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There's no doubt about it: the bathroom is one of the focus points of the home. It gets used more than almost any other room, and in turn uses more energy. Electricity, water, and temperature control spend a lot of time there, too, creating a hub of household power use...and sometimes power waste. So while decorators worry about nickel-plated sinks and shades of white, there is a whole other side to the bathroom 's story, and it's usually measured in water bills and heat pump repair.
Fortunately, the wave of green-oriented appliances and materials has not forgotten about diminutive bathroom. There are numerous ways to turn your bathroom into an eco-conscious zone, from installing new fans and insulation to buying organic towels and biodegradable soap. For now, let's take a look at bathroom design itself to see how a few changes can go a long way in saving energy--and making your home that much greener!
Temperature Trappers
When first constructed, the walls of the bathroom where the toilet, sink, and bathroom are installed require significant access for plumbing work, and can sometimes go without insulation, especially compared to the rest of the house. This causes all the heat the bathroom takes in (especially from showers, which can actually generate heat for the rest of the house) to be permanently lost. Cracks around the tub and toilet and poor insulation are the worst offenders. If remodeling projects or new appliances give you the chance to open up bathroom walls, seriously consider re-caulking to ensure there are no air leaks, and possibly using foam insulation that will expanding into the wall and create an excellent seal against heat transfer.
The other source of heat loss in the bathroom is windows. If your bathroom doesn't have windows you can breathe easy on this one, but if it does you may be losing a lot of that trapped heat to the outside air, especially in cooler climates. Making sure windows are double paned and well-sealed is a good idea: there are many different kinds of energy-saving windows made for every kind of budget, from those that use insulating gases to those coated with reflective films to keep the sunlight from warming the house too much.
Saving Water
Bathrooms use water in three different ways: the sink, the toilet, and the shower/bathtub. There isn't much that can be done with the sink--except turning it off when it isn't being used--so energy-efficient options are left to the other two. You can choose from a wide selection of water-saving toilets that come in all styles. Most are designed to flush with one-half or one-third of the water a normal toilet uses.
There is rating known as the three-star or AAA rating for showerheads, which is an environmental label on showerheads designed to let through less water, thus using both less water and less heat. These heads can be plagued with weak-pressure problems though, and you may want to be sure to buy a model that uses water bubbles or other methods to increase water pressure.
To save on hot water, consider an energy efficient heat pump or alternative heating system. Both solar and geothermal units are become increasingly more reliable and can save a lot of money over time. Installing insulated pipes that keep the heat trapped in the water where it belongs is another way to save.
Your Greatest Fan
Energy efficient fans work on several levels. They run much more quietly than traditional fans and create less of a disturbance, they save on electricity needed to power the louder models, and they use new blade designs and materials that are more efficient than older versions, removing moist air quickly before it can cling to walls and encourage mold or mildew. Look for an Energy Star rating or similar sign that the fan saves energy. |
