4 steps to save water and money in your business
As a responsible utilities provider for small businesses, we know we are working with scarce and valuable resources. With more hot weather approaching, water usage in your business is likely to rise. No matter what industry you are in, saving water during summer – and throughout the year – is environmentally friendly and could also save your business a considerable amount of money. We have put together some tips and advice for you to save money and water in your business:
Equip – Start by having the right equipment
Installing water-efficient equipment is a simple way for your small business to save water. Consider installing lever or mixer taps that save water by reaching the desired temperature quickly. Tap aerators that mix air in with the water flow are also easy to fit to your taps and can reduce the amount of water used by as much as 50%.
Wondering where to aim your water saving efforts next? The toilets. Dual-flush toilets, that give a choice as to how much water is flushed, allow you to decrease water usage. Take a look at your urinals too. If your business is open 40 hours a week, up to 75% of the flushing happens when there’s no one there. You can save your business up to 60% on water charges by fitting urinal controls and avoiding out-of-hours flushing.
If you have an emergency leak then you should call us immediately on 0333 014 3131 or call the wholesaler in your local area directly these details can be found in Customer Zone.
Check – Carry out regular checks
Are you concerned that your bills don’t match the amount of water you’ve been using? Maybe it’s time for a water audit! A commercial water audit, carried out by a third-party, analyses your water usage and provide detailed information about water efficiency opportunities and savings. It can also identify if there are any water leaks that should be repaired.
If a water audit is not right for your business, you can still carry out your own checks. To test for water leaks, simply put a few drops of food colouring or a dye tablet into your toilet tank. If the colour shows up in the bowl, this means that your tank is silently wasting up to 100 gallons of water a day. Your taps should also be checked regularly for any drips as they can waste up to 90 litres of water a week.
Recycle – Think about other uses for waste water
This is all about not wasting a single drop by recycling water. Take a minute to think about the numerous times that you’ve let water go down the drain and you’ll soon realise that a lot of that wasted water could be used for other purposes. If you recycle your water, you can substantially increase your water savings. Whilst you’re waiting for the tap to either warm up or cool down, place a bowl in the kitchen sink and recycle that water for watering plants, cleaning or even storing in the fridge for drinking.
Have you considered investing in a water butt? A water butt collects rainwater that falls in the gutters and pipes of your building in a large container which can then be used for car washes and watering your office garden, crops or plants. If you do not own the business property, you could pitch water conservation ideas to your landlord. Remember that when recycling water you should find the best ways to use it without compromising your health or your business.
Communicate – Engage and inform your employees
Your employees can play a big role in saving your business water. The commitment needs to start at the highest level of management and be cascaded all the way down. As the business owner it is your job to motivate your employees and get them involved in the business’ green efforts. Start speaking to staff about water saving initiatives, provide regular reports on water use figures and you could even allocate an individual to be responsible for a water conservation plan.
And the further good news is that going green can also boost your profits! Not only will you lower costs but your business will be more attractive when new customers and new employees are looking for a place that is more in tune with the world around us and encourages you to act on your company values.
Get in touch...
Keeping in touch is key if you want to make savings. As your water supplier we are here to help you. By providing us with updated meter reads each month you can ensure that we have accurate figures for your water usage (you can do this in a matter of clicks through your online Customer Zone account.)
Not sure how to read your water meter? You can find out more in our water help section here.
You can compare your business’ water consumption month-on-month and gain more insight into how water is being used by your business. You can access your last 12-months of bills through Customer Zone too.
For more water saving tips for in and out of your business visit Waterwise today.
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Ready to switch? Get a free business water quote here. We take care of the essential services so you can take care of business.
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