Climate Week 4th – 10th March [Infograph]

Climate Week 2013 Infograph

Transcript of Above Infograph – Climate Week 4th – 10th March

With many of us now switched on to being green, as a British company and manufacturer this is something we are also very conscious of. This week is Climate Week, so it’s an ideal opportunity to talk about what we are doing to reduce our impact on the environment, and to also give you some useful hints and tips on what you can do…

To help us track and improve our environmental impact we hold ISO14001 accreditation. We gained this in 2009 and have implemented a number of new procedures and changes across the company:

We segregate all our waste into recyclables and non-recyclables. In 2012 we received praise from our waste management company for our achievements in this area. We managed to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill down to only 7%, with the other 93% all being recycled. We now aim to improve this by a further 2.5% this year.

TIP: With councils now helping us to recycle by collecting waste and recyclables separately, you can do you bit more easily. We recommend keeping a separate box for recyclables next to your kitchen bin, so you are not tempted to dispose of recyclables in you main bin.

To reduce on the hazardous waste we output, we use methylene chloride in the manufacture of shower trays, we then filter all of the used chloride which in turn will then be continuously recycled back into the process.

TIP: Cut down on the amount of chemicals that you wash down the plug hole when cleaning, by choosing natural alternatives which include bio-degradable materials. You can even make your own all-purpose cleaner – mix ½ cup vinegar and ¼ cup baking soda into 2 litres of water, for a totally natural solution.

All our products are package in recycled cardboard which is recyclable – the use of plastic shrink wrapping was eliminated some time ago.

TIP: Try to reuse carrier bags at the supermarket so you are not using new ones each time. Most supermarkets also have a point where you can recycle your used plastic bags, so they don’t go to landfill.

All our company drivers have completed a SAFED driving course which helps them to drive in a more fuel efficient way, to reduce the vehicle’s carbon output. We also replaced all company vehicles so that all company cars emit less than 125 grams of CO2’s per kilometre.

TIP: If you would like to learn how to drive in a fuel efficient way visit the Energy Saving Trust website for some useful hints and tips.

Our range of Shower Valves are innovatively designed to offer uncompromised performance, whilst reducing water consumption to save money on your energy bills and to reduce the amount of water wasted each use.

Did you know: The water we use for washing ourselves – whether it’s washing our hands, hair or cleaning our teeth, uses up about a third of our home water supply.

Good Resources: If you are looking to install water efficient products for the home, visit The Water Label website, which holds a library of products which offer optimum performance, whilst saving wasted water. Alternatively, if you are looking for quick fixes on how to save water, check out the Bathroom Manufacturer’s Association’s top water saving tips.

TIP: Reduce wasted water by turning down or switching off the shower when shampooing your hair, by not running the tap when brushing your teeth, and by putting a plug into the sink when washing your face or shaving.

Our range of Shower Enclosures and Bath Screens feature Roman Ultra Care Pre-coated Glass Protection, which makes cleaning easy, by preventing dirt, grime and limescale sticking to the glass – eliminating the need to use harsh chemicals and reducing the amount of water wasted during the cleaning process.

TIP: If you don’t have glass protection on your existing enclosure or bath screen, you can build up the protection over time with a product such as our Roman Ultra Care.

If you’d like to read more about how we work towards reducing our impact on the environment, you can read our Ecodentials (our Environmental Credentials).

The BMA’s Water Label

Water Label - Rebecca

If you’ve been checking out our stunning range of shower valves, you will have noticed the BMA’s (Bathroom Manufacturer’s Association) Water Label, which we have recently added to tell you about each individual showerhead’s flow rate. This symbol may be a new one for you, so we thought we would give you a quick rundown of The Water Label with all the essentials you need to know…

What is the Water Label?

The Water Label  has been devised by the Bathroom Manufacturers Association as an easy to digest way of understanding how much water a piece of bathroom equipment uses. You will find it on a wide range of bathroom equipment including: toilets, taps, showers, baths and cisterns. When purchasing products you can be sure that any piece of equipment which carries the label have official passed the criteria to qualify for the scheme.

You can visit the dedicated Water Label website to compare hundreds of products which have qualified for the scheme.

Understanding the Label:

The Water Label has been designed to be easy to read and is similar to energy efficiency labels you may already be familiar with from buying white goods. It clearly shows on the label how many litres of water are consumed per minute by that product, if installed correctly and according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

All Roman Shower Heads & Valves consume either 8 or 10 litres of water per minute, so this is illustrated with the two labels:

 

Why Choose Water Efficient Products:

Of course we all know we shouldn’t be wasteful with water, particularly when water shortages and droughts have been so heavily reported in the media. However when you live in a traditionally wet country, this can often be forgotten. Likewise, water meters are not commonplace in the UK home, therefore many of us pay one fixed price for water no matter how much we consume. This means there is often no real link between saving water and saving money – one of the key drivers behind buying energy efficient products.

However, when it comes to the bathroom, many of the products in this space use heated water – the bath, taps and shower for example. If we can reduce the amount of heated water we use in the home, we can also make a saving on our energy bills. Further to this, as water metering becomes more commonplace, now is the time to get into the habit of being a bit more careful with water.

By installing a product which carries The Water Label, we can save money and reduce our impact on the environment for that feel good factor!