5 Ways to Create a Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Bathroom
If you’re like many homeowners, you get comfortable with familiar routines and fixtures in your home without giving them a second thought. “Going green” might sound like a nice concept theory, but perhaps you’re not sure where to begin with transforming your home into a more environmentally friendly space. One of the best rooms to start in is the bathroom because of its small size and huge improvement potential.
Here are five ways that you can start making your home eco-friendlier, starting with the bathroom.
1. Replace Old Toilets with Low-Flow Toilets
One of the best ways that you can improve the eco-friendliness of your bathroom is to replace your toilet if it is old or inefficient. Old-model toilets waste gallons of water every day and drive up utility costs for homeowners. In fact, toilets use more water than anything else in the home – an estimated 880 gallons of water per week for a typical family of four. Alternatively, low-flow toilets save water and use between 1.25 gallons to 1.75 gallons of water per flush. Not only will you save water with these efficient toilets, but also money. High-efficiency toilets save a typical family a four about $90 per year.
2. Use Reduced-Energy Light Bulbs
How you choose to light your bathroom can also increase or decrease your family’s carbon footprint dramatically. Replace old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs to conserve energy and save you money on your electric bill. LED bulbs consume about 80 percent less energy than old bulbs and last about 25 times longer too. These types of bulbs have been growing tremendously in popularity, with many styles and sizes now available in stores and online.
3. Install High-Efficiency Showerheads
The daily routine of showering can also waste a substantial amount of water without efficient fixtures in place. High-efficiency showerheads help you save water without sacrificing good water pressure. Compared to standard showerheads that use about 2.5 gallons of water each minute, high-efficiency models use more like 1.5 gallons each minute. This adds up when you consider the amount of water used daily for 10-15-minute showers for each member of your household plus occasional guests. Replacing your showerhead is an inexpensive upgrade that doesn’t take much time or professional expertise, making it one of the easiest ways to go green in the bathroom.
4. Install Reduced-Flow Water Faucets
Water faucets are another bathroom fixture that can waste water and take more of a toll on the environment than you might expect. As you upgrade your bathroom fixtures, choose water-efficient bathroom faucets that reduce the flow of water by at least 30 percent. Modern, eco-friendly water faucets typically use 1.5 gallons of water or less per minute. You can also consider installing a motion sensor faucet to reduce water waste without having to remember to turn off the faucet while scrubbing your hands or brushing your teeth.
5. Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Even if you’re not yet ready to upgrade your bathroom fixtures, there are still lots of easy ways to make your bathroom more environmentally friendly. Instead of cleaning your bathroom with harsh and potentially dangerous chemicals, choose naturally based products and DIY recipes to accomplish daily and weekly cleaning tasks. For example, vinegar is a wonderful cleaner that can you instead of toxic bleach, even for tough cleaning jobs. You can save money and protect the environment by making your own cleaning products with simple household ingredients like natural soap, baking soda, lemon, and pure water. While you’re at it, consider buying sustainable bath products and recycled toilet paper instead of the standard variety to more fully embrace the eco-friendly lifestyle.