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Villeroy & Boch
1. Bamboo For Bathroom Furniture
Bamboo is a fantastic material to use in place of timber for bathroom furniture. It is a fast-growing plant, making it one of the most sustainable building materials. Best of all, bamboo furniture looks as good as those made from timber and is tolerant towards high humidity levels in the bathroom.
2. Build With Eco-Materials
It’s easier to incorporate eco-materials into the bathroom when you’re building from scratch. However, you may also replace the existing materials in your bathroom little by little. Start by using non-volatile organic paint on the walls that are odourless, durable and less harmful to human and environmental health.
For bathroom floors, opt for linoleum which is made from sustainable ingredients like linseed oil, pine rosins, wood flour, limestone and eco-friendly pigments. Another option includes natural rubber flooring which does not contain dangerous toxins or formaldehyde, is non-slip and resilient to wear and tear.
3. Use Recycled Tiles
Recycled tiles such as glass, mosaic and ceramic comes in many colours, shapes and patterns, so select one that suits your bathroom decor. To go an extra mile, use non-toxic grout and caulk when installing the tiles.
4. Natural & Efficient Lighting
Take full advantage of natural lighting by strategically placing windows in the directions that receive the most sun light during the day. If natural lighting is insufficient, replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs that use up to 90% less energy and produce less heat.
5. Beat The Leak
Leaky faucets may seem harmless at first, but when a leaky tap is not fixed as soon as possible, it can waste a substantial amount of water and money as well. If you’re looking to replace your old faucets with newer models, choose one with a self-closing feature as well as other water-saving options like air sprays, aerators and flow regulators to reduce the water flow rate.
Kohler
6. Water-Saving Showers
It’s a commonly-known fact that taking a shower typically saves more water than filling a tub for a bath. If you’re adamant on saving more water, consider installing a low-flow showerhead that aerates the water. Mixing air with water reduces water consumption while still maintaining good pressure.
7. Heat Only When Needed
Storage heaters consume a huge amount of energy and are often impractical for individual household usage. Instead, install a tankless water heater that instantly boils water whenever it is needed or a solar heater that uses the sun’s energy to heat water. Although a solar heater costs more to install, you’ll eventually save money and energy in the long run.
8. Reduce Flush Volume
Are you aware that the older your toilet, the more water it uses per flush? To combat this problem, you can add a flush control to your old toilet or replace it with a water-efficient version. For existing WCs with a flush handle on the front of the cistern, you can adapt it into a half-flush by placing a plastic bottle filled with water into the cistern to reduce the amount of water for flushes. On the other hand, newer models of WCs come in low-flush or dual-flush options, which have one flush for water waste and another for solids.
From The Complete Kitchen + Bathroom Magazine - Jan-Mar 2009
