Eco-friendly bathroom
Design
Tiling
A lot of bathrooms have features on the kinds of tile, but now you can find these options created from recycled materials available in almost every aesthetic you could think of. You can mostly find bathroom tiles crafted from bamboo, eco-friendly concrete or cork. Some of the latest options available on the market have tiles manufac- tured from vegetable ivory, reclaimed wood and other organic products.
Cabinets and sinks
Traditional old cabinets and sinks usually consist of plywoods, particle boards, pressed wood and medium density fiberboard (MDF). However, the glue which was used with these materials contains formaldehyde which causes irritants to one’s respiratory system such as irritation in the nose, eyes, throat and even increased risk in asthma. Now as technology is constantly being improved in our daily lives, there are eco-friendly cabinets and vanity options made available from recycled materials and solid wood which are much more beneficial to your health. You could even own cabinets manufactured from recycled concrete or bamboo nowadays.
The Shower vs. Bath debates
The ultimate relaxation after a long day is to take a bath / shower and on average each of us will bathe / shower at least once a day. Did you ever consider how much water it takes to fill the bathtub? Up to 70 gallons of water can be used at a full bath whereas 25 gallons of water are used for a ten-minute shower. Using these numbers, we believe a shower is more eco-friendly and cost effective for a household. Another consideration before falling in love with a particular type of tub, you need to know just what your bathroom can accommodate. A standard tub is 60 inches long, 30 inches wide, and 14 inches deep.
Fixtures
Save water with low-flow water fixtures
It is no surprise that quite an amount of water is wasted every time the toilet is flushed after use. However, there have been inventions of low-flow and dual-flush toilets which reduces water usage. Years ago, toilets used more than 3 gallons of water after each use in its flush. Nowadays, there are the presence of high-efficiency toilets available on the market which uses less than a gallon worth of water. Taking in the consideration of the number of people on the planet, this technology advancement can save thousands of gallons of water every year. In addition, it helps to lower your utility bills by investing on a good toilet which also helps to benefit the environment as well. This applies to faucets and showerheads as well. The rate of water flow has decreased significantly in recent years, so upgrading your equipment can result in decreased amount of water usage and increase energy efficiency therefore saving your bank account as well with lower payment on utility bills.
A wonderful resource for looking for water-efficient appliances is the MY HIJAU program by Green Tech Malaysia. The website offers a long list of Green Labels for approved appliances that meet the criteria set by governing bodies, providing consumers with the proper guidance for water efficient products.
If you wish to reduce your water usage without replacing any of your bathroom equipment, you may look into adding an aerator which reduces the water flow rate without affecting the water pressure of your showerheads and faucet.
Water heaters
From the research, almost one-fifth of home energy is used for water heating. You could look into the installation of an energy-efficient water heater which helps to remodel your bathroom to be more environmentally friendly. When you are shopping for water heaters on the market, do look out for The Energy Efficiency Label. These labels signifies that the product has been approved and certified to be energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
Environmentally friendly options include a heat pump water heater. It uses heat from the air in your surroundings to heat up the refrigerant which heats up your water; a tankless water heater, which is able to heat up the water at the same time as you are using it. You could also opt for a condensing storage water heater, which uses much less energy to boil up hot water. Another option is to look into solar water heaters as well which helps to lower your energy costs tremendously.
Accessories
Shower mats
Often you’ll find that the cloth bath mats you find in your shower has mold and mildew, an alternative to it is to opt for a mat manufactured from teak wood. Teak wood mats resists harmful bacterias and provides your bath- room with a more sophisticated and modern look. These shower mats are also slip resistant, naturally warm and are very easy to clean as a bonus.
Towels and washcloths
As many chemicals are usually used when traditional cotton bathroom linens are manufactured, do have a thought of upgrading your towels and other cloths to organic cotton towels which do not make use of any harm- ful pesticides.
Toothbrushes
Toothbrushes are just one of the few things to get started with if you wish to transform your bathroom into a eco-friendlier one with bamboo bathroom accessories. You can find more items similar like bathtub trays, soap dispensers and even toothbrush holders created from the amazing product of bamboo. They are all natural and sustainable materials as well. It is very simple to remodel yours to be more eco-friendly even though some of the options available may be a little more expensive than the regular bathroom equipment you see on the market. However, many of these options will save you a lot of cash in the long run through the reduction in your utility bills. So do have a thought about it as they will benefit both you and the environment surrounding you for many years to come.