Against a backdrop of high inflation and soaring energy costs, housing associations and tenants are facing numerous challenges. The topic of energy and water efficiency is front of mind for many. Here, Martyn Brown, Technical and Contracts Manager at Triton Showers, explores key considerations for shower specification and why going electric can help ease financial pressure for property owners and occupants alike.
The cost-of-living crisis appears to show no sign of subsiding anytime soon. Statistics released in April reinforce this, showing that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate is almost a full percentage point higher compared to those projected in the Bank of England’s February report.
In the context of social housing, last year’s Sector Risk Profile highlighted numerous challenges posed by inflation, centring around financial pressures such as rising cost of debt, a proposed rent cap, and a weak housing market. Simultaneously, tenants face their own difficulties, with some households having to default on rent and/or go without necessities such as food, gas and electricity.
With these challenges front of mind, the conversation comes back to how properties can be made more efficient. Whether upgrading insulation, adding double-glazing or making homes more airtight, the reality is these options are not always easy to implement at scale. Add the varying age, condition and design of the UK housing stock into the equation, along with a shortage of tradespeople, and changes become increasingly difficult to roll out at speed.
Certainly, wide-scale home improvement strategies should be the end goal. Yet, in the interim, there are alternative ways to implement energy and water-saving measures. One such solution is efficient electric showers. Deliverable in a much shorter timescale, installing this technology can provide immediate, tangible effects that can be seen year-round.
Efficiency with electric
When it comes to bathroom specification, there are many reasons to opt for electric models, but one core benefit is that they draw on domestic cold mains supplies and only heat water on demand. Warming flow only when needed is deemed the best way to safeguard energy and financial savings over time.
In real terms, showering with an electric unit could cost nearly a third less to run each year when compared to a mixer option. This is according to our recent research, with findings based on a five-minute shower and comparing an 8.5 kW electric model to a mixer fed by an A-rated combi boiler outputting 12 l/min.
Our analysis also reveals that users could see a reduction in energy usage of up to 76% and save more than 40 litres of water per shower. Plus, carbon footprint could be reduced by up to 70%. All in all, an electric shower could save up to 52,000 litres of water for an average three-person household when compared to alternative shower types.
At a time when cutting costs is a priority, any energy and water saving goes a long way, therefore it’s clear that choosing an electric model can make a big difference. Not only this, as people become more mindful of their consumption of resources in terms of environmental impact, installing electric showers can help tenants make their lifestyle more sustainable.
Installation considerations
When potentially faced with hundreds, if not thousands, of homes to look after, efficiency in terms of installation rollout is an equally important consideration. This is particularly pertinent given that any difficulties in this process could lead to higher project costs, delays in residents moving in, and ultimately, downtime. Therefore, opting for systems that are designed with ease of installation in mind is essential. It’s also valuable to consider ongoing service, maintenance support and aftercare when choosing a supplier. Doing so allows housing providers to remain well-equipped in the event that something should go wrong.
Whether installing shower systems into new bathrooms or retrofitting, solutions such as the T80 Pro-Fit and T80Z Thermostatic Fast-Fit make the installation process simple. Multiple cable and water entry points ensure a smoother fit and mean that one model can suit multiple layouts. On top of this, these models feature a generous footprint, which makes it simple to cover any existing screw or fixing holes for a clean finish.
The T80Z Thermostatic also benefits from Swing-Fit technology, for left and right cabling, as well as Swivel-Fit, which is a 180° fully reversible swivel water inlet that accommodates water connections from either the left or right hand side of the unit.
Riding the wave
With recent headlines suggesting that the cost-of-living crisis won’t fade quickly, finding ways to ease the pressure facing housing associations and tenants remains important. As discussed, specifying efficient electric showers can make an incremental difference here, generating impressive energy and water saving — ultimately, saving money. Keeping installation front of mind is also important when considering all facets of efficiency.
For more information about Triton and its energy-efficient thermostatic electric showers, visit www.tritonshowers.co.uk/showers-taps/electric-showers
Triton is working with Midlothian Council to improve the showering experience for residents, significantly reduce failure rates and deliver more inclusive showers, through the installation of its Omnicare Ultra thermostatic shower. More on that project here.
