Tips for Eco-Friendly Bathroom
People use--and waste--more water in the bathroom
than in any other room in the house. Add all that water use with
polluting soaps and shampoos, the energy used to heat the water, and
more--and your bathroom could be doing damage to the environment.
But it doesn't have to be that way. There are many things you can do to
bring a little green into your bathroom. Here are just a few.
Energy-efficient light bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs are 90% more efficient
than incandescents. Incandescent bulbs lose most of their energy as
heat--which makes them a fire hazard as well.
The best lighting for a bathroom is bright enough to let you shave or
apply makeup without squinting, but soft enough to look flattering while
you do it. Choose bright white energy-saver bulbs, and soften the light
by hanging them at eye level on either side of the mirror or putting
them behind frosted glass.
Dual-flush toilets. Most new toilets use about seven or eight liters of
water every time you flush. Older toilets use 9-12 liters. However, you
don't need this 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 water waste, and another for
solids. Naturally, you need less water to flush water waste.
Faucets that conserve water. Leaky faucets waste millions of litres of
water per year, and cost you money as well. To prevent leaks in your
bathroom taps, replace your old fixtures with self-closing taps that
shut off the water as soon as you stop pressing a button. This ensures
your water isn't left on while you brush your teeth or shave, and it
keeps your faucet from leaking.
Think green in the shower. We waste a great deal of water in the
shower--plus massive amounts of energy used to heat the water we waste.
If you want to save water and save the planet at the same time, consider
installing a low-flow showerhead or an air shower.
A typical showerhead delivers 25 liters of water per minute, while a
low-flow showerhead delivers only 6 to 15. Cut your shower time in half
and use a low-flow showerhead, and you'll save a great deal of water.
If you really want to save water, however, consider an air shower. An
air shower device can be attached to your existing showerhead. It pumps
each water droplet full of air. This makes each water droplet bigger, so
it feels just as wet and strong as a typical showerhead. Studies show
that air showers can cut your water use by an additional 30%.
Recycled tiles. If you're redesigning your bathroom from scratch, choose
recycled materials such as reclaimed glass tiles. Glass is completely
water-resistant, making it a great choice for bathroom walls, flooring,
and countertops.
Choosing glass makes good ecological sense as well. Each glass bottle
recycled saves enough energy to run a 100-watt bulb for about four
hours. In addition, glass accounts for about 6% of all landfill waste
and takes over a million years to break down.
Heat your water efficiently. Most people wait until their water heater
breaks down to buy a new one. This puts you in the position of having to
find one quickly, without the luxury of shopping around. But if you take
your time in 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 big storage
tank that's constantly heated. Because it's always kept warm, this type
of heater loses energy even when it isn't used. However, there are some
new models that are designed to minimize standing heat loss.
If you want a truly efficient hot water heater, however, look for a
tankless heater or a solar heater. A tankless heater passes water pipes
directly through the boiler, while a solar heater uses the sun's energy
to heat water. Both of these will cost more to install, but they will
cost less to run.
Use nontoxic shampoos and soaps. Many ordinary soaps and shampoos
contain chemicals that could put your health at risk. There are many
carcinogenic chemicals in deodorants, soaps, shampoos, and body sprays.
Some of these persist in the environment, build up in the food chain,
and return to haunt us long after they've gone down the drain.
Be skeptical of products labeled "natural;" under current marketing
legislation in the U.K., only 1% of a product needs to be naturally
derived in order to use the label. Look for soaps and shampoos that
don't use artificial fragrances--essential oils are fine, however. Avoid
mineral oil, which is just another name for petroleum oil. In addition,
choose soaps and shampoos that use minimal, biodegradable packaging.
Making your bathroom more eco-friendly 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-efficient fixtures can make a big
difference. Whether you plan a few simple changes or a big overhaul, a
greener bathroom is within your reach.
About the author
Raymond Dobson is the director for http://www.wdbathrooms.co.uk. For more info on a wide range of bathrooms and shower baths visit http://www.wdbathrooms.co.uk/acatalog/Shower_Baths.html