There doesn't seem to be much ecological awareness in the construction trade.

It would be helpful to customers, good for the environment and possibly more profitable for the builders themselves if they could make their approach to customers more ecologically sound. Even the most committed green householder can overlook things.

We have just had a new bathroom put in, with shower, lavatory and wash basin. It all happened at rather a busy time and I left it to the builder and his plumber to choose what type of fittings to install.

My only requirements were that they should be simple in style and white. Now I realise what I should have asked for: spray taps to use less water and a dual-flush for the loo so that it only uses the full flush when absolutely necessary.

For just a little more expense, this could have made quite a difference to our water usage.

It was an article in one of the ecological magazines that made me realise my stupid mistake.

Conscience now makes me want to call the workmen back and alter all the taps and cisterns in the house, which I will do when funds become available.

Having learned from this experience, it will now be my first question, when asking for any repairs or alterations to be done in the future: how eco-friendly can we make this job?

But wouldn't it be good if the contractors themselves suggested green ideas to their customers?

Updated: 11:58 Monday, December 29, 2003