Water efficiency in new buildings

Defra and the Department for Communities and Local Government have published ‘Water Efficiency in New Buildings: A Joint Policy Statement’. This report summarises the key findings emerging from the responses received to the recent consultation on proposals to make minimum standards of water efficiency performance mandatory in all new homes and new commercial developments. These standards would underpin those set out in the Code for Sustainable Homes.

The proposals for new dwellings included the suggestion of a whole building performance standard for water consumption, of between 120 and 135 litres maximum consumption per head per day. As an alternative, the Government proposed the possibility of setting performance standards for individual water fittings.

The report announces that, following the consultation, the Government will introduce a whole building performance standard of 125 litres maximum consumption per head per day within the Building Regulations in 2008. In addition to this the Government will publish proposals for a new performance standards for key fittings.

Furthermore, the report announces that the Government will assess the scope for setting a standard for non-residential buildings.

Water Efficiency Targets

Ofwat has set water efficiency targets for individual water companies which are voluntary and starting immediately. The targets are based on water stress maps published by the Environment Agency.

Water companies in areas of serious water stress will have to reduce the volume of water delivered to customers by 1% against a 2005-2008 baseline. The targets in areas of moderate and low stress will be 0.5% and 0.25% respectively, with Wales being the latter.

For more information, visit www.ofwat.gov.uk

Environment Agency Spotlight Report

The Environment Agency has published their annual spotlight report which assesses the environmental performance of amongst others the energy, waste, construction and water sectors.

The report key findings are:
· The industry the Environment Agency directly regulates released 34% of all UK greenhouse gases.
· Greenhouse gas emissions in England and Wales increased from 203.6 million tonnes in 2005 to 211.5 million tonnes in 2006.
· The industry the Environment Agency regulates generated (and transferred off-site) about the same amount of waste in 2006 as 2005, which is an increase of 42% since 2000.

For more information, download 'Putting the breaks on climate change' report.

Common approach to carbon accounting in Water Industry

Water UK is working with UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) and the Carbon Trust to design and implement a common accounting tool to be introduced at the end of the year.

The water industry has been among the first to report voluntarily on its energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. However since then the debate on climate change has moved on and so has the understanding of how emissions affect the climate and how they should be measured. The industry acknowledges the importance of including the implications of carbon in all decision-making.

The first phase of UKWIR research will focus on statutory reporting requirements, such as those associated with the Climate Change Bill, and operational carbon which equates to emissions associated with electricity consumption in running the industry’s assets and providing its services.

A second phase, following quickly, will recommend a single approach for embedded carbon - the carbon contained in materials used in construction such as concrete and steel.