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Three Easy Ways to Save Water

1st July 2021

With most of the world thinking increasingly about carbon footprints and the impact of our actions on the world, it is clear that small changes make a big difference. From ditching the single use plastic to switching appliances off at the mains, every little effort adds up. Saving water isn’t just better for the environment, it can help to reduce your water bill, too. Here’s what you need to know.

Water butts

Whether you are a green-fingered pro, or you are struggling to keep a few plants alive, if you have ANY plants that you water, it is worth considering investing in a water butt. When a garden hose is switched on it uses about 15 litres a minute. So if you spend 10 minutes watering the garden, you will blow about 150 litres of precious water! Rainwater is free, has the right PH for Mother Nature, and will allow your garden to thrive even if there is a water shortage. There are a range of rain harvesting solutions available, from basic water butts to roof-mounted systems. If you are worried about installation, check with your local handyman first.

Saving per day – 150 litres

The shower timer

Whether you have shower-loving teens or you secretly know that you are the culprit, showers use a huge amount of water. Showers use on average 10-12 litres of water per minute. So if you are in the shower for 10 minutes, that is a whopping 120 litres – multiply that by four, a shower-loving family could use 480 litres every day! By cutting your shower by just two minutes, a family could save 64 litres of water a day – which works out at a staggering 35,040 litres in a year.

Saving per day – 64 litres

Flush if you must...

We all know that toilets use a huge amount of water. There is no need to leave a toilet unflushed all day, but if your family has a habit of throwing a bit of toilet roll and tissue in the pan and flushing it away, that is a habit that you can nip in the bud straight away. Modern toilets use a massive 13.6 litres per flush, with modern ones using a more conservative 6 litres. If we take an average of 10 litres per flush, each family reducing their flushing by one flush per day could save 40 litres in total.

Saving per day – 40 litres

Fix that drip

You have heard the saying “an ocean begins with the first drop” well, your leaking toilet or sink could be wasting an entire ocean. It may seem like an insignificant drip, but a toilet leak could waste as much as 200 litres of water every day, while a leaking tap can waste 21 litres – that’s a lot of drips! If your local plumber charges by the hour, make a list of every drip, crack, leak or problem and get them in for an hour.

Saving per day – 221 litres

If you make one change today, make it one of the above – you won’t just save money, you’ll be doing your bit to save the world. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for more.

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How To Save Water in the Bathroom

Are you worried about impending water shortages? Do you want to save money on your water bills? Or do you just want to do your bit for the environment by saving water? Whatever your motivation to reduce your water consumption, there are some simple steps that you can take to reduce the amount of water that you and your family use day in, day out, for the rest of your lives. The best bit? We bet you don’t even notice the difference – other than the drop in your bill! Here, we take a look at simple changes you can make in the bathroom, to help you to save ££s and the planet!Leaking Loos can cost from £50-£200 a year! You are literally flushing your money down the pan. If you hear a constant trickle in your cistern, it means that water is running out of the loo so the cistern constantly needs topping up. A plumber will be able to fix the problem in minutes.You may or may not know this but….. if your loo has two push flush buttons, using the small button produces half a flush. Half a flush equals half the water – so only use the big button if you have to!Standard flush loos can use up a lot of water, but there are ways of reducing the amount of water you use per flush. Just by placing a brick (or two) in the cistern, you could save up to 8 litres of water per person per day. For a standard family of four, that is a whopping 11,680 litres of water a year.Do you get that sinking feeling when you get your water bill? Well, turning off the tap while you brush your teeth could help put that shiny white smile on your face. When you keep the tap on, you are pouring away up to 16 litres of water per minute. Based on our family of four, brushing their teeth twice a day for 2 minutes, that is 46,720 litres a year that you could save!We don’t want to begrudge you your relaxing bath or refreshing shower, but try to be water aware. Depending on the type, showers use about 8 litres of water per minute. Electric showers are the most economical, while those glorious power showers use a lot more. If you need to run the shower before it heats up, rather than wasting the cold water, save it to use in the garden. If you want to slash your water bill, try cutting average shower time by a minute or two. If every member of our water-aware family reduced their daily shower time by just one minute, they would save 11,680 litres of water a year between them.Want to know more? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and keep an eye out for next week’s blog, when we introduce you to water saving tips in the kitchen and beyond.If you have a leak, or your water bills are higher than you think they should be, get in touch with a local plumber who possesses the skills and equipment to identify, and fix, any costly leaks.
Save Water: Top Tips to Be Green and Save Cash

Regardless of whether you are on a water meter, it is more important than ever to save water in order to reduce energy consumption and, in most cases, save money. Wasted water is money down the drain. You may not be on a meter, but your water rates still pay for the cleaning of water that is already clean. Check out six easy ways that you can save hundreds of gallons of water a year.
Water Saving Tips

Whether you are one of the 24 million people set to be affected by a hosepipe ban or not, it is a good idea for us all to save water wherever we can. And in a time when many families have invested their hard-earned money on hot tubs and paddling pools, water saving can be a challenge.

