Related EU Projects

The European Commission has identified labelling as a means of encouraging consumers to opt for water efficient products. A common water label at the European level would help countries achieve water efficiency in a cohesive way. This paper examines some of the water labelling schemes currently implemented in countries around the world in order to draw together a knowledge-base of water labelling best practice. Mandatory labels are shown to be most effective at encouraging consumer uptake, while additional supportive information (such as product performance data and potential financial savings) would help inform consumer purchase decisions. Consideration of national implications, economic impact, regulation and enforcement and establishing impact indicators, are all shown to be vital components of an effective water labelling scheme.

Practical application:

A Europe-wide water label would help promote the uptake of water-efficient products by providing consumers with information about the water consumption characteristics of products at the point of sale. It is intended that the water labelling best practice presented here is used by policy makers and regulators to help inform future initiatives in introducing a Europe-wide water label. Incorporating lessons from best practice will help ensure that such an initiative will achieve its full water saving potential by encouraging consumer purchasing, and pushing market development, towards highly water-efficient products and, ultimately, reducing household water consumption.

Kelly, D. (2015). Labelling and water conservation: A European perspective on a global challenge. Building Services Engineering Research and Technology, [online] 36(6), pp.643-657. Available at:

Link

[Accessed 29 Jan. 2018].

The Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Scheme (WELS), introduced in July 2006, is a key program in the suite of options recently implemented by government agencies and water utilities to address water scarcity. WELS primarily influences water consumption by providing consumers with information about the water efficiency of all washing machines, dishwashers, toilets, urinals, taps and showers sold in Australia – thus enabling consumers to consider water efficiency as a factor in their purchase decisions.

However, the WELS program is not without costs. Governments, suppliers, retailers and consumers of WELS‐products potentially incur costs due to WELS activities and requirements. The Department of the Environment, Heritage, Water and the Arts, in its capacity as the WELS Regulator, commissioned the Institute of Sustainable Futures to analyse the cost‐effectiveness of WELS in contributing to the overarching objective of water security, compared to other urban water management options. Consistent with the regulatory impact statement conducted in 2003, this analysis uses a time horizon of 2005‐06 to 2020‐21.

The study found that WELS was significantly more cost-effective to achieve water security, when compared to the current or planned demand and supply options in Australia. In comparison to other water security options, WELS was found to have a relatively good cost-effectiveness. As a result, it is likely that WELS is part of a package of options to achieve water security in Australian jurisdictions. The study also suggests that at least theoretically, mandatory labelling can enable water users to respond to increases in water prices.   

Chong, J., Kazaglis A. and Giurco D. 2008, Cost effectiveness analysis of WELS – the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Scheme. Prepared for the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts by the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney.  

The purpose of this study, commissioned by Environment Australia, was to examine the potential for, and impacts of, introducing a national mandatory water efficiency labelling (WEL) scheme and minimum water efficiency standards (WES) for appliances, fixtures and fittings as a method of reducing urban water consumption. One example of such a scheme is the National Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency Program (NAEEEP) where labelling and water performance requirements are specified in relevant Australian Standards, given effect by regulation and managed by government agencies.

The regulatory framework for implementation was outside the scope of this study. However, the study’s conclusions are based on the assumption that whatever framework is adopted, it would be no less effective in enforcing minimum product performance standards and mandatory labelling at the point of sale, than is the current State-based framework for energy labelling and standards.

The study suggested that mandatory labelling for water efficient products should be applied to shower heads, toilet suites (i.e. cisterns) and washing machines as the potential water savings are high, therefore being the most cost-effective. It was noted that water efficiency labelling was the most cost-effective for shower heads and washing machines. The study also recommends that mandatory labelling will also be introduced for dishwashers as their water consumption is rising, even though the potential water savings are lower.

George Wilkenfeld and Associates Pty Ltd (2003). A Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme for Australia. [online] Available at:

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.472.1367&rep=rep1&type=pdf [Accessed 29 Jan. 2018].

This paper outlines some of the actions being pursued in Portugal with a view to improve water efficiency in buildings and products. One such action is the AveiroDOMUS House of the Future which will be used to study various efficiency solutions for resources’ use in buildings, and to assess their economic and environmental value. The house has an advanced design and its main objective is to be built in accordance with sustainable building standards, ensuring proper interaction with local ecosystems and a good interior environment (air quality, absence of noise, comfortable temperature and humidity). Moreover, the house also aims to reduce the consumption of essential resources by choosing the appropriate materials, use renewable energy sources and optimize the water cycle. The hydrological cycle was optimized by incorporating sustainability principles such as water recycling and reutilization, the installation of low-flow fixtures and the use of rainwater, groundwater and salt water, the latter being abundant in the area where the house is to be built – the Aveiro Salt Lagoon. The house is used as a permanent research and development laboratory, open to both industry and the public. It is divided in three parts, one part is open to visitors, another part is inhabited and another one is under study. It is projected that the latter will support the study and development of a possible model for the certification of water efficiency of buildings in Portugal. Another initiative is that taken by universities and firms in the sector. This has led to the formation of an association (ANQIP – National Association for Quality in Building Installations) to decide on the implementation of a voluntary water-efficiency certification and labelling system for products.

