We have never been more knowledgeable about the environment and how our actions affect it, which may be the reason why so many people are keen to make their homes greener. One place that could particularly benefit from this is the bathroom.
This is because the room is where a lot of energy is consumed heating water and radiators, running fan extractors and electric showers, while it is also the part of the house where the most water is used. Taking action to make this area more efficient is therefore not only good for the planet, but also for your wallet.
Indeed, reducing the amount of water and power you use could pay dividends when it comes to your utilities bills. To find out how to make your washroom greener, read on.
Update your suite
One way to make your bathroom more efficient is to consider updating your suite. While you might think bathroom furniture has changed little over the years except in terms of style, you’d be surprised.
Take bathrooms supplier Duravit, for example. This company has developed toilets that flush hygienically using a third less water than average, while newer models need an even smaller amount of liquid. In addition, the firm ensures that all of the items it produces can be recycled.
Other bathroom furniture suppliers are taking similar action, so you should find it isn’t hard at all to make this part of your property greener by updating it.
Reduce water consumption
Lowering the amount of water you consume is another way to reduce your property’s negative impact on the planet. However, you might be concerned that this is an impossible task in the bathroom.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to save water and therefore save money, and the first is to select a shower over the bath. According to the Energy Saving Trust, if every member of a four-person household swapped one bath each week for a five-minute shower, they would save £21 a year on water.
You can also make your shower more efficient, by updating its head. Water-efficient heads pour less water out and can shave even more pounds off your bills.
When you are using the sink, be sure not to leave the tap running while you brush your teeth, shave or wash your hands and face, as this wastes water. If you notice one of your taps is dripping, get it fixed – as every drop of water that swirls needlessly down the plughole is money wasted in the long-run.
Revamp your heating
In addition to water, heating is something we consume a lot of in the washroom. We rely on it for warm water, to heat the room and to dry our wet towels and other linen. Indeed, it is important a bathroom is adequately heated and ventilated to prevent damp and mould – but there are ways to do this and lower your carbon footprint.
The first is to find out if you need to get your boiler updated. If your current model is more than ten years older, it’s well worth getting an upgrade as the appliances available today are far more efficient.
You can also have heating controls installed, which allow you to select when radiators come on, for how long and in which rooms. If you nave a shower at the same time every evening, you will be able to programme your radiators to switch on accordingly.
