7 Easy Changes To Create an Eco-Friendly Bathroom

One of the hottest topics on everyone’s lips at the moment is the environment and whether we are doing enough to save it. With more and more of the younger generation taking part in climate change marches, it is certainly a topic that every single one of us should be paying more attention to.

After the incredibly hot and dry summer we experienced across Europe in 2018, our water usage has come into sharp focus. In the UK, we usually “enjoy” regular rainfall, leading us all to take water for granted. However, not many people know, London actually experiences less rainfall per annum than Sydney or even Istanbul!

So what can you do to reduce your water usage at home? Well, the bathroom is by far and away the space in which you will use most water over the course of a lifetime, so let’s start there.

There are plenty of things you can do and plenty of eco-friendly bathroom suites to choose from, that will help you save water and energy. So, without further ado, here are 7 easy changes you can make to create an eco-friendly bathroom.

Fit a toilet with an eco flush

It may be an obvious one to begin with but your toilet could be wasting water without you even knowing. A “leaky loo” where the flush constantly dribbles could waste up to 400 litres per year, whilst an older toilet with a large capacity flush could also be using additional water unnecessarily.

Luckily, these days, modern toilets are usually made with a dual flush, so you can choose your option. WRAS regulations state that the largest of the two shouldn’t be more than 6 litres in capacity and the smaller flush should be no larger than two thirds of the volume of the bigger flush. By simply replacing an old toilet, you could already be saving bucketloads of water.With the population of England projected to increase by 8 million in 2050, we really do need to do everything in our power to save water for the future generation.

Yellow = let it mellow

Whilst we’re on the subject of flushing, this tip may see you turn your nose up a little. However, if you’re serious about saving water, it could be some great advice to live by. In many countries, where water scarcity is a very real concern, people live by the old saying “If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down.”

If you can put up with pee in your toilet, it’s a motto that could really help keep your water bills under control.

Have a short shower rather than a bath

It’s a well-known fact that showers use less water than baths, but did you know you could save nearly 12,000 litres of water per year, simply by limiting the time you spend under your shower head. It may be that little luxury you enjoy each and every morning but, according to Thames Water, reducing your showering time by just a minute could save you £45 on metered water bills.

Look out for “eco mode”

An invigorating and refreshing shower doesn’t necessarily require a blasting torrent of water at high pressure. Many modern showers either come with optional flow limiters or an “eco mode” which reduces the amount of water flowing through the system.

Eco shower heads, which add air into the mix, are also a great way to limit your water consumption without actually limiting your experience.

Check your bath material

If you simply can’t be without your bath, there are still some things to think about. The material from which your tub is made, is all-important. An acrylic bath, rather than one made out of steel or other metallic materials, will retain heat better. This means you shouldn’t have to keep topping it up at regular intervals.

Underfloor heating puts you in control

If you are looking to reduce your carbon footprint, underfloor heating could be the perfect solution, not just for your bathroom but for your whole home. With the latest smart thermostats, you can control the temperature of each room individually, rather than having your whole central heating system switched on. For example, you only really use your bathroom in the morning and evenings, so why heat it during the day?

Smart thermostats learn the optimum times and temperatures for your specific needs, helping to save on your energy bills.

Get those drips and leaks sorted

The constant drip, drip, drip of a leaky tap isn’t just irritating—it’ll also be pouring money straight down the plughole. A faulty tap can waste up to 90 litres of water every single week, so it pays to get it sorted as soon as possible.

New taps are relatively inexpensive and easy to fit. Make sure you look out for taps that come with WRAS approval and ceramic disc cartridges. These are far more robust than the rubber washers of old, with drips or leaks a rarity.

With these handy tips for your bathroom, you can easily do your bit for the environment and save money at the same time.