Tags: water shortages

Even with the return of rainclouds and the lifting of hosepipe bans in North West England and other areas of the country, water companies are urging citizens to continue saving water in their homes wherever possible, after Britain suffered its driest summer in 70 years.

These measures include replacing garden lawns with low-maintenance artificial grass, reducing the need for sprinklers and hoses.

United Utilities, which instigated this summer’s hosepipe bans in July, has reaffirmed the importance of water saving measures in the home as well as the garden, even during times when water is in plentiful supply. The Warrington-based utility company emphasised the lasting benefits of domestic water saving practices, which can help conserve the environment.

Saving water and energy will be a key topic of next month’s National Home Improvement Show, taking place at London’s Earls Court from 1 to 3 October 2010. Spokesperson Michael Holmes said there are many inexpensive home improvements residents can carry out to conserve water and make their properties greener, from repairing dripping taps to washing cutlery in the dishwasher rather than by hand.

“It uses less water and saves approximately £15 per year,” Mr Holmes told BigGreenSmile.com.

Artificial lawns offer a more long-term solution to cut household bills and water usage, reducing the time and energy needed to take care of your garden, and looking fresh and vibrant even in the driest conditions.

With many domestic water supplies now being metered and utility prices expected to increase sharply in coming years, synthetic grass can be a shrewd investment in your home’s future. When you choose professional artificial grass installations from Evergreens UK, your new lawn will be guaranteed for 10 years, though most last much longer - usually between 15 and 20 years, to provide a long-term solution.

With the Met Office predicting one of the hottest summers in recent history heading our way, there’s sometimes no better way to enjoy the British summertime than by relaxing in your own garden. But for those who suffer from allergies such as hay-fever, ‘relaxing’ can be easier said than done.

Hay-fever is a common condition that affects as many as one in four of the population - that’s over 10 million people in England alone who suffer from sneezing, itching and other sources of discomfort when trying to enjoy the great outdoors.

Fortunately, although country walks may still present a problem, taking steps to reduce the effects of hay-fever in your own back garden can be simple when replacing your natural lawn with artificial grass.

Not only will an artificial lawn be safer for allergy sufferers, but synthetic grass also doesn’t require maintenance. Considering grass cuttings can be one of the main sources of hay-fever, this means a lot more than just saving you the time involved in mowing the lawn!

While replacing your natural grass with durable synthetic turf won’t cure your hay-fever, of course, it can be a great preventative measure, and go a long way towards letting you unwind in the summer. Other steps you can take to minimise the effects of hay-fever include wearing large or wrap-around sunglasses to protect your eyes from airborne pollen, and keeping doors and windows closed to make sure you don’t suffer when inside.

Even beyond alleviating allergies, there are many more advantages of upgrading to artificial grass this summer - not least the fears over water shortages that are already seeing communities being advised to limit their use of hosepipes and sprinklers. Because artificial grass doesn’t need to be watered - and is UV stabilised to keep its fresh and natural look even in dry conditions - synthetic lawns are ideal solutions if you’re looking to do your bit towards helping with water shortages in your area.