Give your bathroom an eco makeover
Turn your bathroom into an environmentally friendly haven with Emily Peck
Save water - and money
You can save around 45 litres of water when you have a shower instead of a bath, cutting water bills in half. Opt for an eco shower attachment - these work by mixing air with water, so although the pressure feels the same they use less water.
The Bathroom Manufacturers Association has a labelling scheme to help people easily identify water efficient products. An updated database of these products can be found here.
If you just can’t do without a bath, don’t overfill it. You can measure the amount of water you use with a Bathometer from Lakeland, £9.99, which fits neatly under your taps. Buy a sensor tap that only works when it detects the presence of your hands underneath.
Another good option is an eco tap, which allows you to control amount of water that comes out from reduced to full flow. Many toilets flush just as effectively with less water than you might expect, so choose ones with delayed action inlet valves, dual-flush or low-flush cisterns.
If you’re not looking to buy a new suite, you can reduce the amount of water you waste by installing water-saving devices in your cistern. Hippo the Water Saver and Interflush are just a couple on offer.
There are more and more systems that allow you to recycle the water you use in your home and garden. They might seem a bit pricey to install, but can save you money on your water bills in the long run.
For example, the rainwater harvesting system collects and cleans rainwater so you can use it in the bath. A greywater system reuses water from the bathroom so you can use it on your garden. The AquaCycle 900 from Pontos, Hansgrohe cleans all the water in your home in one large tank so you can reuse it everywhere.
Reduce energy use
You can cut energy consumption in the bathroom on hot water, lighting and heating.
Eco-heating systems such as ground source heat pumps, which make use of the heat from the ground, are also plausible options.
There are many energy efficient halogen spotlights, bathroom mirror lights and wall lights in the shops to replace existing energy guzzlers, too.
Quick fixes include turning down your thermostat on your boiler to below 60°C/140°F or fitting a thermostatic control on to your existing towel rail. Also, make sure pipes are lagged to cut down on the heat loss.
Recycle with style
One of the ways to reduce your carbon footprint is to spend less by recycling and reusing. Salvage companies, such as Salvo and Freecycle, are great sources of ‘vintage’ reclaimed or reproduction bathroom suites. They can often look more stylish than brand new pieces.
You can also advertise your old suite so it doesn’t end up in a skip – after all, one person’s rubbish is another person’s treasure.
"Some plumbers may be apprehensive to fit reclaimed suites, but don’t let that put you off," says Thornton Kay from Salvo. "Just stick to basics. For example, avoid mixing materials such as brass and copper, and avoid lead. Most plumbers can supply back-check fittings and will be happy to fit the suite."
When it comes to tiles, use sustainable alternatives such as recycled glass instead of marble, granite or synthetic materials.
Use luxury eco materials and accessories
Look for the EU Ecolabel flower symbol when buying paint. Eco-friendly claypaints from earthBorn, for example, are perfect for bathrooms because they offer breathabilty and absorb moisture, which reduces condensation.
When buying wood for panels, cabinets, hair or even shaving brushes look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo to be sure you’re not contributing to the destruction of the world’s forests.
"If you can't see the logo then ask the shop," says Rosie Teasdale from FSC. "Increasing consumer demand... reaches back through the supply chain to the forest floor. The fact that there are now more than 90 million hectares of FSC certified forests demonstrates the impact on the ground."
When it comes to flooring, use natural products made from sustainable ingredients such as linseed oil, wood flour, rosin, jute and limestone. After its long life it is completely biologically degradable too.
And don’t forget smaller items such as soap dispensers, toothbrush holders and towels – you can buy recycled versions of each.
Organic and Fairtrade towels, and bath slippers aren’t in short supply either. Choose eco-friendly water hyacinth finishes in laundry bins or bath mats made from bamboo, which thrives naturally without the use of pesticides and is biodegradable.
Cut the chemicals
Toxins in harsh cleaning chemicals cause allergies, are bad for our skin and contaminate water supplies. You can buy special microfibre cloths from several online stockists that only need water to clean bathrooms and kitchens, and can be reused for up to three years.
Alternatively, you’ll find a whole host of own-brand ‘green’ cleaning products appearing on supermarket shelves too, so keep an eye out. Ecover stocks a whole range of products with refillable bottles and Method home has a chemical reduced range too.
For stubborn tile stains you could use a steam cleaner that generates pressured water to clean. Scrub washing powder onto limescale deposits with an old toothbrush instead of harsh chemicals, or use lemons and bicarbonate of soda, which act as deodorisers.