| 17 March 2008: Water efficient homes of the future |
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Homes of the future will use only one third of the water we use today according to Waterwise, the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA), BioRegional - One Planet Products and Priestman Goode who met recently to discuss the prospect of a water efficient home of the 22nd century. This home would foster water efficiency and minimize wastage whilst maintaining luxury home expectations and allowing for optimum living conditions. ‘Water consumption today is at an all time high and continues to rise, with the average family in the UK consuming approximately 500 litres of water a day. What’s worse, approximately one third of this water is wasted down the drain. This wastage of water is not sustainable in the long term. A highly water efficient home of the future using only one third of our current water use is the only way to secure the future of our water supplies. We may see this happening sooner than 22nd The garden of the house will contain underground tanks which will store water from the roof, providing water to trickle irrigation systems which will water plants automatically. This will give the plants the precise amount of water needed in response to the dryness of the soil, thus limiting unnecessary water wastage and maximizing the benefits of rainwater. All toilets in the home will flush with the very minimum of water using rainwater and greywater from underground storage tanks. Showers will have digital features to control temperature, flow, amount and time as well as high performance at low flow rates, new spray patterns and aerated showerheads. These features will deliver supremely high quality whilst resulting in very low consumption. Ultrasafe greywater treatment systems will allow the treatment and recycling of water into the underground storage tank for reuse in toilets and washing machines. The taps in the kitchen will be infrared or sound activated. Like the showers, they too will have digital water control features so no water will be wasted waiting for that perfect temperature. Kettles will be replaced with a boiling water tap that has a child lock, making cooking safer and more efficient. Washing machines and dishwashers will use very little water that will come from rain water reserves or no water at all using sound waves. With the help of new detergents, clothes and dishes will be clean without residue or pollution. The plumbing system of the home will be the most advanced and water efficient system the world has ever seen. Leak alarms and systems which detect leaks and cut off the water will end the headache of burst pipes and will enable people to spot hidden drips. Plumbing systems will be optimised to deliver hot or cold water quickly without having to wait for tepid water to come out first. This will all be accomplished by pumped loop systems, better pipe network design, smaller pipes and pipe lagging. Heat exchangers will take the heat out of the wastewater from baths or shower trays- leading to optimum water efficiency and savings in heating bills! This future water friendly house may seem like a sci-fi movie, but the possibility of creating it is closer than you think. In the upcoming years, as water becomes more limited and the importance of water efficiency is realized, technological advances alongside with innovative thinkers and an educated public may very well make this dream a reality. Notes to Editors 2. One Planet Products is an award winning not-for-profit social business; managed as a member-led club provides information to members so that they can specify and purchase environmental construction products, materials and services more cost effectively and easily, and reduce the environmental impact of their developments. 3. Priestman Goode is an internationally renowned multidisciplinary design studio. By creating beautiful and innovative design solutions for world class brands, Priestman Goode’s work has set new standards for excellence in the fields of product, environment, transport and packaging. From the smallest high tech product to the interior of the biggest aircraft in the world, Priestman Goode’s stimulating creative process is at the centre of its design philosophy, that ‘design should not just be about styling, but about making products and services better’. Paul Priestman won the Innovation Award, supported by Waterwise, at the inaugural Future Friendly Awards for his product Water Watch. For further information and images on Priestman Goode please contact Kirsty Dias at Priestman Goode, T 0207 935 6665 This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it , www.priestmangoode.com 4. The Bathroom Manufacturers Association is the trade association for bathroom manufacturers operating in the UK. Its authority is underlined by a membership that represents more than 87 per cent of the mainstream bathroom business undertaken within the UK. The BMA is involved in all aspects of the bathroom industry and its activity in 2008 will focus on Water Efficiency, Special Needs and Training, Education & Qualifications. For information on all of the BMA activities visit: www.bathroom-association.org Contacts: Chris Philpot Karen Floyd Tom Hill |