Watering Down The Effort Of Saving

So, back in October the UN Population Division announced that they expected the global human population to top 7 billion before the end of the month, raising the usual questions about the finite resources with which we have to support ourselves. The very next week was deemed to be ‘Energy Saving Week 2011’ by the UKs Energy Saving Trust. Energy is clearly a relevant topic to modern, Western societies and just about anybody trying to make ends meet in the less than forgiving economic climate which surrounds us.

While energy saving can sometimes be construed as a bit wishy-washy, tree-huggy, and (let’s face it) impractical, the reality of energy saving is really no different than that of buying a more fuel efficient car or opting to properly insulate your loft. The key is not using more of a resource, and therefore not spending more money, than you actually need to.

One of the most overlooked and least considered aspects of household energy wastage is water. Now, most of us know that showers use less water than baths, and that collecting rainwater in a water butt for use on your garden is a much more sensible and responsible way to do things. Few of us consider the money which is literally going down the plug hole as we wash our hands, brush our teeth, or rinse a coffee mug. The issue here is not that we should all stop washing our hands and brushing our teeth, only a madman would suggest that. The issue is that most of the water coming out of the tap goes straight down the drain and never even touches our hands, toothbrush, mug, etc. This is often due to taps either being turned on fully without necessity, left on continuously, or both.

We are all human. None of us are perfect. The path of every life is strewn with the wreckage of best intentions. The best way to make a positive, permanent, and effective change is to take the effort and thought out of it. Our lives are busy. We are all trying to juggle too many balls at once. The last thing any of us have the time to consider is whether we could be using a little less water when we rinse a plate or wash our hands.

Thankfully, technology has once again come to our rescue. With modern tap brands such as Carron Phoenix and Bluci including more water efficient and water saving taps in their ranges, it is now easier than ever to save water and money with little or no effort.

Consumers are always going to be more motivated by saving money than saving the planet. This is just human nature. Most people will pay more attention to the boil on their own neck than to the millions dying each year in Africa from a simple lack of food and clean drinking water. The psychologists can argue all they want, but I think a lot of this is to do with having some sense of actually having the power to make a difference.

Around 40% of UK households have water meters, and this number is expected to rise dramatically in the next 10 years. This means that as more and more households find themselves paying only for the water that they actually use, more of them are likely to become interested in finding ways to reduce their own water consumption, and therefore their water bill.

As is the way with these things, only time will tell how long it takes British households to buy-in to the water saving habit. But many leading tap manufacturers are getting ready for when they do. This should give hope to anybody out there still hoping to save the planet.