Go with the flow with eco gadgets (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Go with the flow with eco gadgets

8:29am Wednesday 12th August 2009 in News By Helen Mead

John Bond is making a cup of tea – but not the way most of us brew up.

He fills the kettle, and then, in what to the onlooker seems very odd, begins to pump the lid. “This transfers water from one chamber to another,” he explains. The second chamber has several images of tea cups running up the side. “You pump until the water reaches the level of however many cups you want,” he says. He selects two cups, switches it on and only the second chamber boils – giving sufficient hot water for us both.

The communications adviser is using a special eco-kettle to help save water, with the added benefit of cutting energy consumption. “It’s great; you only use what you need,” he says.

John is trying out a number of eco-friendly, water-saving gadgets as part of a water conservation campaign by Yorkshire Water.

He is one of a dedicated group of eco-water champions, who is taking part in the company’s Go Go Gadget! trial. The group is made up of people who have in the past shown a keen interest in cutting their water consumption.

Research by the company found that 66 per cent of people in Yorkshire use water conservation devices in their home, and the campaign aims to find out which product delivers the best value for money, while also helping to save water and energy.

With the average person in the UK using 150 litres of water every day – equivalent to 500 cups of tea – it is hoped that the campaign will highlight how changing a few simple things in their normal routine can help the environment.

With his wife Katie, John, 32, is trialling a number of gadgets in his Shelf home – a hand pump pressure washer, a special water-efficient shower head, a hosepipe spray gun and a shower timer.

“The shower head uses 75 per cent less water, and by showering for just four minutes, which is sufficient time, you save around 350 butts of water every year,” he says. “And you can regulate use with the hose gun.”

He adds: “We are on a water meter, so by saving water we are saving money. We are privileged in this country to have an abundant supply of water, so we should use it wisely.”

Across the UK, 30 per cent of homes have water metres, and other households can change to meters if they wish.

The Go Go Gadget! campaign is being run in conjunction with Save Water Save Money, which offers practical tips on how to save water. Yorkshire Water’s website allows customers to calculate how much water their household uses each year, and to order a free Flushsaver to put in the toilet cistern, saving a litre every flush.

The trial group of 100 customers will be using, scoring and reviewing each product to help other people decide whether they would buy such an item.

“In total, 1,700 customers offered to try them,” says Yorkshire Water’s public relations and campaigns adviser Aimee Laycock. “We will keep their details for future trials.”

As well as gadgets, products such as clothes washing tabs that perform well in less water and at lower temperatures, are available.

Yorkshire Water is also keen to hear from anyone who has any useful water-saving ideas, or have come across a useful water-saving gadget.

For more information, visit yorkshirewater.com and savewatersavemoney.co.uk.

Helen tried the water-saving products. Here’s what she thought:

Eco-kettle: With drinking tea being my main hobby I was excited by this. It is easy to us but I found that ‘two cups’ did not entirely fill our two mugs – I needed three, and the water cools down very quickly so has to be poured immediately.

Hand pump pressure washer: This is great – with a hose, the water is constantly flowing, but here you can spray your car from the supply in your container. It’s useful for the garden and for cleaning windows.

Hose gun: Again, this saves a lot, as it can be controlled like a tap at the end of the hose. Previously, I would run back to the outside tap, wasting water.

Shower head: This feels the same as a standard head, though it uses less water.

Timer: Brilliant. It provoked grumbles but my daughter had fun using it, and trying to shower within four minutes.