Deciding to remodel a bathroom can be exciting. It gives you the chance to improve an important room in your home. You can update your bathroom's style, comfort, and beauty as you increase your home's value. While you're remodeling, you can choose new, energy-efficient fixtures and also save energy.
As you select new bathroom fixtures, of course function should be your primary concern. But as you shop, you can look for bathroom fixtures that help make your bathroom more energy efficient as well.
If you plan to stay in your home well into your later years, be sure to keep ease of use in mind as you create the remodel design for your new bathroom. Long-term thinking will let you enjoy your beautiful, practical new space in the years ahead.
One of the best ways to ensure energy efficiency in the bathroom is to reduce the volume of water coming in. Not only does this save water, it reduces the amount of energy needed to move that water around. Installing the right new fixtures can help you save money and conserve water.
Water-Saving Showerhead
A water-saving showerhead will not only save energy, it will help make your home more eco-friendly. Adjustable spray nozzles give you control over the amount of water released, and they feature a shut-off valve that lets you stop the flow of water when you don't need it.
A typical showerhead has a 2.5 gallons-per-minute flow rate. A modern high-efficiency showerhead can reduce that amount by half. The newer models maintain pressure, yet don't sacrifice water flow like many of the earlier ones did. In fact, you probably won't be able to tell any difference.
Water-Saving Faucet
A high-efficiency faucet can also help save energy. Many people unthinkingly let the water run while brushing their teeth or lathering their hands and face. High-energy faucets have an aerator that mixes air and reduces the flow of water, yet the water pressure remains constant. You probably won't notice much difference, but it can stop a significant amount of water from being wasted.
Water-Saving Toilet
Low-flow toilets help reduce water usage. Some allow you to customize each flush, while others let you select one option for liquid waste and another that uses more water for solid waste. This provides a substantial reduction in water usage over time.
Energy-Saving Lighting
High-quality, uniform, bright lighting in the bathroom is needed for good grooming. You want the light in the room to accurately show skin tones, cosmetics, and clothing colors. A ceiling fixture or soffit lighting works well for general illumination, while placing lighting on either side of a mirror, or using a single, wide fixture above the mirror avoids casting shadows on faces.
There are many energy-saving lighting options available today in a vast array of styles, colors, and pricing. Using LED bulbs in the bathroom can help cut energy usage.
Energy-Efficient Bathroom Ventilation Fans
Quiet and efficient bathroom ventilation fans remove excess moisture, odors and mold spores. Building codes in some areas require exhaust fans to be installed. Today's bathroom ventilation fans are smarter, quieter and more energy efficient than ever before. Some even have motion-activated lights or heat-exchanger ventilation.
Choosing energy-saving, eco-friendly fixtures for your remodeled bathroom will help you conserve water and save money on your monthly water bill.
