A Case Study of Flow Regulators Installed in Washroom Taps within an Office Building
Journal Title: International Journal of Environment and Climate Change - Year 2016, Vol 6, Issue 2
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the operational performance of water efficiency products in order to report the actual-versus-potential impact on water demand. Study Design: The study monitored the volume of water used from taps situated in two male and two female washrooms in an office building. During a 21 week period, the tap flow rates were decreased, without occupants being informed, and water usage was recorded and analysed. Place and Duration of Study: The first floor of an office building located at the Building Research Establishment (BRE) site, in Garston near Watford, UK. The study took place from December 2012 to May 2013. Methodology: Flow regulators were installed in-line with the taps to reduce the flow rate. Using flow meters and data loggers, the water usage was recorded and analysed. Results: During the 21 week study, 6,217 events were recorded, where an event consisted of one or both taps being used in the same visit by a single user. The installation of the flow regulators failed to provide robust evidence that a reduction in water flow from taps equated to an increase in water efficiency. Conclusion: Evaluating the operational effectiveness of low cost water efficiency products is time consuming and expensive. The actual performance of flow regulators, which are low cost and simple to install, failed to achieve the expected gains in water efficiency.
Authors and Affiliations
Steven R. Brown, Jonathan Chenoweth, Stuart Blofeld, Lorna Hamilton, Mindy Hadi
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP350426
- DOI -
- Views 97
- Downloads 0
Exploratory Assessment of SUDS Feasibility in Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Basin, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Aims: In recent decades, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, frequently has been affected by local floods and inundation from heavy rainfall. Conventional flood mitigation measures such as building flood gates and upgrading sewer...
Sustainable Energy Sources for the Future: A New Geothermal Heat Pump System for the Built Environment
In the recent attempts to stimulate alternative energy sources for heating and cooling of buildings, emphasise has been put on utilisation of the ambient energy from ground source heat pump systems (GSHPs) and other rene...
Climate Change Diplomacy- Apparatus for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: A Reflection in the Context of Bangladesh
The objective of this analysis is mainly to examine the current trend of climate change diplomacy carry forward by the Government of Bangladesh. This focus on effectiveness of Climate Change (CC) Diplomacy for the climat...
Influence of Environmental Factors on Activities of Bacterial Population Associated With Rhizospheric Soil of Wheat Crop
Aim: To study the effect of environmental factors on the activities of soil microbial population in the rhizospheric soil of wheat crop. Study Design: An agroclimatic study was carried out to study the effect of environ...
Feasibility Study of Water Saving Measures in Higher Education Buildings: A Case Study of the University of Aveiro
Aims: Evaluate the water savings potential and financial viability of water saving measures in in higher education buildings Study Design: The study follows an observational approach to characterize the current performa...