Looking for ways to bring energy conservation and a green attitude to your home? Look first to your bathroom--one of the biggest culprits when it comes to energy consumption, water usage, and unhealthy/unsafe conditions. Fortunately, making even just a few small changes in the bathroom can mean huge savings on energy bills and a big impact on the environment. Following are some things to look for and ways to make changes.
Water Heaters
Hot water heaters may account for up to £250 to £400 of energy use in a home. Much of the water that is heated goes to the bathroom for showers, baths, and use of the lavatory. To cut hot water use (without compromising family comfort):
1. Choose a high-efficiency water heater when building or remodeling, or if the water heater must be replaced. Look for an Energy Star label on any model you are considering to be sure that it meets the stringent standards that assure it is efficient.
2. Wrap the water heater in an insulating blanket to keep the stored hot water from cooling.
3. For even better insulation, also wrap the hot water pipes.
4. Consider PEX piping if building or if new piping is needed. This is a special flexible pipe that allows for reduced pipe size and consequently reduced hot water usage.
Water Leaks
Got a leaky tap? Besides being annoying, it can lead to water waste of as much as 3 gallons (and the energy it takes to heat those 3 gallons if the leaky tap is a hot water tap). To determine if you have leaks:
1. Turn off all the taps in the house and check the meter. Check again in a few hours. If the meter has advanced, there is a leak somewhere.
2. To detect a leak in the toilet, put food coloring in the tank. If it shows up in the bowl (without flushing), there is a leak.
Fixtures
Nearly half the hot water used in a home goes to showers, tubs, and sinks in the bathroom. While no one is advocating abandoning cleanliness, there are some simple ways to cut down on this usage:
1. Take shorter showers. A normal 8-minute shower uses about 17 gallons of water. A 3- or 4-minute shower uses only 7.5 gallons. To cut water use further, turn off the water while soaping or shampooing.
2. Choose low-flow showerheads, which use only about a third as much water as regular showerheads. This saves not only on water but on the energy to heat the water as well. Check your showerhead to see if it is low-flow. Using a 5-gallon bucket, capture all the showerhead water flow (hot and cold) for two minutes. If the showerhead is low-flow (2.5 gallons per minute), the bucket will not overflow. Use non-aerating type showerheads, which generally produce showers that feel more like those from regular showerheads.
3. Choose taps with laminar flow-restrictors, which don't use air. The water isn't cooled as it is with aerated flow-restrictors, thus the user doesn't use more water in an attempt to make it hotter.
4. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth or washing your face.
Lighting
Good lighting in the bath is de rigueur for safety and efficiency. While task lighting in the vanity area is a must, daylight through windows and skylights can be a good source of natural light throughout the remainder of the bathroom. However, since these natural light sources are a drain on energy (and compromise privacy), consider solar tubes as an option. For the most efficient artificial lighting:
1. Choose fluorescents, the best energy savers.
2. Look for fluorescents with bulbs that have a high Colour Rendering Index (over 80 on a 1-100 scale).
3. Also be sure fluorescents have a colour temperature of at least 2800k, which produces a warm rather than cold blue light.
Vent Fans
Good quality vent fans in the bath reduce humidity and remove stale, odorous air. To test whether the bathroom vent fan is working properly, turn the fan on and hold a piece of paper to the grille. It should stick to the grille if the fan is working well. To ensure the quality of a vent fan and its efficient operation:
1. Look for an Energy Star model.
2. Ensure that the fan vents to the outside.
3. Minimize duct lengths and turns from the vent fan.
4. Consider a fan with a humidity sensor that turns the fan on automatically when the moisture content in the room reaches a certain level.
5. Pick the quietest fan you can afford to guarantee that it will be used.
Making all of the above changes in your bathroom will mean you've done just about all you can to minimize its environmental impact. However, making even a few small changes from the list above will go a long way to improving your bathroom's earth friendliness.