Water efficient new homes
In 1997, Essex & Suffolk Water started a project with the Building Research Establishment (BRE) involving a small development of new Housing Association Homes in Heybridge, Essex. 12 homes were fitted with water efficient appliances and point of use metering was installed in these and in 12 control homes to allow potential water savings to be measured. Three further homes were fitted with individual greywater recycling units. The water efficient appliances comprised of 6 litre WCs, low volume baths, low flow showers, spray mixer taps and reduced flow basin taps. The properties were monitored for 14 months and two customer surveys were undertaken at the beginning and end of the project to obtain user satisfaction information.
One of the outcomes from the project was a specification for water efficient new homes, which cost only £48 per property to fit. The lifespan of these appliances is about 10 years and they will pay for themselves in the first year through savings on metered charges.
The average volume of water used per person per day was 97 litres in the water efficient houses compared to 102 litres in the control houses, a difference of 5 litres per person. If only the consumption from the water efficient appliances and their equivalent in the control houses is compared, the water efficient houses used 13% less water per person than the control houses.
In January 2006, Essex & Suffolk Water began the next phase of the project. In addressing water efficiency in the home, there are two important elements: fittings and appliances that effectively and reliably fulfil their intended role; the behaviour of the occupants. Phase two of the project aims to identify how users behaviour interacts with new water-using technologies.
The objectives of phase two are to:
- Compare water use in the Heybridge water efficient homes with other similar new homes.
- Understand perception and behavioural patterns of water use and determine how these impact on the potential for future water savings.
More information can be found on the ‘Water Efficient New Homes’ factsheet.
Sustainable new homes factsheet
Aspects of the project can be viewed in more detail using the links below:
Water use in the home
Background to the project
Water use at Heybridge
The effect of occupancy
Kitchen tap use
WCs
Baths and showers
Basin taps
Greywater recycling
Greywater quality
Water butts
Water for the garden
Evaluation