The cost of consumption
June 29th 2009 With water usage starting to gain the same importance as energy consumption, the time is ripe for Cistermiser’s water saving washroom devices. MD Geoffrey Gestetner tells Gerardine Coyne why he believes in economics over ecology
I don’t think green’s ever going to go away because the world has changed for good – 20 years ago we all smoked in meetings – that would be unthinkable now.” Rather than veering off along an idealistic sidetrack, Gestetner takes the pragmatic approach to ‘green’. This is clear when he lists the legislative and contextual drivers that direct specifiers to focus on water and energy savings, rather than focusing on the idea of Corporate Social Responsibility. The government’s Code for Sustainable Homes aims for zero carbon homes by 2016, “possibly a little unrealistic,” comments Gestetner, and part G of Building Regulations restricts showers to 12l/min, falling to 8l/min over time. Gestetner says increasingly, specifiers require products to be on the government’s Water Technology List, carrying an ECA qualification.
Ratings war
However, Gestetner is not keen on the strong arm of the law as the main push for water savings. “As an individual I don’t like government intervention. As a company we take the line that the cost benefits justify the purchase. Legislation is an added bonus.” Gestetner believes that products should speak for themselves, but he also says that it would help if those company claims could be proven. “We would really welcome a water efficiency rating of products, as we believe ours would be at the very top. Sadly it seems a long way off.”
Other existing types of assessment do help the market for water saving products. BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) is the leading buildings assessment method. It describes a building’s environmental performance and sets the standard for best practice. It can be used to assess new or existing buildings, and a good BREEAM rating is vital in such categories as education, healthcare, offices, retail and prisons. In the planning stages of new buildings it can help developers and planners to clinch a contract.
Regarding water, BREEAMcredits are given where the specification includes products that consume less water than standard specifications for the same type of fittings. For example a first credit is given for a WC flush volume of 4.5l, with user instructions for dual flush. The product also has to be DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) compliant. Cistermiser’s IR (infra-red) range contains Easyflush, a hands-free WC cistern valve. It automatically defaults to part flush for maximum water savings, at the same time reducing any potential confusion for the user.
As Gestetner says, “I have to admit, that with button systems, sometimes I’m not sure which one is part flow, and which is full.” There are two versions of the system. With Easyflush ‘wave’, the length of time the user’s hand is held in front of the sensor determines the flush – less than a second operates part flush, over a second operates full flush. With Easyflush ‘walkaway’, the flush is activated by the user standing up or leaving the cubicle, (it can also be operated by the hand in front of the sensor). A part flush is delivered if the user departs from the cubicle within 60 seconds, and a full flush is delivered if the user departs after more than a minute.
Returning to BREEAM, a second credit is added to the first if taps operate at a max flow rate of 6l/min with a timed flow push button or electronic sensors taps. Cistermiser’s Novatap is a hands free infrared sensor activated basin spout. There are two versions, one is a 5l/min aerated flow, the other is a 3.5l/min non-aerated flow suitable for high risk applications where there is a risk of water carried respiratory contracted viruses/bacteria. The flow is operated by the user’s hands under the sensor, and when the hands are moved away the sensor stops after two seconds. Water flow run-on time is adjustable.
According to Cistermiser’s calculations, using a conventional one handed lever mixer, to wet hands, soap hands and then rinse takes 35 seconds and uses 7.58l water. The consumption in litres per year would be 415,005. Using the Novatap 3.5l/min flow, takes 25 seconds – it shuts off when the hands move away to get soap – and uses 1.46l of water, totalling 79,844l water per annum. That is just over an 80% saving. Based on Cistermiser’s calculations of 260 days/yr – the equivalent of weekdays only – that is an annual saving of £681.52.
Gestetner thinks that the current water situation is a matter of concern as there can be no awareness without metering. “If you don’t have to pay for exactly what you use, then you don’t think about it. I’d like people to focus more on actual water consumption and the true lifetime costs. The market should be the driver and consumers should pay the proper costs of water and sewage, as ultimately this is what would lead to the greatest efficiency.”
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