Rainwater Harvesting System can add value to your property

Rainwater Harvesting Systems can add value to your property. NEW green building standards are turning rainwater harvesting into a ‘must-have’ accessory which adds value to new homes in the eyes of house purchasers. As a result, using rainwater to flush toilets and water gardens will soon be much more common in new homes developments.

Installing rainwater harvesting is a simple and low-cost method by which housebuilders can achieve the Government’s new coveted Eco ratings, says the Save the Rain campaign. The introduction of the Code for Sustainable Homes and the Chancellor’s Spring Budget pledge of stamp duty exemption on purchases of homes below £500,000 which achieve the ‘zero-carbon’ standard both rely on builders installing significant water saving features in new properties.

A recent UK survey, sponsored by Save the Rain has already shown that a significant proportion of homeowners (1 in 3) would be more likely to buy a house if a rainwater harvesting system was already installed.

The Code’s Ecohome criteria outlined by CLG includes a significant requirement for water saving. To achieve the coveted full six stars classifying a “zero carbon home” will not be possible without rainwater harvesting.

Even if the housebuilder’s target is less than the maximum six stars, rainwater harvesting can still make a significant contribution. A new house cannot even achieve a three-star rating if only one-star rating for water-saving is achieved. The easiest way to guarantee a higher water rating is to install rainwater harvesting.

At the moment the Code for Sustainable Homes is voluntary, but the Government is thinking about making assessment under the Code mandatory in future. Every new house will have a published rating between one and six stars. With the two most important elements being energy and water usage, buyers will be looking for a house’s water saving performance.

The recent Save the Rain survey in association with British Water and Hydro International, revealed that 9 out of 10 householders believe rainwater harvesting is a good idea and one in three would be more likely to buy a house with rainwater harvesting already installed.

Housebuilders can also use rainwater harvesting to contribute to discharge consents for stormwater in their development. Rainwater Harvesting reduces surface water runoff from the roof, helping to reduce stormwater flooding risks. Some developers have already successfully demonstrated the contribution of rainwater harvesting to meeting local authority discharge consents. Reducing runoff is also a one-star level requirement of the Code for Sustainable Homes.