Sustainable Communities Partnership

Save Water Save Money has teamed up with the Energy Saving Trust and SHIFT to form the Sustainable Communities Partnership; a pioneering initiative introduced to dramatically reduce water and energy wastage in community housing, and save housing association tenants money. The Partnership may be one of the most significant breakthroughs in helping Housing Associations make a major impact on the environmental management and cost efficiency of social housing.

The Sustainable Communities Partnership brings together Water Companies, Housing Associations and Local Authorities, The Energy Saving Trust and industry specialists SaveWaterSaveMoney, in a beneficial programme to enhance the sustainability of the nation’s four million social housing tenants.

By making new, cutting edge water and energy saving devices, such as CombiSmart accessible to Housing Associations and Local Authorities, the partnership is able to deliver potential savings of more than 30,000 litres of water and 750kWH a year per household – which translates to up to £250 annual savings for tenants whose properties are on water meters, and up to £50 a year for those who are not. What makes these savings so notably high is the innovative, patented CombiSmart. It’s a simple, thermostatic valve that accelerates the heating process by holding back water while the combi-boiler heats it to the right temperature. By doing this, it is able to dramatically reduce water wastage and utility bills. This represents a highly accessible solution that’s both affordable to Housing Associations and Local Authorities and effective for the millions of cash-strapped social housing tenants in the UK. And it’s not just helping them now – the savings will continue, helping to fight fuel poverty.

The Sustainable Communities Partnership offers the innovative CombiSmart at a discounted price to Housing Associations, as well as a number of water and energy saving devices free of charge for installation in tenants’ homes. But it will not stop there. Sustainable Communities Partnership will also offer Save Water Save Money’s experience in the water efficiency business.

Tim Robertson, Director of SaveWaterSaveMoney and creator of the Partnership, says:

‘The Sustainable Communities Partnership is a real opportunity to bring Water Companies and Housing Associations together to benefit social housing. As well as the significant savings in water and energy wastage, the financial advantage for tenants is undeniable.’

Andrew Eagles, Managing Director of Sustainable Homes says:

‘If you have a combi-boiler you wait for the water to heat up. All that time as the water heats up, water is being wasted down the sink. Residents throughout the UK are suffering from rising water and energy bills. Practical and useful devices such as this are welcome to reduce those costs to residents.’

To find out more about the Sustainable Communities Partnership click here

SaveWaterSaveMoney has joined with SHIFT and the Energy Saving Trust to form the Sustainable Communities Partnership, a pioneering initiative designed to dramatically reduce water and energy wastage in Community Housing, and save Housing Association and Local Authority tenants money on their utility bills every year. To find out more about how Sustainable Communities Partnership can assist Housing Associations and Local Authorities in saving money off their utility bills, simply click the logo below.

Saving water and water efficiency have become more important than ever as we’ve become more aware of our environment. Climate change and the changes in weather patterns will affect our water resources in the future so it’s vital to think about ways to save water before it’s too late. As an organisation, Save Water Save Money takes this seriously because it’s not just water we’re wasting but energy and finances, too. So the faster we consider our water efficiency and take on board some water saving tips, the better.

Whether it’s leaving the tap running while we brush our teeth or not thinking about the way our toilets flush, we all waste water. Yet at Save Water Save Money, we want to show people that saving water isn’t difficult. There are many ways to promote water efficiency, and they mostly involve very small changes to our behaviour. It’s about buying devices that you can fit and forget about to help save water. These could be anything from products you attach to your shower head, washing machine or dishwasher to water saving devices you can use daily like a shower timer or a water butt.

At Save Money Save Water, we believe it’s our job to support water efficiency. Below are 50 water saving tips that can help. And they’re not about going short, going without or spending a lot of money, but about reducing unnecessary use. Saving water is really easy and inexpensive if you know how.

• Bathroom – Our range of water-saving devices include showerheads from the Flowpoint Eco Showerhead or Mira Eco Showerhead to Mira Everclear or even Electric Showers, and they’re all equally effective ways of saving water. We also stock water-efficient bath and basin mixers and dual flush toilets. In fact, you can have fun at bath time and save water with our amazing inflatable bath toy – the BathBuoy. It’s a great way to aid water efficiency by saving up to 30 litres each time you bath your child.
• Kitchen – Save water by choosing from our range of tap aerators that will help water conservation by reducing the amount of water used to just 8 litres per minute. If you want a sleeker look, why not choose one of our sink mixers? They save water and look good, too.
• Garden – Save water and promote water efficiency while washing your car with our two amazing Hand Pump Pressure Washers – 12 and 20 litre. You can also collect rain water in one of the water saving products like the water butts from our range. They help make your garden less dependent on water. Place some water saving products like crystals in the pots too so you don’t have to irrigate so often.
• Around the house – Another way to save water in the home is to make all of your appliances work more effectively, and our range of limescale removal products can help. Eddy Limescale Removal helps promote water efficiency throughout the whole house. Save Water Save Money also offers a range of limescale-resistant showerheads as well as kettle, iron, washing machine and dishwasher cleaners.
• Appliances – You can help save water and do your bit for water conservation by choosing the right and water efficient dishwashers and washing machines. Our dishwashers help save water by not using more than 17 litres of water per cycle and the washing machines save water by not using more than 45 litres of water per wash.

