Businesses urged to recover heat from used shower water

4 September 2026

Commercial buildings with frequent shower use are being encouraged to recover heat from wastewater before it is sent down the drain, in an effort to reduce energy costs and emissions.

The call comes from Showersave, which supplies waste water heat recovery (WWHR) systems. The technology uses heat from used shower water to pre-heat incoming cold water.

The company says the approach is often overlooked when businesses consider energy efficiency and decarbonisation. It is encouraging building owners and facilities managers to assess energy demand before investing in new heating or energy-generation equipment.

Alex Parkinson, Showersave’s sales director, comments:

“When businesses think about decarbonisation, the conversation often jumps straight to technologies such as heat pumps or solar panels. But before investing in new ways to generate heat, it makes sense to look at how you can reduce the amount of energy the building needs.”

WWHR systems are suited to properties with high and consistent shower use, including hotels, gyms, spas, leisure centres, student accommodation, care homes and healthcare facilities.

In one example calculated using the company’s energy savings tool, an installation serving 100 daily 10-minute showers was estimated to save more than £8,000 a year across the fuel types assessed. The example gave a return on investment of less than six months.

The figures are based on the company’s own calculations and are not a guarantee of savings for individual buildings. Actual results will depend on factors such as shower use, energy prices and the suitability of the installation.

The company says reducing hot water demand could also allow some buildings to use smaller heating and hot water equipment, potentially lowering capital costs.
WWHR is a passive technology that operates automatically when a shower is used.

The technology can be considered for both new-build and retrofit projects, although retrofit suitability depends on the building and its existing plumbing.

Showersave offers site assessments to determine whether a property is suitable.