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 123
- Downloads 0
Effects of Climate Change, Poverty and Macroeconomic Policies on Agricultural Trade Performance in Nigeria
Aims: This study ascertained the joint influences of climate factors, poverty and macroeconomic environment on agricultural export performance in Nigeria. Study Design: The study is a survey based on time series data....
Carbon Sequestration Potential of Agricultural Crops in Designed Plant Growth Chamber
Aim: Climate change is becoming one of the major global environment concerns. The earth’s climate is predicted to change due to release of greenhouse gases and there is an urgent need for stabilizing the increasing level...
Monitoring Spatial and Temporal Seaweeds Variation Using Remote Sensing Data in Al-Shoaiba Coast, Red Sea
Aims: Spatial variability and temporal dynamics of benthic seaweeds using the field investigation and Landsat Thematic Mapper images Place and Duration of Study: Al-Shoaiba area, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea was investigated an...
Carbon Storage in Equatorial Forest Soil-litter Systems as a Function of Management Intensity and Type of Vegetation Cover
Aims and Place: The increase in greenhouse gas emissions in recent decades, especially CO2, is attributed to the increasing burning of fossil fuels and the expansion of agricultural activities. Therefore, more informatio...
Characterization of Particulate Matter in Urban Environments and Its Effects on the Respiratory System of Mice
Aims: To investigate the characteristics of ambient particulate matter (PM) and its impacts on animal respiratory system. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in urban area of Mysore city from 2014 to 201...