Hot water use key to cutting domestic emissions says study

A new report has called for action to reduce the carbon footprint of British homes associated with hot water use. Hot water use will remain a major cause of domestic carbon emissions � and could even overtake emissions from heating in new homes � unless action is taken to reduce demand and energy losses from inefficient boilers and poorly lagged pipes, says a new report, 'Quantifying the energy and carbon effects of saving water'. A joint study by the Energy Saving Trust and the Environment Agency predicts emissions from hot water use will increasingly dominate the carbon footprint of new fully insulated housing � unless progressive regulation in energy efficiency is matched by higher water efficiency standards. Despite advances in water-saving technology and the introduction of sustainability standards for new housing, the growing popularity of power showers and frequent showering means we are still using the same amount of water today as we were 10 years ago � around 150 litres per person per day. To reduce emissions from domestic hot water use, the report calls on: Planners and developers to include water efficiency measures in energy-efficiency retrofit programmes because this would save water and energy as well as cut emissions. Government to review the regulatory framework for hot water system design to incorporate a similar level of detail to that given to building and ventilation design. Everyone to make simple changes, such as washing up dishes in a bowl rather than under a running hot water tap, because even small actions can reduce energy bills and save money. The report's other key recommendations include: o improvements in pipe layout and insulation for reducing energy and water waste while waiting for hot water at the tap; and o continued improvements in boiler design to make them more energy efficient. Water resources in certain parts of the UK are already under pressure. The Environment Agency predicts the amount of water available in England and Wales in 2050 will drop by an average 15 per cent, and up to as much as 80 per cent during summer months, as a result of climate change.