The Water Footprint And How To Reduce It
27/09/2010 | Water is hidden in all that we see and all that we do - in our bricks and mortar, our transport, the clothes that we wear and the food that we eat. We all have a 'water footprint' and it is closely linked to the carbon footprint which has become increasingly ubiquitous. Experts now talk about water, energy and carbon savings in the same breath and at the recent meeting of the BMA's General Council two presenters, Jo Kaye of the Energy Saving Trust and Ike Omambala of Waterwise spoke with enthusiasm about the correlation between all three. We can significantly reduce our 'water footprint' and be much more conscious of it when we buy goods. We should ask the question "how much water does this product use?" Bathroom products are a great starting point for this as more than 60% of the water used in the average home is in the bathroom. To help would-be purchasers of a new suite the BMA has been working hard to develop its Water Efficient Product Labelling Scheme. Indeed this magazine has helped to demonstrate its features and benefits which are now recognised by DEFRA, CCWater, CLG, Waterwise, and The Energy Saving Trust. Bathroom retailers, merchants and DIY stores now have their outlets listed in the scheme's database (listing is free at www.water-efficiencylabel.org.uk/stockist_registration.asp ) The award winning scheme has, at its heart, a web-enabled database which shows consumers exactly how much water their chosen bathroom products actually use. This helps them save water, save money, and feel good that they are helping to save the planet. More details at www.water-efficiencylabel.org.uk/