Silva-Afonso, A. and Rodrigues, C. (n.d.). Water efficiency of products and buildings: the implementation of certification and labelling measures in Portugal. [online] Available at:

https://www.irbnet.de/daten/iconda/CIB11855.pdf [Accessed 29 Jan. 2018].

EcoWater addressed the development of meso-level eco-efficiency indicators for technology assessment through a systems' approach. The effort focussed on enhancing the understanding of the interrelations of innovative technology uptake in water use systems, and their economic and environmental impacts. Research addressed a selection of indicators appropriate for the assessment of system-wide eco-efficiency improvements, the integration of existing tools and assessment methods in a coherent modelling environment, and the analysis and characterisation of existing structures and policies. The foreseen development of an analytical framework was to support:

1. Systemic environmental impact assessments,

2.  Economic assessments,

3.  Analysis of value chains and actor interactions,

4. Technology implementation and uptake scenarios.

Four Case Studies assessed meso-level eco-efficiency improvements from innovative technologies in water systems for the textile industry, for energy production, for dairy production and the automotive industry. The main outputs included a validated and tested methodological framework that supports the four points mentioned above, an integrated toolbox for systems' eco-efficiency analysis, and policy recommendations for technology uptake and implementation. To ensure wide dissemination and applicability, the project organised activities to address different target audiences and to develop operational science-industry-policy links at the level of Case Studies and at wider EU and international scale.

Deliverables:

Deliverable 1.1: Review and selection of eco-efficiency indicators to be used in the EcoWater Case Studies – Report

Deliverable 1.2: Technology inventory design and specifications – Report and Technology Inventory

Deliverable 1.3: Populated Technology Inventory – Report and Populated Technology Inventory

Deliverable 1.4: Review of existing frameworks and tools for developing eco-efficiency indicators - Report

Deliverable 1.5: Finalized Systemic Environmental Analysis Tool (SEAT) – Report

Deliverable 1.6: Finalized Economic Value chain Analysis Tool (EVAT) – Report

Deliverable 2.1: Value Chain Mapping of the Agricultural Water Systems – Report

Deliverable 2.2: Baseline eco-efficiency assessment for the analysed agricultural water systems - Report

Deliverable 2.3: Innovative Technologies for Eco-Efficiency Improvement in Agricultural Water Use - Report

Deliverable 2.4: Technology assessment and scenario analysis – Report

Deliverable 3.1: Value Chain Description of the Analysed Urban Water Systems - Report

Deliverable 3.2: Baseline eco-efficiency assessment in urban water systems – Report

Deliverable 3.3: Innovative technologies for eco-efficiency improvement - Report

Deliverable 3.4: Technology assessment and scenario analysis - Report

Deliverable 4.1: Description of value chains for industrial water use - Report

Deliverable 4.2: Description of value chains for industrial water use – Report

Deliverable 4.3: Innovative technologies for enhancing the eco-efficiency of water use in industries – Report

Deliverable 4.4: Technology assessment and scenario analysis - Report

Deliverable 5.1: Step-wise consolidated guidelines for the development of meso-scale eco-efficiency indicators - Report

Deliverable 5.2: Cross-comparison of Case-study Outcomes - Report

Deliverable 5.3: Functional design of the meso-scale eco-efficiency toolbox - Report

Deliverable 5.10: Finalized guidelines for the use of the EcoWater Toolbox - Report

Deliverable 5.11: Finalized guidelines for the use of the EcoWater Toolbox - Report

Deliverable 6.1: Synthesis report from the 1st Round of Case Study Events - Report

Deliverable 6.2: Synthesis report from the 2nd Round of Case Study Events – Report

Deliverable 6.3: Proceedings of the 1st targeted event Research links – Report

Deliverable 6.4: Report from the 2nd targeted event (Policy links) - Report

Deliverable 6.5: Report from the 3rd targeted event (Policy links) - Report

Deliverable 6.6: Conference Proceedings

Deliverable 6.7: Project Web Site - Report

Deliverable 6.8: Project Factsheet – Report

Dissemination:

Deliverable 6.10: 1st EcoWater Newsletter

Deliverable 6.11: 2nd EcoWater Newsletter

Deliverable 6.12: 3rd EcoWater Newsletter

Deliverable 6.13:  4th EcoWater Newsletter

Deliverable 6.14: EcoWater Science-Policy Briefs

Deliverable 6.15: Ecowater Product Fliers