Rainwater harvesting has the ability to greatly reduce water bills, promote sustainability and is remarkably straightforward to install and manage. Rainwater harvesting can help conserve groundwater, save the energy required for tap water, limit stormwater runoff, nourish plants, and save money. Simple rainwater harvesters use rain barrels, trenches, retention ponds, or dams. More complex harvesters include surface water and rooftop collection systems.
We use around 40-50% of our water for potable uses such as flushing the toilet, washing clothes and watering the garden. For an average family this can help to reduce the cost of mains water by £250 to £300 a year, according to h2horganizing.com, a saving that may well be more profound in the future if prices start to rise due to demand.
Property buyers are also looking for homes that incorporate green technologies such as solar panels, heat transfer systems and rainwater harvesting. 72% of house hunters revealed in a survey that a home with a high energy efficiency rating is important to them.
Discover more articles for the Season Ahead here.