|
Do you have a green bathroom? If you've answered "Yes, my bathroom walls
have green paint," then I'm afraid you're a little behind my friend. What
I'm talking about is whether or not your bathroom is environmentally
friendly.
Every day, more and more products are released that are more eco-friendly
than their predecessors. This is certainly good news, and the success and
growing popularity of reusable shopping bags shows that people will adopt
changes in their habits if they see a benefit. However, there is always room
for improvement. The focus of this post is to talk about some things you can
do in your bathroom to make it greener.
1. Use Less Water
Most people don't realize how big of a deal water conservation really is. It
takes energy to heat water, and unless you are using all solar or wind
energy all the time, you are burning fossil fuels in order to have hot water
and a toilet that does not sweat in the summer. Consider switching to a
low-flow shower head or even a water-conserving toilet in order to both save
water overall and decrease energy usage. (If you have a water bill, your
savings will help pay for switching.) Get into the habit of conserving water
during your daily routine. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth,
shaving your legs, or waiting for your conditioner to do its job. In the
bath, consider not filling the tub as high as possible. Use the lowest water
temperature you can stand while showering, and set a timer for three
minutes. (If you can’t get your body clean in three minutes, there is a
problem!) And if you have kids, train them from an early age to use the
timer otherwise they will be in the shower until the hot water runs out.
2. Lighting
If you can, take advantage of natural lighting in the bathroom, and when you
need to use light bulbs, opt for more energy efficient CFLs. Use night
lights that have an automatic sensor so they aren't being used during the
day.
3. Personal Care Products
You should also consider looking in to the growing number of eco-friendly
personal care products that are on the market. Everything from lotions to
shampoo to cosmetics can now be found with a green twist. The natural
ingredients used in these products are also better for your body and skin
and are better for our environment in both their production and afterlife
(once they go down the drain). However, do your best to ensure that you're
not buying products that are tested on animals. Bonus points if you can find
containers made from recycled materials.
4. Towels
When your towels need to be replaced, purchase towels made from organic
cotton or hemp. Old towels can be given to animal shelters for clean-ups and
bedding. Hang your towels properly to dry after bathing so that you can
re-use the towel. When you do need to wash towels, try to plan it so you can
make a full load (saves energy costs) and use biodegradable, natural laundry
detergent.
Like any room in the house, bathrooms can be make more eco-friendly. Simple
steps like this, and doing things like using organic cotton bags for your
shopping, are the sort of things that add up to make a big difference. |
