More than half of our home’s indoor water consumption happens in the bathroom. Since the average American uses 100 gallons of water every day, that means that we use more than 50 gallons of water in the bathroom (your toilet uses about 27%!). For more stats on indoor water use, see the EPA’s WaterSense page.
But don’t worry! These numbers are steadily decreasing as more and more homeowners are opting for more eco-friendly bathroom designs and plumbing fixtures. We’ve already talked about how you can create a more eco-friendly kitchen, so this time we’re heading into the bathroom.
Eco-Friendly Bathroom Solutions
1. Cut the Flush
For a standard toilet, every flush uses 3.5 to 7 gallons of water! Low-flow toilets, however, us as little as 1.28 gallons. There are also European toilet models that have a dual-flush option – one for liquid waste and the other for solid waste. Some municipalities even offer money-saving rebates on low-flow toilets and other plumbing fixtures.
2. Shower Savings
Your toilet isn’t the only water hog in your bathroom. The next largest water consumer in your home is your shower and bath, which also uses energy to heat up the water. Like your toilet, there are also low-flow showerhead options available to you. These designs use less water without sacrificing water pressure or comfort. Compared to standard showerheads, gauged at 2.5 gallons per minute, low-flow models at 1.6 gpm can cut your annual water use by 20,000 gallons and save you up to 15% on your water heating costs.
3. Frugal Faucets
Although federal plumbing standards require faucet to run at no more than 2.5 gallons per minute, many older homes still have faucet fixtures that flow at 3 to 5 gallons per minute. As with your toilet and shower, you may want to replace faucet fixtures and aerators. If you don’t have an aerator, they are cheap and easy to install yourself. Although you could shell out for those restaurant-style motion sensor faucets, we recommend just being very conscious of when the faucet is running. Turn the tap off while you are washing your face, shaving, and brushing your teeth. Doing this alone could save you over 200 gallons a month (EPA).
4. Bathroom Detailing
Avoid the hormone-disrupting and asthma-inducing effects of a PVC shower curtain by installing planet-friendly glass doors. Make sure that you have enough ventilation in the bathroom to prevent mold and mildew.
To keep even more toxins away as a result of your bathroom cleaning products, install a bath or shower that uses durable acrylic material. With ‘s high quality materials, backed by the Good Housekeeping seal, your days of scrubbing bathrooms are over. And with most remodels completed in just 1 day, you won’t have to live with a messy and stressful bathroom remodel.
5. Piping Problems
If your home was built before 1930, you may have lead pipes which are leaching lead into your water supply. You can test the quality of your water by sending in a sample to a sate-certified lab. Visit the EPA’s State Certification Officers for Drinking Water Laboratories page for more information.
You may also want to consider replacing your piping system if you have polybutylene pipes, leaking pipes, corroded pipes, discolored water, or low water pressure. Call Larry & Sons today to find and detect problems with your pipes and offer budget-friendly options for repair or replacement.
As an exclusive dealer, Larry & Sons Plumbing is committed to achieving eco-friendly bathroom comfort and efficiency.
ECO-FRIENDLY BATHROOM DETAILING
- Replacement bathtubs and showers
- Bath and shower wall surrounds
- Walk-in tubs, step-through inserts, and barrier-free showers
- Shower doors and rods
- Bath and shower accessories
- Large selection of styles and colors
- Easy to clean and prevents mold and mildew
With the Good Housekeeping Seal, you have nothing to worry about:
For the showstopping, eco-friendly bathroom of your dreams, delivered in just one day (in most cases), call Larry & Sons for your next bathroom remodel.
For more information on easy, 1 day Bathroom Remodels, read our latest blog.
Whatever plumbing installation and replacement project you have in mind, the expert technicians at Larry & Sons can get the job done right.
Don’t forget to check out our maintenance plan; we provide fall and spring HVAC tune-ups, provide 15 % off all repairs, and much more!
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