Myself, Keith and Karen Carciero spent the evening at the House of Lords last night (no we were not doing the catering) attending the UK Water Efficiency Awards 2012.

Keith and I realise the camera is faulty – seems to have added a stone to each of us!

 We are honoured to be chosen as one of the winners of this highly prestigious award which recognises organisations who are managing the use of water wisely to benefit society and protect our natural environment.

The national Trust Wales won the innovation award, and the Exemplar project in Wales for our Fit for the Future programme.
The “Fit for the Future” approach in Wales has been to dispel the myth that old buildings are “hard to treat” by engendering cultural shift and the sharing of best practice through highlighting and illustrating a feature and benefit approach.

The National Trust is in a fairly unique position in being able to share based on sound practical experience, and property staff and volunteers in Wales are leading the way to show that “If we can, you can”.

As you know from the blog, Keith and I have been focussing on energy over the last few years, but not to the detriment of all else. This Award recognises the holistic approach of “Fit for the Future” which is so much more than just energy.

A Graph is always good – Blue bad, red good!

People do not recognise the links between high energy costs and high water usage. For example, being nosey by nature we compared mansion with mansion. We noticed the high electricity and water charges at Chirk castle and soon found they were linked as the pumps and sewage macerator were operating 24 hours a day pumping water up the hill to the castle (good place to have a castle) and back down again through the sewage system. Not a lovely image, but you get the point.