When you step into your bathroom to get ready for the day or retire to bed, do you feel that you’re in a space that allows you to properly relieve, groom and just generally take care of yourself?
Or, is it that when you step into the shower, the shower head sputters water and the curtain sticks to your ankles? Do the vanity countertops feel as though they have a permanent layer of grime, no matter how often or how hard you clean them? What about your bathroom lighting? Is it bright and cheery, or a sad flickering yellow light?
We spend a lot of time in the bathroom. In fact, if all of our bathroom trips were combined throughout our lifetime, it would equate to 1.5 years. If you were challenged to spend a year and a half living in your bathroom and would be paid X amount of money, could you do it? If the answer is no, you couldn’t comfortably stay in your bathroom for any amount of time—then it’s time to rethink the space.
“Is it time to rethink
your bathroom style
and efficiency?”
Your Bathroom Upgrade
Doesn’t it seem that most bathrooms drag when it comes to efficiency? The lighting is sub par, the faucets leak and toilet runs unless you push the handle just so. It’s enough to drive you nuts. Well guess what: it doesn’t have to be your problem anymore. You can have a supremely lit bathroom space with energy saving fixtures that’ll make your bathroom feel like a spa. Here’s how!
Dimmable Ceiling Lights
When we get ready in the mornings, we want our bathroom lighting to be bright. Energy Star says that “bright, uniform, high quality light is necessary in the bathroom Placing light fixtures on either side of the mirror, or a single, wide fixture directly above it [will avoid] casting shadows on your face,” making it easier to see when you put your face on in the morning and take it off at night. Energy Star goes on to suggest that a “ceiling fixture or soffit lighting works nicely [too] for general room illumination.”
Having bright light in the bathroom is all well and good when you’re getting ready in the mornings, but it’s not really necessary to have 24/7, nor is having a light on full power good for the environment! To run your bathroom more efficiently without compromising style, look for dimmable ceiling lights with green approval ratings. As we discussed earlier, ceiling lights provide the space with a general illumination, but having the option to dim your lighting will allow you to create a mood and save energy. Want to take a romantic bath? Maybe the lights are too bright after a night of partying hard, especially as you’re racing to get ready for work. Dimmable lights give you the control to make the bathroom whatever you want it to be.
Low-flow Toilet
According to Inhabitat, Americans’ bathroom water usage accounts for 27 percent of the total amount of water used in the home; that’s a lot of water. If you’re not someone who likes to let yellow lie mellow, then you’re probably flushing the toilet quite often.
To stop the water waste, invest in a low-flow toilet. Low-flow toilets have two distinct advantages: they’re both money AND energy saving. Even better, low-flow toilets don’t make style compromises. In essence, your low-flow toilet will look sleek and keep you in the green.
“Making a few simple green
adjustments will make your daily
routine even easier than before, and
your bathroom will look great too.”
WaterSense Bathroom Faucets
Here’s a question for you: do you keep the faucet running when you brush your teeth? How about another question: Do you wait to wash your hands until you know the water is warm? You probably don’t need to be told this, but it seems as though you might—this is a waste of water.
Turning off the faucet while we brush our teeth saves 3,000 gallons a year. That’s right! But as the EPA points out, investing in energy saving fixtures helps too. WaterSense-labeled faucets reduce a sink’s water flow by as much as 30 percent. So when you upgrade your faucet, you can get one that’s stylish, functional and energy saving. (Image source🙂
The bathroom should be a space where you feel comfortable and can easily get ready. Making a few simple green adjustments will make your daily routine even easier than before—and did I mention (I did) your bathroom will look great too?
What are your favorite ways to upgrade your bathroom’s style and efficiency?
Share your thoughts and comments with us.
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