BMA’s water labeling scheme was officially launched at NHIC Parliamentary Lunch by chief executive Yvonne Orgill. The scheme is aimed at raising important water conservation issues making it much simpler for consumers to see exactly how much water new bathroom products use.
Lord Taylor of Holbeach, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at DEFRA, welcomed the scheme as a major step towards much greater water savings by the UK public.
Over 1,800 products are currently accredited on the scheme and the label can now clearly sourced in over 2,000 showrooms around the UK.
Orgill emphasises: “We cannot afford to give up on encouraging people to change their behaviour when it comes to water wastage so it’s essential for industry and government to communicate the same message using the same language.”
She called on related government departments such as DECC and BIS to enter dialogue with the bathroom industry to ‘help it grow and prosper in a sustainable way – protecting people, profits and our planet.’
Orgill explained: “The progress the BMA has made this year communicating the Water Label scheme label to consumers has included prime-time coverage on Radio 4’s flagship Today Programme, as well as other important media outlets. And there are the future plans to broaden peoples’ knowledge and awareness of the Water Label and its significance in reducing the use of domestic water without affecting the ‘experience’.
“The Water Label is particularly important in view of studies indicating that the general public is becoming increasingly apathetic at being told they have a moral obligation to be green.”
Ideal Standard is a major manufacturer of bathroom products and a leading advocate of the Water Label scheme. Its marketing director, Tony Rheiberg, strongly suggests: “There should be a cohesive message on water efficiency that covers all users and all types of building. There must be clear targets on changing user behaviour and incentives to encourage users of older bathrooms to upgrade to more efficient products.
He pointed out: “Around 63% of domestic water consumed in the UK is from the bathroom. As an industry we recognise the importance of developing water efficient products that help the consumer use less water without taking away the pleasure of bathing.
“Also is a huge stock of very inefficient bathroom fixtures – such as high flush WCs that will potentially remain in place if nothing is done”!
Examples of water efficient products are low flush WCs, regulated basin mixers and showers, waterless urinals, electronic taps and Ceramix Blue mixers – a brand new innovation from Ideal Standard.
Water is our most precious commodity. And despite its current abundance, supplies need very careful consideration, particularly by domestic users, otherwise there may be serious consequences for the future!
The bathroom industry and others are working very hard to help reduce water demand and make sure that its conservation is paramount.
Chairing the Water Label luncheon, Martin Orrill, head of technology and innovation at British Gas Business Services, explained: “British Gas is suppliers to several water companies and as strategic partner to three water companies it is inextricably linked to the water industry.
“We have been working with the water industry to shift the concentration on the use of hot water as that is where water and energy conservation meet. And everyone benefits from saving hot water through savings in their energy bill.
“British Gas is in the early stages of combining visibility of commodity usage via smart meters.
“It can already offer a web based dashboard which shows usage of power over time and across different sites to high-light periods of usage when there should be none. It is planning a roadmap whereby next year it hopes to provide a business owner with visibility of their use of power, gas, water, plus carbon impact and financial expenditure.
The Rt Hon Nick Raynsford, MP, president of the National Home Improvement Council kindly sponsored the NHIC Parliamentary Lunch.
More information: www.bathroom-association.org/