Green Options for Your Bathroom Remodel

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Since you have to invest a lot of time and money in complex home remodeling projects, you often end up postponing them. However, this is not the best thing to do. For instance, an outdated bathroom can cause much waste. This means higher energy expenditure, expensive water bills, and an increased eco-footprint. Not to mention that it’s visually unappealing and can decrease your home’s value. Therefore, if you’re planning a year of home upgrades, you should consider starting with your bathroom. Take a look at these green options for your bathroom remodel.

No. 1 Hire help

Remodeling a bathroom can be very complex, so you’ll need to hire some help. Don’t try to do it yourself because you can end up causing a lot of damage to your home. Instead, hire professionals that specialize in eco-friendly renovations. These experts can give you the best recommendations regarding green options for your bathroom remodel. Since you’ll likely need a plumber, an electrician, a carpenter, and a tile installer, you should find a team that can provide all those services.

No. 2 One of the best green options for your bathroom remodel is to use energy-efficient solutions

When it comes to home renovation ideas for families, adding an extra bathroom is a common choice to make it more family-friendly. After all, nobody enjoys waiting in line until everyone’s finished. However, this will also increase your energy consumption. So, if you want to reduce your eco-footprint and energy bills, you must apply energy-efficient solutions.

Here are some ideas.

Lighting

Every bathroom needs to be adequately lit. One of the best energy-efficient solutions, in this case, is to bring in as much natural light as possible. You can install solar tubes, skylights, and windows to achieve this. If you’re worried about privacy, glass blocks are a great solution.

Of course, you can’t rely solely on natural light. You’ll also need light fixtures. Just make sure you opt for low-wattage LED lights. While they are a bit more expensive, they last longer and consume less energy than traditional ones. Plus, for extra energy efficiency, you can install smart lights. This is one of the top bath design trends to watch in 2023.

Ventilation

Ventilation is critical for any bathroom. Otherwise, all that humidity that accumulates inside can cause a lot of damage and mold. Of course, windows are the best ventilation solution. Nevertheless, you might not be too eager to open them up during the cold season or during hot summer days. Therefore, you should also install an exhaust fan. Look for a model that uses less energy, has humidity sensors, and clears the air quickly.

Water heating

Water heating is one of the significant sources of energy consumption, and your bathroom uses most of the heated water. Therefore, even if the water heating system is not installed in the bathroom, you should still consider changing it. Some of the best green options include solar water heaters, heat pump water heaters, and tankless water heaters.

No. 3 Prevent water waste

Bathrooms cause a lot of water waste which is not at all eco-friendly. But don’t worry; you have some great green options. Here are some examples.

Showerheads

If you want to be eco-friendly, you should aim for shorter showers, but it would be ideal if you still could benefit from the relaxing effects of a long shower every once in a while. Therefore, investing in a low-flow showerhead that uses less water is better. You can even opt for one of the new shower technologies that recycle water. As a result, you’ll be using the same quantity of water no matter how long your shower lasts.

Toilets

Old and leaky toilets can waste between 3 and 7 gallons of water for every flush. However, modern high-efficiency toilets will help you save water. Specifically, they can reduce the waste to 1.6 gallons or even half that per flush. The most popular option here is the dual-flush toilet. This enables you to flush different amounts of water, as needed, by pushing one of two buttons.

Faucets

People frequently forget to turn off the water while brushing their teeth or shaving. As a result, all that water goes to waste. Unfortunately, it’s hard to change these habits, so you should invest in an automatic faucet to reduce water waste. These are equipped with a proximity sensor that allows water to flow only when it detects your hands.

No. 4 Use low-VOC materials

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are a group of chemicals that are released into the indoor air and pose significant health risks. If you’re exposed, you’ll feel lightheaded and nauseous, and some can even be carcinogenic. Unfortunately, these compounds can be found in many products. Therefore, you should always read the label carefully and opt for low-VOC or VOC-free materials. This applies to everything including bathroom paints, varnishes, and sealers.

No. 5 Opt for eco-friendly and sustainable materials

Choosing eco-friendly and sustainable materials is an excellent way to decrease your eco-footprint. Nowadays, this is pretty easy to achieve since there’s a wide range of such materials to choose from. Regarding bathroom tiles, you can opt for ones made out of reclaimed wood, or you can use bamboo or eco-friendly concrete. For your bathroom cabinets and vanity, you can use solid wood, formaldehyde-free woods, or recycled steel.

In conclusion

It would be best if you stopped postponing the remodeling of your bathroom. Yes, it’s costly, but it also has many benefits. It will improve the functionality and style of your home, reduce your energy and water bills, and decrease your eco-footprint. Not to mention that you’ll eliminate any dangerous materials that might pose health risks. As you’ve seen, there are many green options for your bathroom remodel. Ideally, you should consult with an expert in eco-friendly renovations. These professionals know all the materials and products on the market to offer you the best advice.