With the colder months approaching, if your museum needs energy saving or purchasing advice, please don’t forget that joining the AIM Energy Action Group is free for all members.
Working in partnership with Touchstone Services, the AIM Energy Action Group is providing a way for museums and heritage attractions of all sizes to:
Please contact the friendly team at Touchstone to see how they can help you reduce energy costs. Touchstone can also help your museum to implement water management techniques and helping to make museums more water efficient is just one of several services they offer.
Get in touch with one of our team for more details on the services that we offer. Tel: 01252 338777 or email aimeag@touchstoneservices.co.uk
Geoff Berry from Touchstone has written the following top tips to help your museum reduce water consumption.
Six ways to reduce water consumption in a museum
Clean water is a finite resource. The growing global population and environmental pollution are continually straining the availability of water. It is estimated that by 2050, the worldwide demand for water supply will have risen by 30%. This is evident from the ever-increasing cost of clean water.
There is a global outcry to conserve water sources and check our water usage. As a museum, you can take part in water conservation, and at the same time lower your water bill. Here are five tips on how to do that.
Install low-flow plumbing fixtures
Improve the efficiency of your plumbing system by switching to low-flow outlets. Install low-flow toilets and faucets with aerators to reduce water wastage from high-pressure streams. The average toilet in the UK (manufactured from 1985 onwards), uses about 18 litres (3.5 gallons) in every flush, an efficient one will use 3 litres or less.
Identify and fix leaks
A dripping tap can lose up to 50 litres of water daily. Check your bills, if you notice any irregular or excessive usage, you might have a leak. Fix any leaks as soon as they are identified.
Get everyone on board
Every member of your staff including visitors has to share an interest in conserving water. Educate your team on everyday habits that reduce water consumption. Encourage your visitors by putting out posters and signs to remind them to observe their water usage.
Use mulch in landscaping
Do have land or gardens? Maintaining a green landscape uses a lot of water. Watering the plants, especially in the summer month is a daily routine. However, you could do a lot less watering if the ground was covered in mulch. The mulch prevents loss of water from the soil, keeping the ground moist for longer.
Harvest rainwater
Survey your building and find out whether it’s possible to harvest rainwater. In urban areas, most buildings are not designed to collect rainwater — but they can, with a few modifications.