CP359 Water Efficiency Devices - Savings Assessment
Following years of speculation and estimation, WRc are pleased to announce that at last statistically robust evidence is available regarding the true impact of water efficiency devices on flow rates and volume per use of appliances in the home, following the successful completion of WRc’s collaborative research project.
The results of this study will be used to inform both future research on appliance usage and water efficiency, but also practical outputs such as where to target water audits and which devices to install for maximum impact.
Micro component data was collected using WRc’s unique Identiflow system, from a sample of 74 domestic properties before and after water saving devices are installed. This data has been used to provide accurate assessments of the relative impact of different devices as a contribution to total savings and also enabled behavioural changes to be differentiated from appliance characteristic changes.
Interesting findings from the study include the relation between household occupancy and the impact of water audits, and the relative impact of shower versus toilet based retrofit devices.
The project, which has been running since October 2008, is supported by 8 UK Water Utilities, Defra and the Environment Agency. Support in kind is being provided by the Energy Saving Trust who have calculated the energy and carbon savings associated with the results from the water audits carried out.
For further information on the project and results please contact Carmen Waylen.