Sunday, 24 May 2009

Six Ways to Make Your Bathroom More Green

Making homes "Green" is a significant force in the home building industry today. They offer home owners increased energy efficiency and the satisfaction of knowing they are helping the environment on a daily basis. But some home owners can't afford to move into a green home either because of the cost or because they already live in a home in which they are already happy. For those people, there are still ways to make their home more efficient. Following are six ways to make the bathroom in your existing home more efficient and environmentally-friendly.

Install a Water-Saving Shower Head

This might be the hardest part about a more efficient bathroom. That's not because a new shower head is difficult to install, but we all like a shower with a great volume of water flowing. It just feels so good. If you're serious about having a more efficient bathroom, though, this is one of the biggest steps you can take.


Install a More Efficient Toilet

If you have an older bathroom with an older toilet, it's time to get a consider installing a new toilet. Newer toilets are "low flow," meaning that they use only about one-third of the water as older toilets do when you flush. Instead of putting your old toilet out to the curb, check with a local recycling center to see if there is a way to recycle it. If you can't afford to replace your toilet, place a two-liter bottle filled with sand in the tank. That will reduce the amount of water your toilet uses with each flush.


Use Organic Products

With organic products being the new trend, it's easy to find organic shampoos, conditioners, soaps and anything else you might use in the bathroom. In many ways, organic products are not only good for the environment, they are also better for your skin and your hair. It's a win-win situation!


Fix Any Leaky Faucets

Leaking faucets waste more water than you might think. Fortunately, most of the problems are easy to fix and you can do it yourself. Other problems might require you to call a plumber. But if you truly care about the environment, that's a small price to pay for creating a better world.


Use Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs

This is probably the most simple thing you can do to help save the environment. Simply buy a few energy-efficient light bulbs and replace the old ones. The new ones cost slightly more, but since they last longer and use less energy, you're actually paying less in the long run.


Take a "Navy Shower"

You know how you turn the faucet off when you're brushing your teeth? Use that same concept when you take a shower. Turn the water on and rinse off. Then turn the water off and lather up and shampoo your hair. Turn the shower back on and rinse off. This step is fairly extreme, but it's great for people who are serious about making their bathroom as efficient as possible.


As you can see, there are some very inexpensive ways to make your bathroom more efficient. Many of these tips can be done in less than five minutes with barely any extra cost to you. Why not try a few of these suggestions and start helping the environment today?


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