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The need for green: why rainwater harvesting is a must on all new buildings

Net Zero – the target we will begin to hear more and more of in the run up to 2050. That’s when the UK Government are aiming to decarbonise our economy. Essentially, this means we all need to reduce our emissions to as low as possible, with any unavoidable emissions being offset through natural forests and new capture technologies.

Although the Net Zero target may seem decades away, many of the buildings we are constructing right now will be in operation beyond 2050. So, we need to think how we can make these buildings future-ready! Building Regulations are just one of the ways to influence change within the construction and development industry. Just last year, the UK Government announced new homes, offices, and shops will need cut carbon emissions by nearly 30%.

We also need to think about water. Water conservation and carbon reduction go hand in hand, and we shouldn’t focus on one without the other! Our water supplies are under pressure from increasing populations and longer, drier summers. If we do not change our water consumption habits now, we will suffer shortages in the future. The issue is we are still constructing buildings without rainwater harvesting as standard or any water reuse systems at all!

Rainwater harvesting is proven to be a simple, yet effective solution to helping towards reducing carbon emissions and boosting water conservation efforts. Not only does recycled rainwater produce less carbon emissions than relying on a traditional mains supply, but the technology also reduces reliance on mains water for non-potable water usage. We can save our precious drinking water for when we need it most! Read our handy guide to carbon and rainwater harvesting here.

How does a rainwater harvesting system work in a commercial building?

• A supply of free, clean and sustainable rainwater is captured from the roof area of the building. Commercial buildings are typically designed with large roof areas making them ideal for maximising water savings.
• Recycled rainwater is then diverted from entering the traditional drainage system and is directed into an above or below ground storage tank. A pre-tank filter is installed to capture any larger debris, like leaves.
• Once the control panel detects a demand for non-potable supplies, pumps then draw the recycled rainwater through a series of filtration devices to points of use.
• During periods of low rainfall, Stormsaver systems are equipped with an automatic mains water top-up and a number of failsafe technologies.
• Water bills are reduced by relying on less rainwater!

Simple, isn’t it?

We have the technologies to create a sustainable future, let’s use them and install rainwater harvesting as standard on all new developments.

Learn more

Keep up to date with our latest rainwater harvesting blogs here. Or you can contact our friendly team here.