Washing unit

1. A passive water-and-energy saving washing unit comprising:

a first washing sub-assembly comprising a first, fresh water reservoir, for holding a predetermined volume of fresh water for washing at least part of a body; a water heater for preheating water for the first water reservoir batch-wise prior to washing; and a first spout, in fluid communication with the first water reservoir for receiving fresh water from the first water reservoir and providing such washing water to the body part;

a second washing sub-assembly, comprising a second, grey water reservoir for collecting discharged water and isolating the discharged water from at least the fresh water reservoir of the first washing sub-assembly; a second spout in fluid communication with the second, grey water reservoir for receiving grey water from the grey water reservoir and providing grey water to the body part; and a water pump for pumping the grey water from the second, grey water reservoir to the second spout; and further comprising a first control mechanism for controlling the fresh water flow between the first, fresh water reservoir and the first spout, and a second control mechanism for controlling the grey water flow between the second, grey water reservoir and the second spout, with the assistance of the pump once the second water reservoir has collected a predetermined volume of grey water therein, wherein the second control mechanism further comprises an adjustable timer and thermostat setting mechanism for controlling and adjusting the heating time and temperature of the fresh water in at least the first, fresh water reservoir.

2. The washing unit as claimed in claim 1 characterised as being arranged in the form of a human shower, the first and the second washing sub-assemblies being arranged in the form of a first and a second shower sub-assembly, wherein the first shower sub-assembly has the first spout in the form of a first shower head, and the second shower sub-assembly has the second spout, in the form of a second shower head, and wherein the first, fresh water reservoir has a water capacity of between 1 and 10 litres and the water heater is set for preheating the fresh water at temperatures of about 40 to 45° Celsius.

3. The washing unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first control mechanism and the second control mechanism are arranged such that once the second, grey water reservoir has collected the predetermined volume of grey water therein, the fresh water flow between the first, fresh water reservoir and the first spout is cut off and the pump is triggered to pump water from the second, grey water reservoir to the second spout, from where the grey water can be sprayed onto the body part and the run-off grey water can be collected again in the second water reservoir.

4. The washing unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first control mechanism and the second control mechanism are arranged such that once the body part has been washed or once the grey water temperature has dropped to below a predetermined temperature, the second control mechanism can be triggered to stop the water pump and allow the grey water to discharge from the second, grey water reservoir.

5. The washing unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first control mechanism and the second control mechanism are arranged such that once the grey water has been discharged from the second, grey water reservoir, the first control mechanism can be triggered to allow fresh hot water to flow from the first, fresh water reservoir to the first spout, from where it can be sprayed onto the body part and the run-off grey water can be collected in the second water reservoir.

6. The washing unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first control mechanism and the second control mechanism are further arranged such that once the second, grey water reservoir has collected the predetermined volume of grey water therein, the fresh water flow between the first, fresh water reservoir and the first spout is cut off and the pump is triggered to pump grey water from the second, grey water reservoir to the second spout, from where the grey water can be sprayed onto the body part and the run-off grey water can be collected in the second water reservoir.

7. The washing unit as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a third, fresh water reservoir, arranged in fluid communication between a fresh water supply line and the first, fresh water reservoir, for holding a predetermined volume of fresh water for washing the human body, wherein the third water reservoir is mounted on an elevated support structure; and a second water heater for heating fresh water for the third water reservoir.

8. The washing unit as claimed in claim 7 wherein the third, fresh water reservoir preheats the water in the third water reservoir batch-wise prior to washing before supplying the pre-heated fresh water to the first, fresh water reservoir, wherein the first reservoir maintains the water temperature for a predetermined period while providing a constant supply of fresh, heated water to the first spout from where fresh water is sprayed onto the human body.

9. The washing unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first control mechanism of the washing unit is operatively located and arranged to control the fresh water flow between the first, fresh water reservoir and the first spout as well as the grey water flow between the second, grey water reservoir and the second spout, with the assistance of the pump and the second control mechanism.

10. The washing unit as claimed in claim 1 dimensioned and configured to minimize cold and stagnant water pockets and reduce the distance of water flow and internal volumes so as to reduce any heat loss and optimize the heat retention of the warm water while minimizing the build-up of biofilm therein for sanitary purposes.

11. The washing unit as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a water quality sensor as part of the second control mechanism for controlling and/or adjusting the washing process and at least one filter for separating solids from the grey water.

12. The washing unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first washing sub-assembly comprises a manual arrangement comprising a vessel elevated to hold a volume of fresh water, once the water has been pre-heated to an acceptable temperature, from where the fresh water can be supplied to the first spout under gravity.

13. The washing unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the first, fresh water reservoir and the second, grey water reservoir has water capacities of between 1 and 10 litres.

14. A kit for a passive water-and-energy saving washing unit wherein the kit comprises the passive water-and-energy saving washing unit of claim 1 .

15. A passive water-and-energy saving method for washing at least part of body with a washing unit, comprising a first washing sub-assembly, comprising a first, fresh water reservoir, for holding a predetermined volume of fresh water for washing at least part of a body part, a water heating element, for preheating water batch-wise prior to washing for the first water reservoir, and a first spout, in fluid communication with the first water reservoir for receiving water from the reservoir and providing fresh water to the body part; a second washing sub-assembly, comprising a second, grey water reservoir, for collecting grey water and isolating the discharged water from the first washing sub-assembly, a second spout, in fluid communication with the second, grey water reservoir for receiving grey water from the second, grey water reservoir and providing water to the body part, and a water pump, for pumping the grey water from the second, grey water reservoir to the second spout; and further comprising a first control mechanism for controlling the fresh water flow between the first, fresh water reservoir and the first spout, and a second control mechanism for controlling the grey water flow between the second, grey water reservoir and the second spout, with the assistance of the pump once the second water reservoir has collected a predetermined volume of grey water therein, wherein the second control mechanism further comprises an adjustable timer and thermostat setting mechanism for controlling and adjusting the heating time and temperature of the fresh water in at least the first, fresh water reservoir the method including the steps of:

allowing fresh water to flow from the first, fresh water reservoir to the first spout, from where the water is discharged to the body part to be washed;

once the second, grey water reservoir has collected the predetermined volume of grey water therein, terminating the fresh water flow between the first, fresh water reservoir and the first spout;

pumping the grey water from the second, grey water reservoir to the second spout, from where the water is being provided to the human body; and

collecting the run-off grey water in the second water reservoir.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 further comprising

terminating the pumping of the grey water from the second, grey water reservoir to the second spout once the water temperature has dropped to below a predetermined temperature; and

discharging the grey water from the second water reservoir.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15 further comprising

terminating the pumping of the grey water from the second, grey water reservoir to the second spout once the water temperature has dropped to below a predetermined temperature;

discharging the grey water from the second water reservoir; and

repeating the steps of:

allowing fresh hot water to flow from the first, fresh water reservoir to the first spout,

once the second water reservoir has collected the predetermined volume of grey water therein, terminating the fresh water flow between the first water reservoir and the first spout;

pumping the grey water from the second water reservoir to the second spout, and

collecting the run-off grey water again in the second water reservoir.