People use, and waste, more water in the bathroom than in any other room in the house. Add in all that water use with polluting soaps and shampoos, the energy used to heat the water, and more, and your bathroom could be doing some harm to the environment.
But it does not have to be like that. There are many things you can do to bring a bit of green into your bathroom. These are just a few.
Energy saving lightbulbs. Fluorescent bulbs are 90% more efficient than incandescents. Incandescent bulbs lose most of their energy as heat, which also makes them a fire hazard.
The best lighting for a bathroom is bright enough to allow you to shave or apply makeup without squinting, but soft enough to look flattering while doing it. Choose bright white energy-saving bulbs and soften the light by hanging them at eye level on either side of the mirror or placing them behind frosted glass.
Dual flush toilets. Most new toilets use around seven or eight liters of water each time you flush. Older toilets use 9 to 12 liters. However, you don’t need that much water to flush a toilet.
If you want to save water, replace your toilet with a dual-flush model. Dual flush toilets have one flush for wastewater and one for solids. Naturally, you need less water to remove water waste.
Faucets that conserve water. Leaky faucets waste millions of gallons of water per year and cost you money too. To prevent leaky bathroom faucets, replace your old fixtures with self-closing faucets that shut off the water as soon as you stop pressing a button. This ensures that the water does not stay on while you brush your teeth or shave, and prevents the faucet from leaking.
Think green in the shower. We waste a lot of water showering, plus huge amounts of energy used to heat the water that we waste. If you want to save water and the planet at the same time, consider installing a low-flow showerhead or air shower.
A typical shower head delivers 25 liters of water per minute, while a low flow shower head delivers only 6 to 15. Cut your shower time in half and use a low flow shower head and you’ll save an large amount of water.
However, if you really want to save water, consider an air shower. An air shower device can be attached to your existing shower head. It pumps every drop of water filled with air. This makes each drop of water bigger, so it feels just as wet and strong as a typical shower head. Studies show that air showers can reduce water consumption by an additional 30%.
Recycled tiles. If you’re redesigning your bathroom from scratch, choose recycled materials like reclaimed glass tile. Glass is completely waterproof, making it a great choice for bathroom walls, floors, and countertops.
Choosing glass also makes good ecological sense. Each recycled glass bottle saves enough energy to run a 100-watt light bulb for about four hours. Additionally, glass accounts for around 6% of all landfill waste and takes over a million years to decompose.
Heat your water efficiently. Most people wait until their water heater fails to buy a new one. This puts you in the position of having to find one quickly, without having to go shopping. But if you take your time finding the right water heater, it could pay off in the long run.
The most common type of water heater is a storage heater: a large storage tank that is constantly heated. Because it always stays hot, this type of heater loses energy even when not in use. However, there are some newer models that are designed to minimize heat loss at idle.
However, if you want a truly efficient water heater, look for a tankless heater or a solar heater. A tankless heater runs the water pipes directly through the boiler, while a solar heater uses the sun’s energy to heat the water. Both will cost more to install, but will cost less to run.
Use non-toxic shampoos and soaps. Many common soaps and shampoos contain chemicals that could put your health at risk. There are many cancer-causing chemicals in deodorants, soaps, shampoos, and body sprays. Some of these persist in the environment, building up in the food chain, and coming back to haunt us long after they’re gone down the drain.
Be skeptical of products labeled “natural”; Under current UK marketing legislation, only 1% of a product needs to be of natural origin to use the label. Look for soaps and shampoos that don’t use artificial fragrances; however, essential oils are fine. Avoid mineral oil, which is just another name for petroleum oil. Also, choose soaps and shampoos that use minimal and biodegradable packaging.
Making your bathroom greener doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Making a change in the soaps you use, limiting your time in the shower, and installing water-saving fixtures can make a world of difference. Whether you’re planning a few simple changes or a major overhaul, a greener bathroom is within your reach.
