How to Remodel with Eco-Friendly Bathroom Features

Guest Blogger #788, Entry #1871, November 27, 2012

For the homeowner looking to turn a run-of-the-mill house into the personal space that can truly be called home, remodeling is often a must. The average cookie-cutter property is created for the average buyer, and this requires builders to balance concerns like form versus function, cost versus quality of materials, and so on. The end result, of course, is a house that many people could utilize but few will love. So you’ll no doubt find the home that best matches your criteria and then roll up your sleeves for some renovations that will help you to get exactly what you want. And if part of your prerogative is to create a beautiful master bath that is also eco-friendly, there are all kinds of features that will help you to achieve your myriad goals.

Use reclaimed materials in your bathroom remodel

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Reclaimed surfaces and fixtures.

One of the easiest ways to make over your bathroom is to replace cabinets, counters, flooring, and other surfaces. And if you want to do so in an eco-friendly manner, recycling is the way to go. You should not only strive to recycle everything you get rid of that is salvageable, but also get “new” materials that have been reclaimed and refurbished from other buildings. You might also go with faux materials. Of course, the most eco-friendly option is to keep whatever you can, but if you simply can’t stomach peeling linoleum or sagging cabinets, at least there are ways to replace them that won’t add so much to your carbon debt.

Natural lighting.

Many bathrooms feature tiny windows if they have any at all, and this can make for inadequate illumination. But instead of having to flip a switch in the middle of the day, you can install a larger window that will ensure you have plenty of natural light throughout the day. Or if you’re not keen to punch a hole in the wall (or improve the view of the neighbors), simply place mirrors strategically to bounce and maximize the light that does come in.

Use these helpful tips for your green bathroom remodel

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Aerated faucets.

If you’re concerned about water conservation you may already shower instead of bathing and turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth. But if you want to drastically cut down on water consumption when you renovate your bathroom, try installing aerated fixtures for your sink and shower. They pump pressurized water into your spray so that you still get the pressure you want but with half the water wasted.

Tankless water heater.

The standard water heater wastes a lot of energy keeping your water hot day and night. But with a tankless heater, which uses a coil system, you can still get hot water on demand without having to support an energy-guzzling tank. As a bonus, the tankless unit is lodged on the exterior of your home, so the space your water heater previously occupied can now become additional storage.

Choose water saving bathroom fixtures

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Waterless urinals.

While most bathrooms house only a toilet, and you can certainly make yours greener with a conversion to a low-flow unit, you might also consider cutting the water out of the equation entirely with a liquid breaker setup. Of course, this is only good for liquid waste, so you might have to install a separate urinal, but it’s a forward-thinking option for the eminently eco-friendly bathroom.

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