In order to be truly water efficient you need to understand your water usage better. Here are few facts about water use that will help you conserve water:

1. Saving water starts in the bathroom. More than half the water we use in a day comes from there.
2. Save water, save money – up to £24 a day can be saved through water efficiency by reducing the amount of water you use by 20 litres.
3. Turning off the tap when you brush your teeth is an effective way to save water – up to 12 litres a day in fact. You tend to forget? Get a Toothy Timer that will constantly remind you about the importance of it.
4. A leaky tap can waste 60 litres of water per hour. Save water by checking and fixing all of yours.
5. Water supplies are under pressure in parts of the UK and demand is growing by 1% a year. That’s why water conservation and learning water saving tips now is so important for the future.
6. Saving water isn’t just about conserving the water we can see. Two thirds of the water we use is imported from abroad and embedded in the products we eat and wear.
7. Saving water will affect us all. On average, we use a staggering 150 litres of water per person a day in the UK.
8. 25% of household energy is spent heating up water. Only heating the water you need can not only saves on bills, but can save water and energy, too.
9. Water consumption usually drops by 18-25% when a water meter is fitted. Hence, to help you save water, check out our information on water meters.
10. In the UK as much as 50% of a household’s water is used in the garden during the driest months. Save water by trying out some water conservation methods in yours.
11. A garden hose uses 10 litres of water every minute. Simply using a watering can instead could help save a significant amount of water.

