Energy
noticeable. The direct flush cistern-less system resolves this problem. A recent study by Thames Water found that a steadily leaking toilet wastes around 600 litres of water per day, causing additional hidden and preventable costs.
Conclusion
Water and energy consumption in the UK must be revaluated for financial and ecological reasons, and the rising cost of energy urgently needs to be addressed. In a care home environment, the needs of the user are the priority, and safety is the most important factor. The residents’ safety and wellbeing must be taken into account when seeking to reduce energy consumption and the associated bills. This can be achieved with a few small changes to sanitary ware which will benefit staff and residents alike, while freeing up the facilities teams and reducing the maintenance burden. A key way to manage additional energy costs in care homes is through water savings – as less water to heat means a lower energy bill. There are several ways to ensure this. Reducing leaks by installing a cistern-less flush toilet system is one example, which has the additional benefit of infection
prevention. Addressing leaks will also help to reduce costs and means that there is no need to compromise on hot water and heating supply, which are essential components of resident care and comfort in a care home environment, as well as being crucial for infection control. There are many other ways to manage
energy savings efficiently, such as through the installation of electronic taps with split delivery and reduced flow rate, or mechanical non-concussive taps that operate with a self-closing time flow system. Electronic taps, showers, and toilets have the additional benefit of providing an automatic duty flush, which refreshes all the water in the tap and pipework during periods when the facilities are not in regular use. Care homes in the UK are confronted with a multi-faceted problem – the need to bring down energy and utility bills, yet still maintain the standard of care and comfort, all while balancing anti-scalding safety and infection control. When addressing mounting costs, understanding the potential risks is essential, and must remain the priority.
References available on request
Eve Wellard n
Eve Wellard is a multi-lingual marketing and communications manager for Delabie UK. She holds a Master’s degree obtained at Bristol University and has over 18 years’ experience in teaching, professional technical translation, and interpreting. Having recently joined market-leading sanitary ware manufacturer Delabie, Eve’s role includes media relations, event management, and content management, specialising in the public and commercial sector.
® SENSORS AND PRESSURE MATS TO MONITOR THOSE NEEDING CARE NURSE CALL AND WIRELESS DEVICES FOR EPILEPSY, FALL AND WANDERING ALERTS FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL US TODAY:
CONTACT@FREQUENCYPRECISION.COM
Tel: 01837 810590 l Email:
contact@frequencyprecision.com l Web:
www.frequencyprecision.com 1st Floor, South Devon House, Station Road, Newton Abbot TQ12 2BP
November 2023
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
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