The implications of mass water consumption are becoming increasingly urgent in the face of climate change, although it’s often not on the top of the list of priorities for businesses and consumers.
According to South Staffordshire Water, the average water consumption for office buildings is 50 litres a day, per employee. Luckily nowadays there are a lot of options on the market for products that are designed to limit water consumption without compromising performance.
Although choosing the right products is a crucial element, don’t forget the simpler things you can do as a plumber to increase water efficiency. While water conservation is largely down to individual efforts, plumbers play an especially important role in ensuring people are more aware of exactly how much water they’re using.
How can plumbers help?
Plumbing and heating businesses can play a big role in improving water efficiency. Most consumers think water is an infinite resource that will last forever, and they don’t pay much attention to it until there’s a heatwave followed by a hosepipe ban.
Plumbers are the workforce who can get the right messages across to their customers because they work with the public on a daily basis. For example, according to an Energy Saving Trust report, only 8% of the public were aware of the link between water use and increased energy bills. Most people are keeping a close eye on their energy in an attempt to save money, and they’re looking to tradespeople for advice.
Water conservation is an easy way to lower these energy bills. Waterwise has calculated the average family could save around £180 a year simply by washing up in a washing bowl or using a full load in the dishwasher rather than washing up under a running tap, and by cutting a minute off the length of a shower.
There is also the valid and credible opportunity for plumbers to promote some of the latest water saving products being introduced to the market.
The consensus is that the demand for water saving is only going to grow which, in turn, presents a good revenue stream for refurbishment work. In order to fully capitalise on this opportunity, however, it is important to not only stock all of the latest water saving solutions but to have an extensive knowledge base, in order to advise and support homeowners on the most appropriate option for their specification. For example, taps with flow regulators, or shower heads that have multiple modes to give the option of water economy or full flow, are quick and reasonably priced alternatives which will satisfy the vast majority of users.
Simple and easy steps like changing habits and fitting more efficient products will have a drastic impact. With this in mind, it helps to give customers real world examples of just how much water and money they could save by addressing problems as soon as they arise, rather than several days down the road.
Addressing the topic of saving money will also help build their trust in you as a qualified service provider who isn’t trying to rip them off. Providing them with such advice will help cement relationships in the long run, resulting in customers coming back time and again.
At the end of the day, we all have a responsibility to use water wisely and consider the impact we have on the environment, and as an industry we need to help find solutions and make improvements in our everyday lives. Plumbers are in a unique position to offer customers advice on the management of water facilities and, by following this guidance, we can make progress on tackling a problem affecting us all.
If your plumbing and heating business is interested in joining APHC and making the most of our quality stamp of approval, then please get in touch on 0121 711 5030, or email membershipsales@aphc.co.uk for further information.
