Green Bathroom Ideas

The newest style of bathroom remodeling is the green bathroom. Green bathrooms not only help to save the environment but also help so save the owner money in the long run. This article can help give you some green ideas when it comes to bathroom remodeling.
Using natural light is the easiest way to start your green design. If you have the option skylights are the best way to light your bathroom. Letting in natural light not only gives you bathroom a friendlier brighter feel but also eliminates the need for electric lighting. If skylights aren’t an option replacing bathroom windows with larger ones can also drastically help the lighting of your bath. When it comes time to plan the actual electric lighting aspect of your bathroom look into low voltage led lighting as an alternative to the conventional bathroom lighting. Installing timer switches is also a great way to ensure you save energy.
Another great way to save money is to switch from a hot water tank to a solar hot water tank of an inline heater. A solar hot water heater uses energy from the sun to heat your water saving energy and money. With the cost of these units starting around $1500 dollars these are a great investment. The inline water heater gives you hot water on demand giving the added bonus of never being able to run out of hot water. Either of these alternatives are better for the environment then the standard hot water tank.
There are a number of ways to help save water when it comes to your bathroom. Automated faucets save water by automatically turning themselves off after a certain amount of time. They are turned one by either a motion censor or push button, these are a must have if you have young children. Water saving shower heads can also cut your water usage down significantly. In the past water saving shower heads ruined water pressure and drizzled out water making them detested by many; however today’s water saving shower heads conserve water while still giving decent pressure.
Another great way to save water in your bathroom is through the use of water saving toilets. There are a wide variety of models on the market to choose from the most popular being the 1.6 gallon flush. These 1.6 gallon flush toilets are becoming somewhat out dated though. There are now 1 gallon single flush toilets that are just as effective as the 1.6. There are also dual flush toilets on the market. These have a .08 gallon flush and a 1.6 gallon flush. They have been know to save a family of four over 10,000 gallons of water a year when compared to a conventional toilet. Pressurized toilets are another type of water saving toilet that has become more popular in recent years. There have also been great improvements in the designs of these toilets. They used a pressurized air tank to assist the flushing of the toilet allowing for a lower volume of water.
Saving water isn’t thing that makes a bathroom green. Buying recycled building materials is also part of designing a green bathroom. There are many types of bathroom vanities that are made from recycled glass that have an ultra modern look to them. There are also a variety of tiles on the market that are made from recycled material. Buying recycled building materials can help save you money and the environment at the same time.
No matter how serious your bathroom remodeling project is there are easy little ways to make your bathroom and home a little more energy efficient. These were just a few bathroom remodeling ideas to help you help the environment.