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Find clear, practical answers to common energy & sustainability questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

Is it worth getting solar panels installed on a UK home?

Whether solar panels are worth it really depends on your situation. For many UK homeowners they can be a solid long-term investment - payback periods of seven to twelve years are realistic, and you can sell surplus electricity back to the grid through the Smart Export Guarantee. South-facing roofs with little shading get the best results.
That said, roof orientation, shading, your energy usage, and how long you plan to stay in the property all affect whether the numbers add up for you. It's worth getting a few quotes and running the figures before committing.
What is a heat pump and should I replace my boiler with one?

A heat pump pulls warmth from the outside air (or ground) and uses it to heat your home and hot water - it's more energy-efficient than a gas boiler when properly specified and installed. The key is whether your home is well-insulated. Heat pumps work best in efficient, well-sealed properties. In a draughty house, the benefits are more limited. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme currently offers up to £7,500 in grant funding, so it's worth getting a professional assessment of whether your home is a good candidate.
Are there government grants available for home energy improvements?

Yes. The main ones right now are the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (for heat pumps), the Great British Insulation Scheme, and ECO4 (for eligible households). The details change regularly (eligibility, grant amounts, and which schemes are active) so check directly on GOV.UK or with your energy supplier for the current picture. Just bear in mind that installations need to be done by accredited installers for the grant to apply.
How do I know if my home has adequate insulation?

High heating bills for the size of the property, cold walls and floors, condensation on internal walls, and draughts around loft hatches and window frames are all signs that heat is escaping. A professional energy assessor can survey the property and identify exactly where the losses are happening. Your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) - if it's up to date - also gives you a useful starting point.
What is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and am I eligible?

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) helps homeowners swap gas or oil boilers for low-carbon alternatives - mainly air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, and biomass boilers. As of 2024, the grant is worth up to £7,500 for a heat pump. To qualify, you need a valid EPC with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation, and the installation has to be done by an MCS-certified installer. Eligibility and amounts do change, so check current terms on GOV.UK before making any decisions.
How do solar panels actually work?

Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells that generate electricity from daylight - not just direct sunlight, which is why they still produce power on overcast days (just less of it). The electricity they generate is direct current (DC), which an inverter converts into the alternating current (AC) your home appliances use. Whatever you generate and use yourself reduces what you draw from the grid. Any surplus can be exported and you can get paid for it via the Smart Export Guarantee, or stored in a battery if you have one.
How long do solar panels last and do they need servicing?

Most come with a 25-year performance warranty guaranteeing at least 80% of rated output - and many systems outlast that. The panels themselves have no moving parts, so they're low maintenance by nature. The inverter is the component most likely to need replacing, usually after 10 to 15 years. Rain generally keeps panels clean in the UK, but a professional clean every couple of years is worthwhile - particularly on low-pitched roofs where debris builds up.
How many solar panels does a typical UK home need?

The average UK household uses around 3,500 kWh of electricity per year. A 4kWp system - roughly 8 to 10 panels - will generate around 3,400 kWh annually in average UK conditions. Smaller households might be fine with 3kWp; bigger homes or those with EVs and heat pumps will want more. The limiting factor is often your roof space, orientation, and shading rather than budget. An MCS-certified installer will model your specific situation and recommend the right size - this assessment really does make a difference to what you get out of it.
Why might solar panels not be right for my home?

There are a few things worth keeping in mind that can affect whether solar panels make sense for your home. A north-facing roof receives less direct sun and will generate considerably less power, and significant shading from trees, chimneys, or neighbouring buildings can also have an impact. Some listed buildings and conservation areas have planning restrictions, so it's worth checking before going too far down the line. Homes that need re-roofing soon, or that have existing structural issues, may also face additional costs that change the overall picture. And if your household electricity usage is quite low, the payback period can extend more than you might expect.

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