On average, you can expect to spend over three months on the toilet in your life. That’s right, visiting the toilet five to seven times a day adds up. And assuming you flush and wash your hands each time, you should consider switching to more efficient bathroom tech.
While a lot of bathroom tech requires installation, it’s worth it. You can cut down on water and other waste. And efficient bathroom tech is also energy efficient so that it could lower your electric bill.
But is the bathroom the best place to start?
Going Green
The eco-friendly movement has been going on for a long time. And with the many concerns surrounding the climate, now’s the perfect time to hop on board.
There are many things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint, from driving less to designing a more efficient bathroom. However, you might wonder why the green movement is so important and how it has grown to become so common.
Today, many people want to go green and perhaps make a more efficient bathroom. But the green movement wasn’t always that detailed. It started with the idea of conserving nature and has since grown into something much bigger.
How it started
We’ve known the basics of forestry management for centuries. However, it wasn’t until European philosophers began to view nature as having value. Specifically, it’s worth more than the fisheries and hunting grounds we use it for.
David Thoreau said that “in wildness is the preservation of the world.” Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson brought about the idea of transcendentalism. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long until the Industrial Revolution led to the destruction of many forests.
Soon after, Yellowstone National Park was born. It was the first of many parks in the United States where the land had to be preserved.
Theodore Roosevelt and poet John Muir began the conservation movement. A man named Gifford Pinchot studied forestry and was initially on board. However, he soon changed his views to preserving nature, regardless of its commercial uses.
Where we are today
Today’s green movement got its start in the 20th century amid more industrialization, nuclear fallout, and air pollution. In 1962, author Rachel Carson published a book detailing the harmful effects of pesticides.
Politicians took note, and Richard Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The year 1970 was the first year where we celebrated Earth Day, a holiday specifically for celebrating and protecting the planet.
Since then, many other acts came into law, like the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. However, businesses thought all of that legislation would negatively affect profits within specific industries, like mining and manufacturing.
With the election of Ronald Reagan came some dismantling of environmental protections. The Republican Party also shifted away from environmentalism.
Now, there’s a clear divide between people who support the green movement and those who oppose it. However, today, there’s more of an emphasis on the science behind issues like climate change.
Back to Basics
Regardless of your views on climate change, no one can deny that we need to do something to preserve the planet. Of course, it would be ideal if we could all follow a zero-waste, eco-friendly lifestyle.
However, even small steps matter. If you can’t cut down on waste or drive your car less, consider redesigning a more efficient bathroom.
We all know that less driving and more recycling can help. But those aren’t your only options. A more efficient bathroom can do a surprising amount of good for your home and the environment.
You probably spend a decent amount of time in the bathroom, from getting ready in the morning to preparing for bed at night. So it makes sense to make a more efficient bathroom.
And that’s not all:
There are tons of ways to make a more efficient bathroom. If you can’t overhaul the whole thing, start with one or two methods.
Any bit of change can save the environment, and it might also save on your electric or water bill.
Efficient Bathroom Tech
If you want to lower your carbon footprint, there are tons of things you can do. You may already know to reduce your waste. But a lot of us never think about designing a more efficient bathroom.
After all, we don’t do a ton in there. You probably take a shower, brush your teeth, and do your business.
However, efficient bathroom tech can cut down on your carbon footprint in different ways. Special toilets use less water, while energy-efficient lightbulbs use less energy to light the room.
So, what can you do to make a more efficient bathroom? It’s probably easier than you think!
Low-flow toilet
Installing a new toilet isn’t easy, and it may not always be possible. However, a low-flow toilet can significantly reduce the water you use.
A regular toilet uses over a quarter of all the water in your home, which is more than the washing machine, dishwasher, and shower.
If you already have a low-flow toilet, you can kick things up a notch with a dual-flusher. These give you the option of flushing liquid waste or solid waste. The liquid waste option uses even less water.
But what if you can’t switch to a low-flow toilet? If you can’t afford it or you’re a renter, you can add some sand or pebbles to a two-liter bottle. You can then put the bottle into the tank to displace some of the water.
Low-flow showerhead
Another option for lowering your water consumption is a low-flow showerhead. Of course, we should all try to cut down on our time in the shower since that’s an excellent way to reduce water use.
However, a low-flow showerhead is excellent, whether you like short or long showers. It uses about half as much water as a regular head, and it still maintains the same water pressure.
In addition to saving on water, a low-flow showerhead requires less energy to heat the water. So you can save on your electric bill.
Unfortunately, this is another efficient bathroom tip that renters probably can’t use. However, you might be able to talk to your landlord about your options.
Motion sensor faucet
We’ve covered the toilet and the shower, which use a lot of water. However, we can’t ignore the bathroom sink. No efficient bathroom would be complete without a motion sensor faucet.
Think about this:
We can use a surprising amount of water when manually turning a faucet on and off. Just think about those precious seconds between turning on the faucet and wetting your hands.
A motion sensor faucet tracks when you need the water, which can cut down on how much you use.
Of course, this is yet another efficient bathroom trick that’s only available to owners. However, renters can be more conscious of water use by turning the faucet off when it’s not necessary.
New light bulbs
Alright, renters, this one’s for you as well as owners! Anyone can switch out their light bulbs for more energy-efficient ones.
While this isn’t specific for making an efficient bathroom, it’s something you should consider for your entire home. LED light bulbs use much less energy than incandescent bulbs, which can cut down on your energy use.
They also last longer, which can save you money and time running to the store for new light bulbs.
If you want the friendly vibes of incandescent bulbs, you can find LED bulbs in warmer hues.
Vent fan
Unless you want your mirror to fog up, a vent fan is an essential in any bathroom, especially an efficient bathroom. Vent fans keep moisture from taking over your bathroom, which can cut down on mold and other issues.
That’s another thing you probably can’t control when renting. However, if you own your place, switching to a more efficient bathroom fan can cut down on energy use.
Eco-friendly paint
This is a serious one, and it’s not practical for most people, even homeowners. However, if you already want to repaint your bathroom, choose eco-friendly paint.
These paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which means the paint is less toxic than other options. It won’t necessarily make for a more efficient bathroom. However, it’s a nice touch if you already plan on redecorating.
Your Business, but Sustainable
An efficient bathroom is easy to overlook, but it can be one of the easiest ways to make your entire home more efficient. Whether you use a lot of water from showering or flushing, or you need a new paint job, choose whatever efficient bathroom tech you can.
Not only will it save the environment, but it will also save money on your water and electric bills. And that’s something that we can all get behind.
Have you used any of these for a more efficient bathroom? Which ones? Leave your thoughts in the comments!
