Are you keen to do your bit for the planet? More of us are eager to go green, and there are so many ways you can do this at home. If you’re planning a bathroom revamp or you’re looking at ways to make your bathroom more environmentally-friendly, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some top energy saving tips to help you go green in the bathroom.
Choosing recycled or managed materials
One of the best ways to go green in your bathroom is to make sure you choose sustainable materials when selecting furniture and decorative features. These days, you can buy a whole host of items and products made from recycled and sustainable materials. Look out for FSC certification and read product descriptions carefully.
It’s a really good idea to specify that you’re looking for FSC certified products when shopping online or trying to source fixtures, fittings or accessories for your bathroom. Search for greener alternatives to popular materials you would normally find in the bathroom.
Choose FSC Certified
If you’re considering replacing old tiles, for example, consider options like Showerwall, an FSC certified wall panelling product that offers an alternative to tiling. Source reclaimed wood if you plan to make a chest or quirky shelves to store towels or toiletries and use recycled glass for countertops or internal glass brick structures.
You can even make a positive contribution by being selective about the toilet tissue you use and scout out FSC certified products.
Avoid PVC shower curtains
If you have a PVC shower curtain, one very easy and affordable way of going greener is to replace it. The production of PVC is an unpleasant process, which can produce harmful toxins, which may continue to be released once the curtain is hanging in your bathroom.
Furthermore, it’s not possible to recycle PVC and throwing it away may result in hazardous chemicals getting back into the water system. If you are on the lookout for a new shower curtain, search for PVC-free options, which are widely available. Another option is to embrace the natural anti-mold powers of a hemp alternative.
Reducing water usage
Are you guilty of leaving the taps running when you’re washing your face or brushing your teeth? Do you prefer to have a bath rather than take a shower? Have you got an old shower head or a toilet that hasn’t been replaced for years? If so, you’ll probably find that you could save a lot of water if you put your mind to it.
Swapping the bath for a shower will make a huge difference to water consumption, especially if you fill the bath or you have a bath on a regular basis. According to a study, an 8-minute shower will use 62 litres of water compared to an average of 80 litres of water for a bath. Eight minutes is fairly long for a shower. You can trim these figures down even more by having a 5-minute shower.
When it’s time to replace choose water-efficient products
You can also be more water-wise by investing in modern equipment, including water-efficient shower heads and low flow toilets. Did you know that the toilet uses more water than any other appliance in the home, including your dishwasher and washing machine? Research suggests that the toilet uses around 27% of the water consumed in the average household. Swapping an old system for a new model could reduce this significantly. You can bring the flush volume down even more by installing a dual flush device. The amount of water used for every flush will be halved if you compare a traditional system with a new toilet fitted with a dual flush feature.
Reduce the flush volume
Swapping an old cistern and pan for a new model could reduce water consumption significantly. You can bring the flush volume down even more by going for a model with a dual flush cistern. The amount of water used for every flush will be halved if you compare to a traditional system.
Showering is often more environmentally-friendly and cost-effective than taking a bath, but there are ways to make your showers even greener. If you use a low-flow showerhead, you can reduce the amount of water you use without sacrificing any power or impacting on the enjoyment of the experience.
Reduce water usage, reduce bills
A low-flow showerhead can reduce consumption from 5-8 gallons of water per minute to around 2.5 gallons. Over the course of a month or a year, this will make a massive difference to your water usage and also your bills.
If you have a garden, it’s also worth looking into re-using water by buying a grey-water diverter. This sends water you’ve used during a bath or a shower into a container. The water that is collected is then distributed in the garden, saving you money on watering the plants.
Try to be water-wise
Most of us are guilty of using more water than we actually need. Of course, there are times when you fancy a longer shower than usual, or you can’t wait to relax and unwind in a bubble bath after a stressful day. There’s nothing wrong with this, but try and be water-wise.
You don’t need to fill the bath to the top or leave the taps running when you’re brushing your teeth. Make sure you close off taps completely before leaving the room. Dripping taps can waste hundreds of gallons of water over the course of a year.
Saving energy
If you’re keen to go green and save money on your energy bills, here are our energy saving tips.
It’s time to pay more attention to how much energy you use at home. Simple tricks like swapping old light bulbs for energy-efficient bulbs could save you a significant sum of money. The average LED bulb consumes around 80% less energy than a traditional bulb, and it also has a much longer lifespan. Typically, an LED bulb will shine for up to 25,000 hours, which is 25 times longer than the average bulb.
There’s a huge range of LED lights available, and you can even choose coloured bulbs if you fancy adding ambience to the room. LED lights are preferable to conventional bulbs not only because they use less energy, but also because they run at a lower wattage. It is estimated that swapping an old bulb with an LED bulb could save you up to £120 per bulb over its lifetime.
You can also save energy in the bathroom by making sure you switch the lights off when the room is not in use. If you’re rushing to get out of the door and often forget to turn the lights off, it’s worth considering a sensor system. This will ensure that the lights are triggered only when somebody is using the bathroom and it can to help to eliminate excessive use.
Heating water
According to the Energy Saving Trust, the average UK household uses around 330 litres of water per day. Heating water for showers, washing up and baths accounts for more than 15 percent of expenditure on gas. If you have an old boiler, it’s well worth looking into more modern alternatives, which may be more energy-efficient. Combi-boilers tend to be a lot more cost-effective than other options, especially immersion heating. Using a thermostat can also help you to save money.
Stocking up on sustainable products
Many of us have bathrooms that are reminiscent of a cosmetics counter, you can’t move for lotions and potions. Next time you’re buying bubble bath, shower cream or moisturiser, look for organic products, which contain natural ingredients. By adapting your beauty regime, you can reduce your carbon footprint and ensure that everything you use is safe and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives.
If you buy sustainable products, there’s also a good chance that you’ll be benefiting people who devote their time to developing products that are more environmentally-friendly, such as organic farmers and fair trade manufacturers. You can apply these rules to everything from lotions and creams to loo rolls, cotton wool and even the towels you use.
Green cleaning
Cleaning the bathroom is a job we all have to take on. It’s really important that your bathroom is a hygienic space. Next time you’re buying cleaning products, search for eco-friendly options that are kinder to the environment than chemical cleaners. Look out for terms like ecological, natural, organic and biodegradable next time you’re surveying the shelves at the supermarket. Products like Showerwall can also help you to be greener. The panels are much more hygienic than tiles and therefore they don’t need to be cleaned as often. Scattering natural products like beeswax candles can also freshen up the room and add ambience without impacting on the environment.
Products like Showerwall can also help you to be greener. The panels are much more hygienic than tiles and therefore they don’t need to be cleaned as often. Certainly they don’t need to be cleaned with bleach or abrasive cleaners. Showerwall even offer their own cleaning fluid.
Scattering natural products like beeswax candles can also freshen up the room and add ambience without impacting on the environment.
Rounding up our energy saving tips
If you’re on a mission to go green at home, the bathroom is a fantastic place to start. There are numerous ways you can make your bathroom a more environmentally-friendly space. Often just making simple changes can make a massive difference both to your energy and water consumption and your monthly bills.
Make an effort to be water-wise, swap baths for showers and invest in water-saving and energy-efficient features and appliances. Use sustainable and organic materials and look out for products that are FSC certified like Showerwall. Choose natural toiletries and cleaning products and try and banish potentially harmful chemicals from your bathroom.