Current API at 21:00
06 September 2010

Smart Flush Big Saving
Water-wise toilets for Hong Kong


November 19 is World Toilet Day.

Friends of the Earth (HK) recently conducted a survey of Hong Kong¡¦s public toilets and found that over 90% of the surveyed toilets did not have water saving devices such as the big and small flush options.

Friends of the Earth (HK) also conducted a web-based survey of public awareness and found that 80% of those surveyed were aware of the big and small flush options in public toilets. Disappointingly, they were denied the opportunity to exercise their water-saving options.

Friends of the Earth (HK) opined that the Hong Kong SAR Government could do more to promote and install water saving public conveniences so as to enhance Hong Kong public¡¦s water saving habits and enable public participation in conserving precious water resources by making ¡§smart flushing¡¨ choices.

Recently, the Director of the Hong Kong Observatory warned that in the next 30 years, Hong Kong¡¦s future generation will face water shortage due to climate change that brings drought and flooding. This year, southern China is hit by severe drought and as a result the water volume of the Dongjiang River, which supplies Hong Kong and Guangdong¡¦s drinking water, has fallen by 44%.

Friends of the Earth (HK) is concerned about the sustainability of our water supply and the Dongjiang River¡¦s future. In response to climate change, FoE (HK) thinks that it is time for the Hong Kong policy makers and water users to account for the hidden costs of water consumption. Hong Kong¡¦s water footprint and energy footprint need to account for the energy and greenhouse gas emission generated by transporting water, disinfecting water, pumping water, using water and disposing water.

Saving water means saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emission thus mitigating the climate crisis and avoiding the water crisis. Everyone could lend a helping hand by being water-wise and adopt smart-flushing habits to avoid excessive water wastage.

During November, Friends of the Earth (HK) visited 95 public convenience facilities (498 toilet fittings) around Hong Kong and successfully web surveyed 509 citizens (see appendix 1 & 2).

49.5% of the surveyed toilets were not fitted with water-saving tap sensors and 79% of them without any water saving devices.

Over 40% of the citizens surveyed said that they are willing to pay 10-30% more to buy water saving toilets. This reflects that Hong Kong public has certain degree of water awareness and is ready to act.

According to Hong Kong Statistics, 20% of Hong Kong population still uses drinking water for flushing, equivalent to 82 million cubic meters a year of precious water resources. In 2008, seawater toilet flushing consumes a total
of 751,000 cubic meters a day. Everyone could help save precious water by ¡§smart flushing¡¨ to avoid unnecessary water wastage.

¡§Smart flushing¡¨ means choosing the small flush over the big flush could help
to reduce half of water use. Disappointingly, over 63% of citizens surveyed were not informed. This is due to inadequacy of water-saving fittings in public conveniences as well as low public awareness.

Not surprising that 25% of citizens surveyed agreed that Government should enhance public water awareness education and commit to install water saving devices in all public convenience facilities around Hong Kong. 38% of citizens surveyed also called for government to subsidize water-saving home fittings.

Friends of the Earth (HK) launched a cross-border water saving campaign ¡§Dongjiang Water Detective¡¨ to recruit cross-border volunteers to track water footprint, to map water consumption trends and to promote water wise habits through water saving, water protection and water habitat conservation.

The ¡§Dongjiang Water Detective¡¨ campaign is a cross-border awareness raising program which is a core component of Friends of the Earth (HK)¡¦s ¡§10 Year Dongjiang Upstream Downstream Partnership Project¡¨ which aims to mobilize public participation to safeguard the sustainability of the Dongjiang River, which supplies drinking water to over 40 million people living downstream in Hong Kong and Guangdong.



















  
     
 
 
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Reduce paper use and promote paper recycling
If fewer trees are cut down to produce paper, we will have more trees to absorb CO2 which is the gas implicated in global warming.
少砍伐樹木, 幫助減低溫室效應. 據資料顯示, 每公頃森林每日能吸收一公噸的二氧化碳, 放出0.73公噸的氧氣.

Choose electrical appliances with an Energy Efficiency Label
改用能源效益標籤屬於第一級別的電器, 可大大減少電力消耗. 第一級別的雪櫃比普通雪櫃省電35%, 儲水式熱水爐可減少25%耗電量, 第一級別的洗衣機則可以減少用電20%等.

Energy saving
Make sure all your electrical appliances are switched off, instead of just being in standby mode, when you leave the room
睡覺前把不用的電視, 電腦, 微波爐等電器的電源關上, 比起設於備用狀態更加省電.

Keep the room temperature at 25.5 C
Electricity consumption is lowed by 1.5% for every degree Celsius increase in the thermostat
原來每調高1度空調, 一年可以節省1.5%耗電量

When you order a take away,
bring your carrier or reusable container. This helps to reduce non-biodegradable Styrofoam packaging.

Promote paperless office
Promote a paperless office by sending send emails instead of mail and link up your computer network, as this cuts
down on the need for printing jobs which will save paper. Reuse computer print-out paper as memo pads or telephone message pads.

Reduce Water Consumption
When brushing your teeth, use water in tumbler instead of from a running
tap. Take a shower instead of bathing
in a bathtub. Install a dual-action flush in your toilet to reduce
water consumption.

Enjoy natural resource
It's better to rely on natural and ventilation. Leave windows open and switch off the lights and fans which are not in use to reduce energy consumption.

Green consumption
Plan your shopping list to avoid over-consumption, which normally contributes
to household waste. Instead of ending up with many plastic bags, bring your
own shopping bag to hold smaller items. This eliminates unnecessary
consumption of plastic bags and reduces waste.

Say Yes to Public Transportation
Public transport can usually take more people at a time to their destinations,
which reduces your energy consumption. You can also consider
other means of transportation, such as a bicycle or simply go on foot if
possible.

Plants are great!
Growing plants can creat a pleasant working and living space. In additional, they can
also serve as an air purifier and give us all healthier surroundings.