Go above and beyond Part L regulations by fitting electric showers, advises Triton
Following the latest changes to Part L of the building regulations, Triton is urging the industry to go one step further in reducing carbon output, by opting for efficient electric showers.
The uplift to the rules, which came into force on 15 June 2022, offer guidance on improving energy efficiency of dwellings. Under the new guidelines, all new dwellings must produce 31% less carbon emissions than outlined in the previous iteration.
As a stepping-stone towards the Future Homes Standard, due to be introduced in 2025, the revisions largely centre around increasing insulation requirements and improving thermal efficiency. However, Triton, the UK’s leading shower manufacturer, is calling on installers and specifiers within the housebuilding sector to go further by choosing efficient electric units.
These appliances are proven to lower energy and water usage, while also reducing the cost of household bills. In Triton’s own research, it found that by opting for an electric shower, rather than a mixer model, an average family of four could save over 48,000 litres of water every year. As a result, a property’s carbon footprint can be slashed by 0.31 tonnes, equivalent to a 1,137-mile journey from London to Valencia.
David Tutton, Managing Director at Triton Showers, said: “It has been encouraging to see the introduction of new Part L regulations to help housebuilding become more sustainable. However, we feel that the standards could have gone further to include more than insulation, as there are many other areas where gains can be made.
“Efficient electric showers are an effective way of lowering a home’s energy consumption. For example, research has shown that a 8.5kW electric shower running for 10 minutes produces around 190kg of carbon dioxide emissions annually, whereas a 10-minute wash in a 30kW combi-boiler fed mixer shower comes out at more than double that at 383kg per year.
“Everybody in the supply chain can play their part in the UK’s sustainability journey by recommending electric showers – from installers helping homeowners with bathroom refurbishments, through to key decision makers specifying bathrooms for new houses.”
Going above and beyond
As well as encouraging uptake of efficient appliances, Triton is beckoning the industry to go beyond the scope in other ways. This includes choosing appliances with energy efficiency ‘A’ ratings, checking shower units are registered with the BMA Water Efficiency Scheme and purchasing from sustainable manufacturers.
One way of assessing a whether a company is producing its products in an environmentally friendly way is through its accreditations. Triton is officially carbon neutral, which it gained by working closely with the Carbon Trust. Triton achieved this certification as part of a detailed audit into its 2021 operations, and is now working on its next goal – achieving carbon net zero alignment by 2027.
Tutton added: “Being Britain’s number one shower manufacturer, we recognise the responsibility we have in tackling the climate change challenge. All of our electric showers have an energy efficient ‘A’ Rating and are registered with the BMA Water Efficiency Scheme, so by choosing a Triton shower, you can be reassured that you are taking a step towards sustainability.
“Alongside this, we work hard to be as green as possible. This includes being zero-to-landfill since 2015, through to continually improving our own manufacturing processes and supply chains. One of our greatest achievements so far is radically reducing and revising the materials used to pack our products, including removing single use plastics from our supply chain. We’re not stopping there though, as we want to go even further and be the most sustainable shower brand in the UK.”
For more information on Triton Showers and its sustainability journey, please visit: www.tritonshowers.co.uk/sustainability