Efficiency labelling could plug future water deficit

A government-led mandatory water label scheme would save “at least five times as much” water as a voluntary scheme according to experts addressing the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)  on the merits of water labelling.

Waterwise, together with Southern Water and the Energy Savings Trust, presented to the department on how water efficient products could improve the carbon efficiency of homes and businesses.

The group said a dedicated mandatory water label could help reduce consumption by 1,500Ml/day by 2050 against a deficit of 3,500Ml/day predicted by the National Infrastructure Commission.

BEIS is considering the efficacy of current ecodesign and energy labelling products in the UK and how homes and businesses could become more carbon efficient. Within the consultation is a consideration to include taps and showers within the energy efficiency label.

A voluntary water efficiency label was created by the Bathroom Manufacturer’s Association and is widely supported by the sector but Ben Earl, efficiency manager at Southern Water, said a mandatory scheme could yield five times greater water savings.

The group said a standalone water label could have double the impact on reducing water consumption compared to including products on existing energy labels and save householders around 20 per cent on their current water bill.

Brian Horne, insight and analytics consultant at the Energy Savings Trust said the Trust recommends introducing a mandatory label regardless of what happens with BEIS extending the energy label.

The EST reran previous studies on water labelling to only include showers and taps and showed that over 25 years a wider water label would save nearly 75 per cent more than an energy label alone for showers and taps.

He argued that a water label would raise the awareness for consumers to consider water usage at the point of purchase and to examine their own consumption habits. Including taps and showers on an energy label could mean customers are “less concerned” than if there is a dedicated label and as electricity becomes decarbonised the value of water as a resource could be overlooked.

Earl explained the four key pillars of Southern’s Target 100 programme – smart meters, home visits, customer contact, incentives – are all more expensive and deliver fewer benefits than a mandatory label.

In Australia a mandatory scheme was implemented in 2005 and by 2017 was saving 300Ml/d while emissions have reduced by the equivalent of 11 megatons C02 to date.

Arthur Montagu energy using products team at BEIS said the EcoDesign policy will be retained in UK law after Brexit, but there is an opportunity to set new standards that maximise the benefits to save carbon, energy and money on bills.

Montagu said the department was at an early stage in its thinking but could see no barriers to mandating a label for taps and showers.

“We will look at all evidence to consider best route but in terms of legislative powers for mandating labels we are looking at this at the moment with Defra but there’s no real barriers,” he said.

Together with Water UK, Artesia assessed different ways to meet this deficit and highlighted labelling as the single most effective way to reduce consumption and demand.

BEIS is inviting evidence until 4 September.