1. Trigger nozzles can save water by using it only when needed. This can aid water efficiency by saving up to 225 litres a week.
2. Only use sprinklers for large areas of grass. Water small patches by hand with a watering can to help save water and avoid waste.
3. You could also try running your dishwasher on an economy setting if you have one, to save water, energy and money.
4. If it’s one of those rare days where you don’t have lots of clothes to wash, use the half-load setting on your washing machine. This will also save water, energy and money, on top.
5. Of course, many of us like a nice relaxing bath every now and again. So if you do fancy a soak, try not to fill the tub deeper than you need to. It sounds simple but really helps save water over the long term.
6. When you want to bath your kids, fit the amazing BathBuoy designed by Save Water Save Money. It conserves up to 30 litres of water each time and saves on your utility bills, too. That aside, it’s a great toy and a fun way to teach your kids about water efficiency and sustainability.
7. When you’re having a bath or shower, the hot water takes time to come through. In this regard, Combi boilers are not good when it comes to saving water. 6-8 pints can be wasted waiting for the heated water to flow. One option to help water conservation is to keep a 6 pint milk container next to the sink and collect the water that would have been wasted coming out of the tap or showerhead. This can then be used to water houseplants or wash the car and so on. If that sounds like too much hassle – just install our CombiSmart. It simply restricts the water flow until it reaches the desired temperature of 40° so it’s a really easy way to save water.
8. When showering, turn off the water while you rub on showergel or shampoo your hair. Then just put the water back on to rinse it off. It’s a small move to make a large change over time to help water conservation.
9. Join 4 water butts together and save water from your roof. It’s a great method of water storage which you can then use to feed plants and so on.
10. There are gel crystals you can put in your tubs and hanging baskets that will swell up and hold water. This obviously saves water by using less of it when you’re watering. You can also add a two inch mulch on top of these to help keep the water in.
11. When rain is expected, save water by draining full water butts into empty watering cans and buckets, and make space to catch more rainwater in them. Easy!
12. Save water used when washing fruit and veg, then chuck it on to those plants that need a drink.
13. Water your garden in the evening to avoid evaporation. It’s a simple way to save water and a nice way to finish off your day.
14. Another way to help water efficiency is to wash the car using a bucket and watering can, along with water from the water butt. Or if you want an easier solution, there are some great water saving products on the market like our Waterless Car Cleaning Kit.
15. If you want to warm dinner plates and the oven hasn’t been on, save water by using the water you boiled your vegetables in. It saves water by re-using the veggie juice and is more energy efficient than boiling a kettle.
16. Another water saving tip is to take the rose off your watering can and pour the water on the roots of your plants rather than spreading it about or letting it evaporate.
17. Save water by using shredded newspapers or used tea bags in the bottom of flowerpots to aid water retention. Then at the end of the season, simply compost the lot.
18. Condensing tumble driers can be great water saving devices. This is because you can use the condensed water on house plants, to flush toilets, clean the car or even to soak pots and pans if it’s still hot. These are all great ways to save water and support water conservation.
19. Don't forget to turn off the tap when brushing your teeth. This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to save water – around 12 litres every time for a 2 minute brush.
20. When you come in from the garden, you can help with water conservation by washing your hands in a plastic bowl and using the water on plants in the garden.
21. When planting new flowers and vegetables into patio pots, you can save water by lining them with old newspaper first which really absorbs and holds liquid. This way, you only need to thoroughly water them once a week.
22. If you’ve got a fish pond, top it up by connecting a hose to a water butt instead of a tap. Not only does it help save water but it’s good, natural water for the fish, too.
23. Another easy water saving tip is to put the plug in the sink when you wash your hands. Simple yet very effective!
24. Wait until you have a full load before using washing machines or dishwashers. It’s incredible how much water gets wasted unnecessarily in this way.
25. Why not 'xericscape' your garden? That’s designing a garden to be more tolerant to dry conditions. You can save water by not having to water it as often. Take a look at the drought resistant plants.
26. Save water and ice when de-icing the freezer. Then you can re-use it to water your plants or flush the loo.
27. To aid water efficiency, keep a jug of tap water in the fridge rather than running the tap until it’s cold each time.
28. Cover the surface of patio pots with crushed slate chippings. It looks good, reduces the evaporation losses and therefore saves water, too.
29. When your washing machine is on a spin cycle, put the outlet hose into a bucket. The water can be used to fill up water butts and watering cans.
30. Instead of pouring water into your flower pots, fill a large bucket with water and submerge the pots one at a time until bubbles stop appearing on the surface. This may sound like a small way to save water but it all adds up!
31. Always try and use the shortest programme on your washing machine for clothes which just need refreshing. It really helps water efficiency and obviously saves time and energy, too.
32. Siphon your bath water out of the window into a water butt. It may be dirty but clean enough to wash your car or clean a patio!
33. Re-use your cooking water to pour on your vegetable patch. As well as saving water, any vitamins leaked into the water can energise your growing fruit and veg.
34. Use a water-efficient showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to install and can save you energy on top.
35. Shower with the plug in, not only do you become aware of how much water you use, but you can also save water by re-using it to water the lawn with afterwards.
36. Share baths with your young children. It saves water, and you get to play with the bath toys, too!
37. Mulch your plants well. It will help them hold moisture so you don't need to water them as often.
38. If your tap starts dripping, collect the water into a container and use it to wash your kitchen or bathroom floor with until you get the tap repaired. That’s water efficiency at its best.
39. Save water when you do your laundry by hand washing those odd items that don’t fit in with either your whites or colour wash.
40. Shortening your shower by a minute or two is also a great way to help with water conservation.
41. Upgrading your toilets with two flow controls really helps save water. It means there’s one control for small flushes and another for larger ones so you only use what you need each time.
42. A water butt is a great way to harvest rainwater for your garden. Another great water saving tip is to then link this to a drip irrigation system, which makes the most of each drop of water, delivering it right to the roots.
43. Go to your water company’s website or to a list of water companies offering free water saving packs on our site and check if they have any of the little gadgets available to help save water. They usually have some great ideas to help with water efficiency and often the products are free.
44. When you plant a tree, plant a small piece of pipe with it to get water down directly to the roots with no evaporation.
45. Save water when shaving. Don't rinse the razor by turning the tap every time. Fill the sink a quarter full instead to rinse it with.
46. One of the simplest and greatest water saving devices is the 4 minute shower timer. You may be surprised that spending one minute less in there could save around 24 glasses of water.
47. Save water by washing fruit and vegies in a half-filled sink instead of under running water.
48. Use a broom and bucket of water for washing down the patio rather than a steady flow of water from the hose. This is a great method of water conservation.
49. Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. A taller lawn shades roots and holds soil moisture better than if it’s closely clipped – a cunning method to save water and keep your garden looking lovely.
50. Rather than following a set watering schedule, check for soil moisture of the potted plants with the tip of your finger. You will save water and avoid over-watering the plant.

Summer is here and that means more time in the garden but not necessarily more time out watering plants. The sun has been out shining this week so we thought it was the perfect opportunity to remind you of some of the ways you can reduce your water use in the garden. Not only is this good for the environment, but if you are on a meter, good for your wallet as well.

Water saving starts right from when you are planning your garden. Mike Peacock, water resources manager for Affinity Water states

“It’s important to choose plants that thrive in dry conditions, such as lavender, marigolds and cornflowers so look for the full sun symbol on the plant labels when buying new plants as this indicates their tolerance to dry conditions. When planting try to make the most of moisture by adding a layer of tree bark, gravel or compost to keep the sun off the soil; this will help retain the moisture in the soil.”

And for those of you who’s gardens are already planted and coming into bloom here are a few tips to make you all into super-efficient water saving gardeners

· Make sure your lawnmower is set to a higher setting (approx. 4cm) this will help develop thicker grass which will trap early morning dew and reduces evaporation.

· Watering in the midday sun will mean more evaporation, try to water in the early morning or during the evening

· Move your hanging baskets and containers to shady areas of the garden where possible

· A few gel crystals mixed in with your compost are a great way of retaining water in pots and planters.

· If your planting trees or other plants that have deep roots consider burying a short length of pipe alongside your plant; then if you water into the tube the water goes directly to the roots where the plant needs it most.

· Water butts are a great way of storing unused rain water for a later date and if you are on a water meter, will save you money.

For more on our great range of drought resistant plants that will help you achieve the look you want, without spending all day and night in the garden watering check out our outdoors section.