Creating a Water Efficient Bathroom

by Lauren Busser Direct from the Designers™’ Editorial Director

Your bathrooms are where over half of your entire home’s water usage takes place. There are simple ways to help you save water. Water is a precious resource and you want to make sure that you use it efficiently. There are simple ways to make sure the water in your bathroom is used intelligently, from not letting the water run while you’re shaving or brushing your teeth to taking shorter showers, and there are also plenty of hardware options you can install that use less water. Here are a few of those products.

Install a Low-Flow Toilet

Toilets account for almost 30 percent of indoor water consumption. You can easily reduce this figure by replacing older and ineffective toilets with modern, high-efficiency units

The styling of some high efficiency toilets can also help you update the look of your bathroom with the help of more contemporary and geometric shapes.

Fix Leaks

When leaks go undetected, they cost you money. On average 10 gallons a day, or 14 percent of your daily water usage is due to leaks. Repairing leaky faucets and toilets can help you save that money and improve your water conservation.

Finding a leaky faucet is easy but finding if your toilet is leaking can be trickier. An easy way to tell if your toilet is leaking is to drop a dye tablet into the tank. Wait a half hour or so and see If the dye changes the bowl water color. If it does, you have a leak.

Replace Your Shower Head

Long showers may be a great way to unwind, but may also mean that your utility bills will be causing you unneeded stress. Replace your shower head with a high-efficiency model and you could save up to 15 gallons of water during a ten minute shower.

Adjust Your Habits

It goes without saying that your bathroom habits affect the amount of water you use. Changing your habits and doing things such as turning off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving can help you lower your utility bill.

Another effective way to change your habits and save money is to shave a few minutes from the time you use your hot water. Doing so will not only reduce your water consumption but also help your energy bill.

Change Your Faucet

Simply updating your faucet is a great way to lower your utility bills and save energy without breaking the bank. If you don’t want to replace your fixture, try installing a faucet aerator.

Your bathroom doesn’t have to waste so much water. Installing efficient fixtures and changing your habits can go a long way towards reducing both your water and energy bills. Check out the water efficient products shown here for attractive, functional units that are both eco-friendly and luxurious.