Waterwise Research

Research released by Waterwise on 5th June states that the average family's annual water consumption results in as much CO2 as two transatlantic flights. Therefore, on World Environment Day, Waterwise urged everybody to save water and energy, to cut down on carbon emissions and to protect the environment.

Climate change was the leading topic of conversation yesterday on World Environment Day, at least 25% of your household's energy bill comes from heating water. In addition domestic hot water accounts for 5% of UK greenhouse gas emissions. By cutting down on your hot water wastage you really can reduce your carbon footprint and help reverse the current trend of climate change.

Phil Woolas MP - Minister for the environment says 'water efficiency is rising to the top of the political agenda both here and internationally and we must stop wasting water in our homes and wasting energy in heating hot water'. Mr Woolas also says that 'heating water that we do not use, in terms of climate change and carbon emissions, is the biggest waste of energy in the home.'

The average family emits the equivalent of two transatlantic flights in carbon through their water consumption each year*. Every minute you spend in the shower, you are using about another ten litres of water - water which has to be treated and pumped by the water company to and from your house, a process which uses 240kwh of energy per family per year**. Every litre of hot water you save, means saving water, saving money, saving energy and saving the planet.

It is not just in the shower that you can reduce your water wastage and your carbon footprint. By only using full loads in your washing machine and dishwasher, you save water and energy compared to half loads. Modern washing machines and dishwashers can use as little as 35 and 10 litres of water respectively. If you are in the market for a new dishwasher or washing machine visit the waterwise website (http://www.waterwise.org.uk) and look at the rankings.

Additionally pumping water to and from the house and treating it at water treatment plants accounts for 1% of the UK's total energy consumption. Jacob Tompkins, Director of Waterwise says 'the average person in the UK consumes 150 litres of water every day and 1/3 of this is wasted, which means water, money and carbon down the drain.' He continues to say that 'simple measures such as turning the tap off when you brush your teeth can save six litres of water and placing a cistern displacement device in your toilet cistern can save one litre per flush and, on average, save 20 litres of water per household per day'.

For more water saving tips visit http://www.waterwise.org.uk

*London Heathrow - JFK emits 1.2 tonnes of carbon. The average family emits 2.77 tonnes of carbon each year through their water consumption

**239.9 kwh of energy used to pump 500 litres of water to the average family every day for a year