In the British climate we're certainly not short of rainfall for the majority of the year so you might think that saving water isn't important - but even here in the UK, water is fast becoming an increasingly precious resource. As well as being economical with the water that we get piped into our homes, there's a whole host of other ways that we can put to good advantage the abundant supply of this fundamental substance - whether it comes to us through our water supply or in the form of rainfall.
SLOWING THE FLOW
We all know that taking a short shower saves a lot of water compared to having a bath, but even showers can be made more efficient, as some shower heads are much more economical than others. "Abig tip for conserving water in your home has to be your water fixtures and fittings - think shower heads and taps," says architect Tara Gbolade from Gbolade Design Studio. "Sustainability-minded architects tend to design for potable water use of less than 75 litres per person per day in the home, which has the added benefit of reducing our home's energy demand basically, lower monthly bills."
When buying a new shower head, look for the volume in litres that it uses per minute of the shower. The lower the number, the better, and many modern shower heads include clever technology to ensure that you still get the power shower effect, even with a low flow head. "If you are going all-out; consider pressure-reducing valves (PRVs) on your main water line which, depending on your existing water pressure, could reduce water use," says Tara.
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Denne historien er fra June 2022-utgaven av Homebuilding & Renovating.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Back to black
Dramatic black finishes and industrial touches add impact to Charlotte and Sam Tisdall's extended end-terrace home
Change for good
A last-minute decision to build a kitchen extension instead of a general update turned out to be a wise move for the owners of this detached period property
High praise
After converting a run-down gospel hall into a unique 1930s-inspired home-complete with geodesic dome - Alice Deuchar and Daniel Schamroth pronounced it a resounding succes
Lifetime achievement
Replacing a tired 1960s bungalow with a bespoke prefabricated contemporary house allowed retired architect Helen Heslop Brunt and her husband Martin to fulfil a long-held dream
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