Tap into savings

The UK’s biggest water and energy saving project – Tap into Savings – was launched today in Redhill, Surrey. (February 12)

The Tap into Savings community initiative will help people in nearly 1,000 homes in Redhill and Merstham save water and energy, as well as money on their household bills.

Tap into Savings will also be delivered in two other areas in the UK – the Midlands and East Anglia – and will jointly involve more than 10,000 people. Results will be evaluated and announced later this year.    

A recent Tap into Savings survey, in Redhill and Merstham, found that more than half of the residents involved (54%) are worried about paying their energy bills.  The majority of residents surveyed also say that they are already taking steps to save water and energy, but many would like to do more.  Tap into Savings will help people achieve that aim – and, by making savings today, they’ll improve the environment of tomorrow.

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to help residents save water and energy by encouraging small changes in their behaviour and installing products in homes.  Tap into Savings will help us all live more efficiently in both environmental and monetary terms,” explained Joanne Zygmunt of Waterwise, who is leading the Tap into Savings project team.

Officially launching Tap into Savings at The Belfry Centre in Redhill (today) Peter Ainsworth MP, 2009 Environmental Parliamentarian of the Year, said: “It is very heartening to know that most local residents understand and accept the need to save vital resources such as water and energy. As the population of the South East continues to grow there is increasing pressure to lead our lives more efficiently when using these life-essential resources.”

The Tap into Savings survey revealed that many local residents already save resources. For example:
58% of people regularly turn off the tap when cleaning their teeth
77% of people hardly ever leave the tap running when washing dishes
66% of people hardly ever boil more water than they need in the kettle
85% of people recycle regularly

It also revealed that 46% aim to do more to help the environment in the future. Tap into Savings will help them do that, by saving more efficiently and effectively.

Funded in part by Defra’s Greener Living Fund (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), Tap into Savings is a joint project led by Waterwise and undertaken with the help of Raven Housing Trust, Sutton and East Surrey Water, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, Global Action Plan, and the Environment Agency.

The Tap into Savings initiative in Surrey is focused on 600 selected Raven homes in the Redhill and Merstham area and also involves 350 private homes within the Reigate & Banstead Borough Council area.

Homes will be provided with a range of free water efficient devices, including toilet cistern kits, aerated showerheads, shower adaptors and tap inserts fitted in bathrooms and kitchens. Residents will be encouraged to take control of their energy bills with the help of free energy monitors, energy saving products and advice.

As part of the project, Surrey residents are being encouraged to join EcoTeams – neighbourhood groups of friends and relatives – to learn and develop ways of saving water and energy, wasting less and recycling more.   Shoppers visiting the Belfry Centre today were made aware of Tap into Savings and EcoTeams through various competitions, free information and awareness displays.  The launch activity continues tomorrow (Saturday, 10am - 4pm).

Trewin Restorick, Chief Executive, Global Action Plan added: “Tap into Savings research has shown that many people obviously care about the way they use water and energy in their homes, but we believe that through the use of more efficient devices and small changes to lifestyles, significant savings can be achieved. That’s the challenge we are setting local residents with Tap into Savings and through the formation of EcoTeams.”

A Surrey pilot scheme for Tap into Savings undertaken in 2007/08 – the Preston Water Efficiency Initiative, in Tadworth near Banstead – achieved savings of almost 15% in household water usage.

“This is a forward-thinking initiative that has obvious benefits in our everyday lives and I urge local residents to support Tap into Savings by joining a neighbourhood EcoTeam, and making worthwhile savings for everyone concerned,” added Cllr Julian Ellacott, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council’s Executive Member for Environment.

For more information visit www.tapintosavings.org

   
Main contacts for media inquiries:
Chris Philpot (for project lead, Waterwise)
cphilpot@waterwise.org.uk or 0207 957 4615

John Burbedge (for Sutton and East Surrey Water)
john.burbedge@surreyhouseuk.com or 01189 620609 / 01372 46011

Clare Webber (for Raven Housing Trust)
Clare.Webber@ravenht.org.uk or 01737 272417            


NOTES TO EDITORS

Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) (www.defra.gov.uk) Defra’s Third Sector Strategy, launched in November 2008, shows the Department’s commitment to working with the third sector (which includes voluntary and community organisations, charities, NGOs, co-operatives and social enterprises). The Greener Living Fund had a total budget of £6m to award in a two year funding period and contributes to the Government’s work towards a sustainable, low carbon and resource efficient economy.

Global Action Plan (www.globalactionplan.org.uk) is a charity that helps people take practical action in their everyday lives for a better world.
 
Raven Housing Trust (Raven) (www.ravenht.org.uk) Redhill-based Raven Housing Trust manages almost 6,000 homes ranging from studio flats to five bedroom houses, sheltered accommodation for the elderly and affordable homes for key workers. Raven has an ambitious development programme to build more than 500 new homes by 2014. All new homes will be built to at least  level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.    Supportive quote: “Raven was a partner in the highly successful Preston initiative in 2008 which saw over 170 homes in the Tadworth area of Surrey fitted with water saving devices. The project resulted in a 15% saving in household water use. As one of the leading 'green' housing associations in the UK, Raven is very pleased to be a partner organisation in the Tap into Savings project through which an additional 650 Raven homes will be fitted with equipment to save energy as well as water,”said Claire Lipop, Sustainability Manager

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council (Council) (www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk) is dedicated to achieving sustainable, thriving and self-reliant communities within an attractive, accessible and well-maintained Borough.  

Sutton and East Surrey Water (SESW) (www.waterplc.com) has a  supply area of 322 square miles (834 sq km) and serves a population of more than 650,000 people in east Surrey, and parts of West Sussex, west Kent and south London.   Supportive quote: “Following the success of the Preston Water Efficiency Initiative in Tadworth near Banstead, we are delighted to be actively involved in this project, our second local water-saving initiative involving retrofitting of water-efficient devices in existing homes,” said Alison Murphy, Sutton and East Surrey Water’s Distribution Engineer (and Tap into Savings team member).

The Environment Agency manages water resources to maintain supplies and protect the environment. It also encourages sustainable development and aims to help homes and businesses throughout England and Wales manage water use wisely both now and in the future.  Supportive quote: Clive Coley, Environment Agency Thames region Regional Strategy Unit manager, said: “We strongly support this initiative as not only will it help conserve water, a precious natural resource, it will help residents reduce their energy use and therefore their bills. The project will help in building an evidence base for future water saving work and energy retrofitting schemes not only in the Redhill and Merstham areas, but across the country."

Waterwise (www.waterwise.org.uk) is the leading water efficiency organisation in the UK.  It is an independent, not-for-profit, nongovernmental organisation whose mission is to reduce the waste of water.