If the thought of having your guests see your bathroom fills you with dread, it is time to give your bathroom a much-needed makeover. When planning your bathroom remodel, there are a few things you can do to make sure that your new bathroom is as eco-friendly as possible.
1. Reuse Your Existing Items
One of the greenest things you can do is reuse your existing bathroom items, rather than sending them to your landfill. For example, if your bathtub is in overall good shape, but you hate its color, you can have your contractor refinish the bathtub instead of replacing it. Bathtub refinishing also takes care of mild damage or discoloration.
Your bathtub isn't the only thing you can have refinished; your counter tops,cabinets, and shower are all candidates for restoration.
2. Shop Used
When you do need to purchase new items for your bathroom, consider buying used pieces. Many like-new items are removed from bathrooms each day. You can purchase said items at resale shops and on resale websites. If an item isn't quite you want, there are ways that you can turn into the piece of your dreams. For example, if a bathroom vanity is the wrong color or a bit plain, you can have it repainted and add new hardware to completely change its look.
3. Rethink Your Toilet
You may think that a toilet is just a toilet. However, your toilet is a top source of water waste in your bathroom. Don't worry; there is a solution aside from the harrowing low flow toilet that doesn't quite work as intended. Instead, swap your old toilet for a dual-flushing toilet.
A dual-flushing toilet features two flushing options. There is a light flush option that works well for liquid waste and a heavier flush option that should be used for solid waste. By adapting the water usage to each flush, you save thousands of gallons of water each year.
If your current toilet is in good shape, you can outfit it with a dual flushing mechanism for a fraction of the price of a new toilet.
4. Install a Gray-Water System
Even when you try to use water-saving practices, a significant amount of water is wasted every time you use your sink or shower. Instead of letting that water literally go down the drain, install a gray-water system in your bathroom.
A gray-water system collects water that would otherwise be wasted by your sink or shower and redirects it to your toilet. If you garden, gray-water is a great way to water your garden while conserving water.
