What are the benefits of going green?
The benefits to going green and creating an eco-bathroom, will hit you nicely in your pocket book, along with the environmental and health benefits. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency  you can save up to 20% on your electrical bill by going green.
While the bathroom may only take up a fraction of space in your home, it’s often a spot where waste piles up. The bathroom is a hotspot for overindulgent water use, excessive paper waste, and it’s a place where bath and cleaning products seem to multiply without end. And where non organic products sneak in easily. If you’ve got a bathroom that seems more like the wild west for waste than a green haven, then we’ve got some great tips that can help you turn your personal spa into a eco-bathroom.
Use energy-efficient light bulbs and fan
The perfect eco-bathroom would not complete without good lighting. It allows better vision for grooming, makeup, cleaning, and basically everything you do in the bathroom. It also enhances your bathroom’s aesthetic. Now you don’t have to sacrifice energy-efficiency and economy for good lighting.
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You can turning your bathroom eco-friendly with energy-efficient light bulbs, like compact fluorescent lamps, light emitting diodes (LEDs), halogen incandescents. They can save up to 25 percent to 80 percent energy compared to traditional light bulbs and last up to 3 to 25 times longer. By changing to energy-efficient light bulbs, you can cut energy consumption, your electricity bill, and help save the environment.
An exhaust fan removes moisture from your bathroom, which inhibits the growth of molds and mildew. It also helps keep glass surfaces clean (e.g., the bathroom mirror). Standard fans use about 60 watts
Be mindful about heating water
Did you know that the average household uses around 330 litres of water per day? Heating water for showers, washing up and baths accounts for more than 15% 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. Combo-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.
Only heat water when you need it and try and use it all up. Doing the washing up and then showering is a simple way to maximize your hot water usage.
Low-flow showerheads, toilets and faucets
It should come as no surprise that every time you flush the toilet, you are wasting a significant amount of water. But there have been major advancements in recent years with low-flow and dual-flush toilets that have reduced water usage.
Just a few years ago, toilets used more than three gallons of water with each flush. Now, high-efficiency toilets use less than a gallon. Considering how often your family flushes the toilet each day, this new technology can save thousands of gallons of water every year. Not only is this good for the environment, but it also helps lower those utility bills.
The same goes for faucets and showerheads. The flow rates have dropped significantly over the years, so upgrading can result in less water usage, increased energy efficiency and even more savings on your utility bills.
A fantastic resource for finding water-efficient appliances is the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program website. It offers a list of approved appliances that meet the EPA criteria, and it rates everything from showerheads to bathroom accessories.
If you want to reduce your water usage without replacing your showerhead and faucet, you can add an aerator that will reduce the water flow rate without affecting water pressure.
Don’t ignore leaks and drips
Household leaks can waste approximately nearly 900 billion gallons of water annually nationwide. That’s equal to the annual household water use of nearly 11 million homes. In addition to costing homeowners thousands every year, water waste has a massive affect on the environment.
Check all your fixtures and connections regularly. If a problem arises, fix it, don’t ignore it! Most leaks are a quick fix that don’t even require calling out a plumber.
Toilets use approximately 27% of the water consumed in your home — more than any other appliances or plumbing — including the washing machine, dishwasher and shower.
Enjoy The Shower
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Swapping the bath for a shower is probably the biggest change you can make to your bathroom if you want to be more eco-friendly. According to studies, 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, so you have plenty of time to sing a couple of your favourite songs or get some thinking done.
Another handy device is a four-minute water timer. These are designed to cut the time you spend in the shower and could shave off an annual metered water bill.
Turn off the tap
There’s no need to keep the tap running when you’re washing your hands or brushing your teeth. If you want to be more eco-friendly in the bathroom, simply turn the tap off until you need that water to rinse.
Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth can save 8 gallons of water per day. If you do the same while shaving, you can save 10 gallons of water. Assuming you brush your teeth twice daily and shave 5 times per week, you could save nearly 5,700 gallons per year!
Also, consider fitting tap aerators. They mix water with air, which creates a smooth, efficient flow of water that helps you save more.
Dry towels naturally
After a nice long soak, towels can be a hassle to dry. But, rather than tossing them in the tumble dryer, let them dry naturally in a well aired area. It takes time, for sure, but you’re not likely to need to use the towel again so soon.
Allowing your towels to dry naturally also helps protect your towels. They take less wear and tear than they would if they went around and around in the tumble dryer.
Fill your cupboard with recyclables
Natural bathroom products, such as moisturizers, face wipes and shampoos all do their part to help the planet. Using eco-friendly ingredients and recyclable bottles, these products are ideal for creating a greener bathroom. Natural products are also very healthy for your skin and body, so you’ll be looking after yourself as well as the planet.
