PRESS RELEASE: 12 August 2015 

New powerful flush toilet reduces commercial water bills by up to 60%
 
 

Minimise Water is offering a new, sustainable toilet designed to quickly reduce water usage, improve hygiene and save money in commercial bathrooms and washrooms.

The Minimise Water High Performance Toilet, delivered by Propelair®, has a range of significant benefits:

• Its 1.5 litre flush uses 84% less water than the average 9 litre flush toilet

• This reduces the energy required to process the resulting water and waste by 80%

• The technology reduces the need for ‘second' flushes

• Combined, this can cut commercial water bills by up to 60%

• The design eradicates the spread of aerosol germs - traditional open flush toilets create a ‘sneeze' effect whereby germs can travel up to 8 feet, surviving up to 24 hours and contaminating washroom surfaces

Sustainable design
The High Performance Toilet is ideal for use in public, education, hospital and care, leisure and commercial applications. Using 84% less water than the average toilet, it reduces the amount of energy used in water and waste processing by an average of 80%. As a result, it can cut commercial water bills by up to 60% and can achieve return on investment periods of less than a year.

For example, replacing 25 high use toilets in a building which operates 365 days a year would save 6,843,750 litres of water a year. This would represent an annual saving of £24,021.56 and cut carbon emissions by 2,537kg a year.*

The High Performance Toilet improves operational efficiency, boosts building efficiency, and will improve an organisation's carbon footprint and environmental performance. It uses only 1.5 litres per flush, a fraction compared to the UK average of 9 litres, with water delivered through a siphon for leak-proof operation.

It has a two-section cistern; one for air and one for water. Before flushing, the lid is closed to form a seal. When the flush button is pressed the water enters the pan to wash it, followed by air, which pushes out the entire contents of the pan, giving a powerful, reliable flush. The remaining water fills the trap.

The flush is completed in 3 seconds, with the toilet ready to be re-flushed in around 20 seconds (subject to water supply pressure). This is significantly quicker than traditional toilets, reducing queueing times in high use areas.

The design exceeds environmental planning legislation such as Part G of the Building Regulations and Code for Sustainable Homes. It also reaches the highest performance rating under BREEAM's water efficiency guidelines.

Improves washroom hygiene
The system uses patented displaced air POWA™ technology to produce the powerful flush. This removes 99.9% of contaminants in the water trap, compared to the EU standard of 94%. Conventional toilets can leave up to 6% of previous user's contaminants within the trap after flushing, compromising hygiene.

In addition, conventional toilets, where lids are left open during the flushing process, spray bacteria, viruses and moisture into the air with each flush. These can travel up to 8 feet, contaminating surfaces for up to 24 hours, spreading germs and potentially impacting the health, wellbeing and productivity of subsequent users.

The Minimise Water High Performance Toilet's air flush eradicates 95% of aerosol germs.

Installation
The High Performance Toilet can be retro-fitted to existing drainage systems as a like-for-like replacement for conventional toilets by connecting it to existing pipes. An assessment by the Drainage Research Group at Heriot Watt University verified that the displaced air will not interrupt other toilets, basins, water traps and fixtures connected to the building's drainage system.

Alternatively, it can connect onto 50mm small-bore flexible pipes. This allows drains to be run without gradients, which is not possible with conventional toilets, and enables it to be placed away from the stack pipe.

Finance
As it is an approved water efficient product, organisations can benefit from the Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme where payments can be made from cost savings achieved. Purchase and installation of the High Performance Toilet can be offset by claiming 100% of the cost in the first tax year.

Commenting on the launch of the new toilet, Barry Webber, Technical Director of Minimise Waters' Green Compliance Division said: "Toilet flushing accounts for up to 90% of water consumption in commercial buildings. Changing to a more sustainable and water efficient technology can pay both cost and environmental dividends.

"This system reduces the water used but doesn't compromise on the action. In fact it significantly improves flushing and hygiene performance."

The High Performance Toilet is delivered by Propelair and is marketed by Minimise Water under a unique distribution agreement. It is the first product to be launched in the Minimise Water Sustainable Washroom range. The range brings together a carefully considered portfolio of innovative products designed to maximise commercial washroom performance in terms of energy, water, cost and hygiene. Available from a single source, Minimise Water will provide design and finance consultancy services, as well as installation, commissioning, maintenance and compliance support, ensuring that washroom sustainability is not compromised over time.

Minimise Water is part of the Minimise Group of sustainable companies. Minimise Group helps reduce energy and water consumption and maximise profitability through a wide range of energy efficiency, energy generation and water management products and services, consultative advice and financing options.

For more information, please visit www.minimisegroup.com/minimise-water

* Results are dependent on the water authority

Ends

Image: an image of the new toilet can be downloaded using this link - Minimise Water's High Performance Toilet

Contact details: for further details, please contact Adrienne Robins at Green Tiger Communications on 07855 643094 or email adrienne@greentigercommunications.co.uk

Notes to editors
Minimise Group helps organisations become more sustainable, increase profitability and meet environmental, corporate and legislative targets. Minimise Group is made up of five complementary divisions:

• Minimise Energy: innovative energy reduction technologies, products and services, designed to help businesses achieve on-going energy reduction goals and enhance bottom line performance.

• Minimise Solutions: a strategic consultancy and advisory team, helping to deliver sustainability, meet reduction targets and comply with legislation.

• Minimise Finance: offers tailor-made financing options, funding energy efficiency and renewable energy schemes from savings made in energy maintenance and related costs.

• Minimise Water (incorporating Green Compliance): offers a complete range of water management and air hygiene technologies and services to help reduce the cost of compliance and save money on operating costs.

• Minimise Generation: maximising businesses' potential to generate and store renewable energy on site, drive operational savings and reduce carbon emissions.

As part of APC Technology Group plc, we deliver an integrated range of innovative technologies, products and services backed by the financial strength and stability of a 33 year-old London Stock Exchange listed company.

www.minimisegroup.com