The bathroom is sadly, one of those places in the house that experiences the maximum water wastage. Conventional bathroom designs are also not that environmentally friendly, and usually consist of poorly ventilated and dim lit rooms, slippery showers and toilet tanks that waste more water than they actually use to flush away the waste. So here are some green bathroom renovation tips you can adopt to make your bathroom a safer, greener place.
Install water saving bathroom fixtures
The fixtures used in traditional bathrooms tend to waste a lot of water. Change this by opting for water saving fixtures like low flow faucets and showerheads. Leaky toilets and taps can also waste up to 300 gallons of water on a daily basis. So get them as well as other leaks fixed immediately. Also install a gray water system to collect water from the wash basins and showers to be repurposed in the toilet and garden.
Opt for energy efficient options
Traditional bathrooms are almost always tucked away in a dark corner of the house that is devoid of light or proper ventilation. If your bathroom features the same design, consider installing some windows to let in natural light as well as ventilation. This would reduce your energy costs to a great extent.
Opt for proper ventilation
Damp bathrooms can attract mold and mildew growth. You can tackle this problem by installing a Heat Recovery Ventilator in the bathroom to balance the humidity level indoors. Make sure you remove the ventilator and take it outside to balance it with exhausted air. Install a low power fan to remove excess moisture from the bathroom, attaching a timer to it in order to stop the fan once the desired moisture levels have been reached.
Repurposing the toilet
Not many of us know that the waste that comes from our bodies contain minerals that can be used effectively as plant fertilizers. Sadly, conventional toilets don’t do much in separating these wastes and segregating them properly for different uses. So consider installing a repurposing toilet that would be able to use different amounts of water to wash away liquid and solid waste, as well as separate the waste itself. Other simple additions you can consider for this toilet include a washbasin set atop the toilet to wash your hands and use the same water to flush away the waste. If possible, you can also consider installing a no flush urinal and end up saving more than 40000 gallons of water a year.
Separate the shower and toilet areas
Not only is this a healthier option, but this would also prevent water wastage to a great extent. It is also wise to use hemp or PVC free plastic shower curtains as compared to the vinyl ones which are not very eco-friendly. It pays to clean shower doors or curtains (simply wiping them with a sponge would do) immediately after showering as then you would not need to use chemicals to remove stubborn stains later on.
Alternatives to hot water
Although you cannot really replace hot water in a bathroom, you can consider other energy efficient alternatives to getting it. For instance, installing a solar powered water heater can save you a lot in terms of electricity bills down the lane. You can also consider installing a waste heat recovery system that would use the warm water running down the drain to preheat the shower water.
Select eco-friendly flooring options
A lot of flooring materials used in bathrooms are not that eco-friendly. Plus, they tend to attract mold and mildew growth after a point of time. So consider using flooring materials that are more eco-friendly and easier to clean in the process. For instance, several water resistant woods are mold inhibitors and can be used effectively in bathrooms. Also consider for other alternatives like ceramic tiles, recycled glass, natural plasters and low VOC paints for the walls and floors to make your bathroom a greener haven.
Summary
Renovating your bathroom? Then consider turning it into a green, eco-friendly oasis in the process. The tips mentioned above would help you achieve the same easily and effectively.