Low-Carbon Showers

The world’s climate has continued to spin relentlessly out of control irrespective of the terrible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic over the last few months. In the US, the Southwest is locked in the grips of the first human-caused mega-drought, and in the UK, the first half of 2020 has already left reservoirs dry. This year could compete with the five previous – together the five hottest years for the planet on record.

Climate Change
Climate change and water scarcity is a global problem and more than ever we are aware of the need to reduce our impact on the environment. Water is becoming more scarce at the same time as the population and demand for water is increasing. As a result, the need to develop practical and innovative ways to reduce water and energy use and lower greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to safeguard the future of our planet.

Joining up water and energy
According to the Energy Saving Trust, personal washing i.e. showering and bathing, accounts for around 33% of the water used in the home, but it’s not just about the amount of water  –  it’s also about the amount of energy required to heat the water. Hot water demand is the second largest consumer of domestic energy after space heating. Energy for personal washing alone accounts for a staggering 26.6% of the total household energy and is likely to increase due to the push for energy-saving home improvements such as cavity wall and floor insulation.

Figure 1.0: Around 33% of total domestic water is used for personal washing costing UK households around £131 per year for average household.

Figure 2.0: Hot water is one of the biggest energy-consumers in a household. Personal washing i.e. showering and bathing accounts for almost 27% of the total energy costing around £334 per year.

Rising fuel costs
Affordability is a very real issue. Since water services were privatised in 1989 the average household water bill has risen 40% above inflation, peaking in 2014/15. Despite a slight reduction the average water and sewerage bill today is around £397 a year.

The cost of energy has tripled in the last 20 years outstripping all other services. In 2019 around 15 million households on standard variable tariffs have seen the cost of their electricity and gas soar by 11% and 9% respectively in only a short amount of time  –  driven by Ofgem’s energy price cap. Today, around 11 million homes are on default and those affected, and using a typical amount of energy, have seen their energy bills rise to around £1,254 a year.

To put this into context, the average UK household spends 5% (£1651) of its total income on water and energy bills. For those living in the poorest areas and communities this percentage is a lot higher and the harsh reality is that around 6.6 million (1 in every 4) households live in fuel poverty.

Carbon emissions
When it comes to personal hygiene showering is generally better for the environment than bathing, however, a shower’s carbon footprint is dependent on a number of circumstances such as duration, flow rate and how the water is heated. When comparing heating fuels in a standard dwelling, gas is the cleanest of the fossil fuels –  for each unit of energy of heat, its CO₂ emissions are over a third less than electricity from the grid. This is mainly because of the heat wasted at power stations during the process of generating electricity. However, as electricity is generated more and more from renewable sources like wind farms and hydroelectricity, this will become less of a problem.

Water companies use a lot of energy to treat water, pump it to and from the home and then treat it before returning it to our rivers. Showers which use less water reduce this impact. Electric showers for example work by only heating the amount of water that is required per shower; the cold water from the mains is pumped through the shower unit where an electric element heats the water very quickly, so there is little wasted hot water compared to heating a large hot water cylinder. The downside is that electric showers have low flow rates (maximum around 5 l/min) compared to 10 l/min for a mixer shower and tend to provide a lackluster experience –  particularly in winter when the shower does not get as warm as it does during the rest of the year and flow rate is reduced, meaning any savings in carbon emissions due to lower flow rates may be lost by users having to take longer showers.

Summary
By installing water and energy saving products such as Kelda Technology’s water-efficient showers it is possible to significantly reduce carbon emissions and save money on bills  –  with the benefit of having a better showering experience.

Overview:
• Better shower experience  –  for same flow rates
• Cheaper to run  –  save £100s off water and energy bills
• Help fight climate change  –  less CO₂ emissions
• Easy maintenance  –  larger jet-type nozzles are less resistant to limescale blocking
• Sleek shower panel design  –  6mm toughened glass
• Two shower heads for improved washing and rinsing  –  flexible shower head with separate handset/hose
• Reduced risk of scolding  –  TMV2 thermostatic control
• Complies with water regulations to ensure the highest water standards and quality
• Exceeds Building Regulations: Part G
• Reduced water demand allows a smaller hot water cylinder to be fitted
• Faster payback than other energy-saving products
• Proven technology

¹ Review of domestic water use in Great Britain: At home with water, Energy Saving Trust, July 2013.