The steering group for the UK Water Efficiency Strategy and the independent water efficiency campaigning organisation Waterwise have joined forces to urge the Energy Secretary, The Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP, to include water efficiency measures that save energy in the government’s new Green Homes Grants retrofit scheme.

The Green Homes Grant excludes water efficiency measures that would reduce the energy and carbon associated with heating water in the home.

Daniel Johns, chair of the steering group for the UK Water Efficiency Strategy said:

‘Heating water for showers and hot taps accounts for eight times more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire water industry. Alongside the water industry’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2030, we need help from the government to tackle emissions from water use in the home. Including water-efficient taps and showers in the Green Homes Grants and other retrofit schemes would be a simple step to help households save water, save energy, and save money.’

A joint letter sent by Daniel Johns and Nicci Russell, Managing Director of Waterwise to the Energy Secretary has flagged up the fact that heating water, for example for showers and hot taps, is the second largest source of household greenhouse gas emissions after space heating, accounting for 17% of home energy use.

Water efficient showerheads can have flow rates that are less than a fifth of equivalent products, offering energy savings of 80% or more on the amount of water needing to be heated, the letter says. However, due to a lack of product labelling and minimum standards in this area, “much more water and energy wasteful products are unknowingly bought and installed by customers”, the letter says.

Evidence shows that the single most cost-effective intervention to save water would be to introduce mandatory, independent water efficiency label displayed on all water-using products at the point of sale, linked to tighter Building Regulations and water supply fitting regulations.

Nicci Russell, Managing Director of Waterwise commented:

‘The Environment Agency, the National Infrastructure Commission and the Committee on Climate Change are all warning us about the very real danger of the UK running out of water - and we’re already seeing challenges right across the UK. We all have a part to play in making the water we have go round - for people, for farming and industry, and for the environment. That includes water companies but also government, regulators and all of us as customers.

‘Heating water in the home uses massive amounts of energy, second only to home heating. So it makes no sense at all to exclude water efficiency measures from the Green Homes Grants. We’re also calling on the government to bring in a mandatory water labelling scheme for taps, showers, dishwashers and washing machines so that customers can save money by buying more water- and energy-efficient products. Evidence shows this to be the single most cost-effective thing the government could do to save water, together with making sure new homes are built to be more water efficient.“