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News Release from: National Home Improvement Council [NHIC] | Subject: Water conservation in the home
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 21 February 2006
NHIC calls for more water conservation
in the home
The National Home Improvement Council is urging UK householders to be particularly mindful of their water consumption.
The National Home Improvement Council is urging UK householders to be particularly mindful of their water consumption especially at the present time and if they are planning home improvements to be especially aware of water saving fittings and appliances Director of the NHIC, Graham Ponting, says: "All of us take water for granted but it is one of our most precious commodities
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 30 Nov 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Although there has been some modest rainfall in recent weeks we are in currently in one of the driest periods in the UK for many years.
"According to Waterwise, the new NGO which is to be launched next month (March), the UK demand for water has risen by 1% a year over the past eight decades and each one of us is using around 160 litres a day, that's 30 gallons.
"With more houses being built and improvements to the existing housing stock, including new bathrooms and kitchens, demand is outstripping supply, consequently we must all be mindful of our individual responsibility to conserve water." Careless and extravagant use of water wastes millions of litres everyday.
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For instance, a dripping tap alone may lose 15 litres a day and running water unnecessarily into a sink or wash basin is water down the drain.
Graham Ponting says there is lot we can do as individuals to save water in our homes by using it sensibly and responsibly.
"But at the end of the day an holistic approach is likely to be the most effective form of conservation.
When we are purchasing new white goods such as dishwashers or washing machines we should be aware of there water-saving features and go the ones which offer the greatest efficiency.
They may cost a few more pounds but the difference between what you spend on a top-of-the-range appliance compared to a less efficient model could very quickly be recovered through greater energy efficiency and less water usage".
When it comes to new bathrooms or refurbishing existing ones Graham Ponting points out that the bathroom manufactures and designers have put an "immense amount of thought and research into conserving water in the home".
He says: "The Bathroom Manufacturers Association, a member of NHIC, has just launched WaterHog, a new water efficiency website.
It aims to provide information on water efficiency issues mainly in the home and includes a product selector database of water efficient products such as dual flush wc cisterns, half flow taps and water saving baths and showers".
Sponsored by the NHIC Educational Trust, WaterHog includes a section on planning a bathroom with an eye to water efficiency and avoiding problems such as "dead-legs" in the hot water supply that needs flushing out every time a tap is turned on and before hot water arrives at a sink, bath or shower.
Graham Ponting says: "Waterwise and WaterHog are very welcome and important new additions to the water conservation lobby and the water companies throughout the nation also have their ideas and recommendations.
"Water consumption and wastage in the UK really is a serious problem with which we must all come to terms, otherwise the future is bleak!".
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