Coalition urges government to include water in Green Homes Grant scheme

The omission of water efficiency as means to save carbon and money within the Green Homes Grant has been highlighted by the UK Water Efficiency Strategy steering group and Waterwise, who requested a revision.

The groups joined forces to urge business and energy secretary Alok Sharma to include water efficiency measures within the scope of the scheme.

In their letter, the water coalition pointed out the amount of energy needed to heat water in the home for showers and hot taps accounts for 17 per cent of a household’s carbon emissions – second only to heating the home.

The £2 billion voucher scheme announced by the chancellor last month will offer most households up to £5,000 towards the cost of installing upgrades such as insulation and heat pumps, and poorer households up to £10,000.

However, measures to help people use less water were not included. The letter suggested adding water efficiency measures to the Green Homes Grants as a way to advance governmental policy on water efficiency.

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.”

The letter proposed for maximum flow rate to be used as a measurement for efficient products that could be included within the scheme. It said low cost measures that save both water and energy would “maximise the benefits for low-income householders, saving money in both energy and metered water bills.”

It also underlined the need for Defra to introduce a government-backed mandatory water label and introduce minimum product standards for dishwashers and washing machines.

“When such a label is in place, A-rated products should fall within the scope of these retrofit programmes due to the energy and water savings that they would deliver,” the letter stated.

Nicci Russell, managing director of Waterwise said: “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.”