From where your food comes from to the kind of fuel your car uses, it is possible to go green in every aspect of your life. If you look to your own home, there are many options available for becoming more environmentally friendly. The bathroom is a place where a huge amount of water consumption and water waste occurs. As such, it is a great place to start going green. Consider the following suggestions when remodeling or upgrading your bathroom to help make your home greener and more eco-friendly.
Five Easy Ways To Make Your Bathroom More Green
- Showerheads
Replacing an older, high flow showerhead with a new, low flow showerhead can reduce your water use up to 40 percent a year. The large reduction in water usage represents a potential of significant savings of natural resources, not to mention the impact you could see on your water bill.
- Toilets
Toilets installed prior to 1994 may use up to 4 gallons of water per flush. New high efficiency toilets use as little as 1.3 gallons of water per flush.
- Faucets
Many of us are guilty of running the water while we shave or brush teeth. On average, the amount of water wasted on these daily rituals can run from 5 gallons to 10 gallons per use. Instead of installing a traditional faucet when you remodel the bathroom, consider an electric sensor faucet that turns on when you need it and turns off when you do not.
- Water Heaters
Traditional water heaters will heat and reheat a full tank of water to keep it ready for use. A modern, tankless water heater only heats the water as you need it. A tankless water heater uses a lot less energy than a traditional water heater and will never leave you waiting for the water to heat up.
- Recycled Materials
Using recycled materials is a way to be green when remodeling your bathroom that does not involve water consumption. It is easy to find recycled tile for your bathroom walls, floors, and counters. Recycled glass tile is a particularly good choice because it creates a much smaller carbon footprint than new glass tile.
These are only a few options for making the bathrooms in your home more environmentally friendly. A skilled plumber or contractor can take a look at your home and make suggestions specific to your bathrooms and your lifestyle that will help you conserve energy and water. While you are working on your remodel, take a look at the cleaning materials and bath products you use. Some brands help minimize or even eliminate the pollutants going down the drain. Going green may take some time and effort, but in the end the benefit to your home, your utility bills, and the environment will make it worthwhile.
Jacob Walker writes about green bathroom renovation projects. You can click here for more green suggestions or visit this website to get free quotes on renovation costs.
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