOSAVING FEATURES
Bathroom technology is advancing at
such a rate that products increasingly
have eco-saving features built-in. This
gives consumers the option of whether to
activate water saving depending on the
task at hand.
For example, with products such as
Bristan’s Artisan Evo Digital thermostatic
shower, users can choose an eco-setting
for a quick shower but a normal mode
when a stronger fl ow is needed, such as for
washing hair.
DUAL FLUSH WCS
Dual fl ush WCs have been designed to
enable users to reduce waste without
restricting use. Typically, a traditional
single fl ush WC will use a generous nine-
12 litres per fl ush; whereas today’s dual
options use a maximum of just six litres –
with some as low as four to two litres.
Although not something that
necessarily springs to mind when it
comes to water saving, the reality is that
the toilet is a huge water waster – in fact,
according to Waterwise, 30% of the water
each adult uses daily goes to fl ushing
toilets. As such, making the switch to a
modern dual-fl ush option can make for
some serious water savings.
MAKING A CHANGE
As water scarcity becomes a bigger issue,
it is imperative that greater measures are
taken to ensure we minimise water waste.
For specifi ers, making the case for water
saving products is not always a simple
task. But by emphasising the fi nancial
benefi ts of these solutions alongside their
sustainability traits, a solution can be
reached which is both environmentally
responsible and client-friendly.
ENQUIRY NUMBER 101
Flow regulators maintain a defi ned fl ow independent
from the supplies pressure and are also recommended
to ensure a uniform distribution of water in case of
pressure fl uctuations
18 Heating & Plumbing Monthly | OCTOBER 2018 | www.hpmmag.com
/www.hpmmag.com
