So you want to start living the “green lifestyle”, but you’re not sure where to start. How about the bathroom? Your bathroom is a great place to start because there are so many eco-friendly bathroom improvement ideas for you to choose from.
How about we start by saving water? Your bathroom is the place where the most water is wasted. Here are some home improvement ideas to make your bathroom green:
1. Low Flow Aerators
You can install these low flow aerators on all of your faucets and you can get one for your shower heads as well. These are great because what they do is add air to the water before it comes out of the faucet, which in turn distributes the water over a much wider area. So you don’t need to use as much water to take a shower, brush your teeth, wash your face, etc. These low flow aerators restrict the flow of water but increase the force and pressure of the water coming out, making that less water more effective.
2. Paint your bathroom green, but it can be any color you like. Painting your bathroom will give it a great new look, but you don’t have to spend a lot of money to do it. Also, you should buy “green” paint, which is low or free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These types of paint contain natural pigments that come from plant sources. Since bathrooms are often small spaces, you don’t want to use paint that contains harmful fumes.
3. A great way to save money and use a lot less water is to upgrade your toilet. An older model toilet uses 3 to 5 gallons of water per flush. Modern toilets only use a gallon and a half of water per flush. That’s a savings of one and a half to three and a half gallons of water for each flush. If you add up how many times you flush the toilet each day, you can see where this upgrade can save you a lot of money. You will recoup the cost of the new toilet in no time. If you really can’t afford to upgrade your toilet right now, you can convert your old one to a low-flow toilet by putting a weight in the tank.
To make a scale, find a water and rust-resistant container, such as a plastic milk jug or 2-liter plastic soda bottle. Fill the bottle with gravel or sand and cap it tightly. Place the bottle in the toilet tank, making sure the flapper, float, flush arm, and all other components of the tank do not touch the bottle. The purpose of this is to displace some of the water in the toilet tank. When your tank fills up, it will fill with less water.
Another thing you can do if you’re not in a position to replace your toilet is to install a dual-flush system on your old toilet. This gives your visitors the option to use a little water or a lot of water. You can buy and install it yourself for around $30.00.
4. Replace your plastic shower curtain with one made of natural fibers. Plastic shower curtains give off toxic fumes due to the nature of soft plastics. You can buy a linen or cotton shower curtain or make your own.
5. Another option is a tankless water system for your bathroom. Instead of drawing hot water from your water heater, the water is kept in a separate tank. You don’t have to let the water run until it gets hot. It heats up as it passes through your shower head or sink faucets. This change alone will save a lot of money, not only on water but also on your electricity bill.
The above items are not only eco-friendly ways to make bathroom improvements in your home, they are also ways to save money on your water and electricity bill.
