Wichelo Place, Brighton

Award winning eco home saves 100litres of water a day

Having attended a self-build course, Jackie and Alan employed DRP, a firm of Brighton architects which produced a design that specified a whole range of eco technologies and materials including a grey water recycling system provided by Aquaco.

Their new home achieved an 'Ecohomes' excellent standard thanks, in part, to water conservation measures including a water meter, dual flush toilets, rainwater harvesting and Aquaco's grey water recycling system. The grey water system takes wastewater from the bath and stores it in an underground tank outside. The grey water is treated with bromine tablets and when the dual flush toilet is flushed it draws grey water from the tank.

Aquaco's managing director Paul Williams explains: "We were delighted to be specified by DRP to work on this project. This sort of work is right up our street and it is gratifying to know that there are like-minded people and companies out there who understand the concept of grey water reuse and the economic and environment advantages."

According to a case study provided by Eco Open Houses* "The water saving measures in place mean that the house used 22.10m³ of water between 21.08.07 and 23.02.08, which is an extremely low 60 litres per day (lpd) per person over the period. This compares to an average of 169lpd in the rest of the South East region!"

The case study claims the outcome is a rough combined water bills' total of less than £100 a year!

*Eco Houses - Eco open houses in Brighton and Hove - a joint project Between Brighton Permaculture Trust, Low Carbon Trust and Brighton & Hove City Council