Special Report
Water savingwashrooms help companies ‘go green’
Saving water at work is part of a growing trend towards energy efficiency for businesses, explains Keri Reynolds, marketing manager for PHS Washrooms.
Climate change is rarely out of the head- lines and the subject looks set to stay firmly on the agenda.Wherever you live and whatever you do, everyone is touched by topics relating to the sustainability theme. Fromkerbside recycling, to the lo- cation of wind farms, ‘green’ issues are something of which we are all aware. Sustainability is also becomingmore and
more important to businesses. As the En- vironment Agency says in itsWaterwise publication: “The environment is increas- ingly becoming a business issue as cus- tomers becomemore environmentally aware.” Sustainability is no longer amere buzz-
word to which companies can pay lip serv- ice - it’s an essential part of trading, and every company that wants to survive and succeed now includes it as part of their corporate social responsibility strategy. The subject continues to be topical
thanks to the unpredictable nature of the British weather. The UK has taken a bat- tering fromthe elements this year, veering fromdroughts to deluges in just a few months.Whether you blame it on the Gulf Stream, El Niño, or global warming in gen- eral, there’s no doubt that the ‘famine and flood’ nature of our recent rainfall has prompted us all to think about how we use water.
Watermanagement tips
By taking a ‘greener’ approach your com- pany, customers, staff and the wider com- munity all benefit. In itsWaterwise publication, the Environment Agency states thatmany organisations pay higher water costs than necessary, and that by imple- menting simple watermanagement plans, firms could reduce their water consump- tion by up to 80%. The agency also gives some tips on conserving water in your business, including: • Alwaysmonitor howmuch water you
use and compare use on a regular basis. Manufacturing companies should compare water use against production output and service sector companies should compare use against staff numbers. • Ensure pipes are well insulated against
frost. • Keep water-using equipment well
maintained and check it periodically for leaks. • Look at alternative water sources such
as using rainwater and greywater (waste water generated fromdomestic activities such as laundry, dishwashing and bathing). • Encourage staff to report leaks and en-
sure any leaks are repaired quickly. •When buying new equipment take its
water efficiency into account. • Fit waterminimising controls where
possible, eg push taps, flow regulator/re- strictors, cistern displacement devices, spray nozzles on hoses, low-flush toilets and sensor-activated urinal flushing. • Checking water bills fromthe past
two-three years will reveal annual con- sumption and costs, and any seasonal variations or unexplained increases should also be noted. Depending on the type of organisation you run, energy (eg for heat- ing and pumping water), treatment and maintenance costsmay also need to be added to themix in order to identify poten- tial areas where savings can bemade.
Tax breaks forwater efficiency
Financial incentives for implementing water efficiencymeasures are available to companies and organisations. Business Link - the government’s on-line resource for businesses - offers advice on a host of different subjects, including water effi- ciency. In its section on first-year allowances for
water efficient technologies, it states: “The Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme offers a 100%first-year allowance for in- vestments in certain water efficient plant andmachinery. It lets businesses write off 100%of the cost of qualifying plant and machinery against taxable profits in the year of purchase.” The ECA scheme ismanaged by the De-
partment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and HMRevenue and Cus- toms, in partnership with AEA Technology, whichmanages the scheme on behalf of Defra. TheWater Technology List (WTL) details all the eligible products, which in- clude water efficient taps, toilets,monitor- ing equipment and industrial cleaning equipment. Claiming ECAs for buying water efficient
www.cleaninghub.net l JUNE 2013 l C&M l 31
Sustainability is no longer amere buzzword towhich companies can pay lip service - it’s an essential part of trading, and every company that wants to survive and succeed now includes it as part of their corporate social responsibility strategy. Financial incentives for implementing water efficiency measures are available to companies and organisations. Business Link - the government’s on-line resource for businesses - offers advice on a host of different subjects, including water efficiency.
equipment enables businesses to reduce their investment costs and environmental impact. And as an added bonus, by in- stalling water efficient equipment and products, water bills will be reduced in the long term.
Increasing energy efficiency
The washroom is somewhere that energy saving schemes can easily be put into ac- tion by installing products that are eco- nomical with water and power, yet still deliver the best performance and hygiene standards. Hand dryers that use consider- ably less energy than ‘conventional’ mod- els are a smart choice, also dispensing with the need for paper towels, saving more money and resources. Third party endorsements are also a good way to gauge effectiveness, so look for products that are approved by reputable organisa- tions such as the Water Regulations Advi- sory Scheme (WRAS) and the Carbon Trust. Companies that have used energy saving
products, like those offered by PHS Wash- rooms, report they deliver tangible results without compromising on performance. Ben Lain, operations manager for The Lewis Partnership, said that the installa- tion of PHS’s Flush-wiser WC flush control ‘has been a really positive step in improv- ing our environmental rating. The installa- tion was very efficient and there has been no loss in water pressure or compromising of flush hygiene’. Preston City Council is another PHS
client that is using water and energy sav- ing products to improve efficiency. John Bradley, building services and facilities manager for Preston City Council, said: “Installing these water saving products will help us to reduce our water usage across all of our sites. We are expecting a reason- able reduction in certain buildings during the coming months, and this will help Pre- ston City Council towards reaching its tar- get of a 5% per annum reduction in its water consumption.” By installing this sort of equipment in
washrooms, companies really can start to achieve their business and environmental ambitions. So, if you want to save money, time and energy, impress your staff and customers, and do your bit to save the planet, water management in your wash- rooms is a step in the right direction.
www.phswaterandenergysavings.co.uk
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