Riley and Openshaw (2009) piloted and evaluated a retrofitting project the Twerton Wessex Water Efficiency project which combined retrofit of blocks of flats with engagement activities (see section 5.2 for details). A combination of quantitative and qualitative research techniques were used to monitor and evaluate the water efficiency values, attitudes and behaviours of the study populations, and the projects used control groups to enable the evaluation of the impact attributed to the intervention. The project tested the interventions in three groups delivering a only’ intervention, ‘Device an only’ intervention and a combination of the two. Results show the ‘Engagement comparative efficiency of different interventions in changing behaviours and delivering water savings. The project’s key results are presented in Table 19. Table 19: Key results of the Twerton Wessex Water Efficiency project Devices only Devices and Engagement only engagement Dual trial devices Door-to-door visits and retrofitted (EcoBETA) Dual devices Saving Day’ ‘Water retrofitted (EcoBETA) community event and information provision (doorstepping and flyers) Number of 78 78 78 flats targeted Household 47% of flats fitted 42% of flats fitted 55% of flats were intervention EcoBETAs EcoBETAs engaged in conversation take-up about water efficiency 45% of flats were and given out giveaways engaged in conversation about water efficiency and given out giveaways 23% received both device and engagement Reductions in The calculated savings The savings per visit The savings range water per device range from range from 16 litres per from 7 to 88 litres per consumption to 59 litres per flat per flat per day to 56 litres visit per day. day per flat per day The average reduction in 6.3% average decrease The average reduction in consumption is indicated in water use for all the consumption is indicated to be in the order of 3.8% flats receiving the to be 5.6% to 6.3%. intervention (fitted with EcoBETAs) Overall the project indicated that, despite variability in the water savings, the interventions had an effect with 11 out of 13 intervention blocks of flats demonstrating a decrease in water use, compared to only 3 out of 8 of the control blocks of flats showing a decrease.
Riley and Openshaw (2009) piloted and evaluated a retrofitting project the Twerton Wessex Water Efficiency project which combined retrofit of blocks of flats with engagement activities (see section 5.2 for details). A combination of quantitative and qualitative research techniques were used to monitor and evaluate the water efficiency values, attitudes and behaviours of the study populations, and the projects used control groups to enable the evaluation of the impact attributed to the intervention. The project tested the interventions in three groups delivering a ‘Device only’ intervention, an ‘Engagement only’ intervention and a combination of the two. Results show the comparative efficiency of different interventions in changing behaviours and delivering water savings. The project’s key results are presented in Table 19. Table 19: Key results of the Twerton Wessex Water Efficiency project Devices only Dual devices retrofitted (EcoBETA) Devices and engagement Dual devices retrofitted (EcoBETA) and information provision (doorstepping and flyers) Engagement only Door-to-door visits and ‘Water Saving Day’ community event Number of flats targeted 78 78 78 Household intervention take-up 47% of flats fitted EcoBETAs 42% of flats fitted EcoBETAs 45% of flats were engaged in conversation about water efficiency and given out giveaways 23% received both device and engagement 55% of flats were engaged in conversation about water efficiency and given out giveaways Reductions in water consumption The calculated savings per device range from to 59 litres per flat per day 6.3% average decrease in water use for all the flats receiving the intervention (fitted with EcoBETAs) The savings per visit range from 16 litres per flat per day to 56 litres per flat per day The average reduction in consumption is indicated to be 5.6% The savings range from 7 to 88 litres per visit per day. The average reduction in consumption is indicated to be in the order of 3.8% to 6.3%. Overall the project indicated that, despite variability in the water savings, the interventions had an effect with 11 out of 13 intervention blocks of flats demonstrating a decrease in water use, compared to only 3 out of 8 of the control blocks of flats showing a decrease. trial