Never say never, but according to scientists and weather experts across the UK, summer 2014 is set to be the hottest on record.
While it’s certainly a case of seeing is believing, last year’s significant warm spell can leave us with plenty of hope that we could indeed be set to experience something similar over the coming months.
However, it’s not all sunscreen and shades as far as generous sunny spells are concerned. There’s lots to consider when it comes to the implications that an extended bout of hot weather may have.
The knock-on effects are varied, ranging from people needing to be mindful of the dangers that heatstroke, dehydration and the impact of excessive exposure to harmful UV rays can bring, to the threat of the dreaded hosepipe ban.
That said, there’s obviously no reason to panic just yet. As far as the latter scenario is concerned, now could be a good chance to find out more about how to cope if we are told to cut our water consumption down.
Lifestyle changes
As the saying goes, charity begins at home. Funnily enough, so does water conservation.
There are plenty of things you can do to save a bit of H2O – some of which you may already be putting into practice without even knowing it.
For example, taking a shower instead of running a bath can reduce the amount of water you use. While there are a few suggestions being bandied that this is just a myth, if you make an effort to limit the amount of time you spend washing yourself, then that’s certainly not the case.
Other measures involve taking steps to avoid being wasteful when it’s absolutely not necessary. Only filling the kettle with the water you need for a cup of tea or coffee is a good place to start, while maximising your washing machine loads is another good tip.
For those who are more technically-minded, it could be worth your while to check your plumbing system for leaks. As this is good practice any way, it certainly makes sense – and a small drip could waste as much as 20 gallons of water per day.
A good investment
There is also an abundance of products available that can help your household become more water-friendly (click here to find out more about these).
If the hosepipe ban is a genuine concern when it comes to looking after your garden, then spending on a rain barrel to store water during wetter weather could be a savvy investment that will give you years of usage.
Eco-friendly shower heads are another option for those who are worried about seeing too much water going down the plughole. Furthermore, there is technology available that can alert you when your plumbing has sprung a leak – meaning you’ll never end up with an inefficient system for too long before being notified and subsequently sorting it out.
All of this means that come rain or shine this summer, your home will be a much more environmentally-friendly affair – and that can’t be a bad thing!