Tap into savings

A Tap into Savings survey carried out this summer revealed that 85 percent of respondents from Tile Hill, Canley and surrounding areas say that they are already taking steps to save water. Tap into Savings, a new community-based project in the area, aims to help everyone save even more to save money and help local water supplies and wildlife.

Free home visits are being offered to 2,000 residents in Tile Hill and Canley to help reduce the amount of water that many taps, toilets and showers waste.  Simple water saving devices are fitted to reduce waste without changing the look or performance of existing fixtures.  Electricity and gas saving devices are also offered as part of the home visits, which may help save about £50 a year in total on household bills.

Residents also are invited to come along to EcoTeam meetings to discuss other ways to save on water, gas and electricity. (The next one is happening on 8 September, at 7.30pm at Canley Family Centre, 47 Glebe close, CV4 8DJ.) The Tap into Savings survey revealed that 62 percent of respondents didn’t know that heating hot water is the second largest user of energy in the home (the largest user of energy is heating the home). EcoTeam meetings share facts like this about water, gas and electricity use as well as recycling, and participants come away with lots of new ideas for how to save even more at home.

Kate Hunter, Tap into Savings Project Facilitator in Coventry, says “the survey results were really interesting and it is fantastic that so many people in Coventry are already taking individual action to save water. This project will help everyone save more by adapting the technologies in our homes to be water wise, too.”

The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Coventry and Jim Cunningham MP, among other, recently launched Tap into Savings in Coventry. The Tap into Savings partnership approach brings together local and national partners to deliver one of the largest water and energy saving programmes in the UK.

For more information about Tap into Savings visit www.tapintosavings.org
  
Main contacts for media enquiries:
Victoria Higgins (for project lead, Waterwise)
vhiggins@waterwise.org.uk or 0207 344 1883

NOTES TO EDITORS
The postal survey was conducted between 21 May and 7 July 2010 by Waterwise and Feedback Services in collaboration with Severn Trent Water.  About 950 residents in Tile Hill, Canley and surrounding areas were surveyed.  The 85% figure in the release above is based on 793 responses; the 62% figure on 860 responses.  A survey results briefing will be available at www.tapintosavings.org shortly.

Tap into Savings is funded in part by the Greener Living Fund, which is sponsored by 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.

Tap into Savings Tile Hill and Canley partners:

Coventry City Council www.coventry.gov.uk

Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) www.defra.gov.uk

Environment Agency www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Global Action Plan www.globalactionplan.org.uk

Severn Trent Water www.stwater.co.uk/savewater

Waterwise www.waterwise.org.uk

Whitefriars Housing Group www.whitefriarshousing.co.uk