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5 ways to save water at work

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It’s just been World Water Day (22 March) – as good a time as any to remember that not only is saving water a moral responsibility and good for the environment but it can save your business money, too.

Climate change is driving a global crisis in water shortages and the Government has advised that England will face a severe water shortage by 2050 unless we start saving this essential resource. Companies – small and large – can play their part. Here’s how:

  • Boil what you need – hot drinks are an essential part of a working day; save money, water and energy by only boiling the water you need.
  • Reduce food waste – it takes a lot of water to produce food and we waste a massive amount (4.5 million tonnes of food a year); when you are catering for lunches, events, conferences, don’t over-do it. Cater for what you need based on the numbers rather than an ‘in case you need more’ scenario.
  • Dishwashers save water – studies show that filling up a dishwasher so it’s a full load uses three to four times less water than if you were washing the same dishes by hand.
  • Turn off taps – a really obvious one but how often do you come across a dripping tap in your working day? Also be sure to fix leaks as drips cost resource, time and money when left too long.
  • Low flush toilet – old-style single-flush toilets use 13 litres of water for each flush. Modern dual-flush toilets use just 6 litres for a full flush, or 4 litres for a reduced flush.

These five simple tips can apply in a work-from home context as well as in the office, and whilst they might seem microcosmic in the grand scheme of water-saving they make a massive difference if everyone commits doing their bit.

For more water saving tips, visit Mirashowers.co.uk.

For more information on the survey, read “Which? Energy survey results” and for
all your energy related questions, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302
8149
or info@chsystems.cc.

A five-step plan to help your business save water, energy and money

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Water is essential for business. A typical office uses around 50 litres of water per full-time employee each day. Businesses like gyms, hotels and restaurants use far more for cleaning, showers and cooking, while factories and plants can use thousands of litres in their processes. But no matter the size of your business, saving water will increase profits through lower water bills and lower energy bills (as a result of hot water reduction), not to mention the (positive) environmental impact.

Managers and business owners might not realise it but there are lots of opportunities to reduce the amount of water a business might uses, which is why Thameswater.co.uk has put together a business pack that includes a five-step plan that will enable companies to save water, energy and money. The crux of the initiative is that saving water should be a key business target, and here’s how:

• Step 1 Find out how much water you use

The aim of Step 1 is to help you understand how much water you’re using in your business as well as where that water is being used. You can do this using your past water bills on their own or, in addition, by reading your water meter on a regular basis.

• Step 2 Identify ways to cut water consumption

Before you can put any ideas into practice it’s worth looking at which areas of your business have the potential to save you water. There are two key areas to consider: leaks and water consumption of fixtures and fittings.

• Step 3 Draw up an action plan

Having an action plan is essential if you want to reduce your water consumption and reduce your bills. Having a plan helps you to prioritise your actions, communicate these with other parts of the business and motivate others to make it a success. Having spent time getting a clear picture of how water is being used on site, you should also be aware of any simple ways to save that may exist.

• Step 4 Implement your action plan

This step will give you some ideas on how you can put your plan into action. It will discuss fixing leaks and identifying excess water pressure to reduce the likelihood of leaks in the future as well as where to source water-saving devices.

• Step 5 Measure, monitor and report success

To report your achievements, either internally or externally, you’ll need to ensure that you measure and monitor the results. This will provide you with regular and reliable data to show the effectiveness of the improvement measures you’ve implemented. It will also be useful as evidence of the savings you have made.

The Thames Water business pack provides detailed advice on how to make these five steps a reality for your company, whether you’re managing a production line, restaurant or office block. CLICK HERE for more details.

If you’d like further information, feel free to contact the CH Systems team on 0208 302 8149 or info@chsystems.cc.