Written By Alison Pearson / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

What a lot of people don't realize is that bathrooms are notorious as one of the worst rooms in a home for the environment. That is because of the amount of water they are consuming as well as the harsh products being used daily.

But as there are so many upgrades nowadays that are focused on being more eco-friendly, the choices you can make when you are renovating are almost endless. Making a change to eco-friendly bathroom products will not only save the earth but will also drastically lower your energy and water bill as well as raise the value of your home.

If you are renovating your bathroom, here are some of the best things that you can add to it.

Install A Low-Flow Showerhead

The first upgrade that you can make to your bathroom is a low flow showerhead. What people don’t know is that a normal showerhead uses about two gallons of water per minute. It means that a quick 10-minute shower will use up to 25 gallons of water. Adding a low-flow showerhead will drastically decrease the amount of water you use when showering.

But most people choose not to do it because they think that the water pressure of the showerhead will be useful. That is not true and the difference is barely noticeable. Such a simple switch can end up saving thousands of gallons and a lot of money on your water bill.

Find An Eco-Expert Contractor

The best thing that you can do when you are renovating your bathroom is to choose a contractor who is striving to be more eco-friendly. That will not only save you time and money by hiring someone who specializes in creating a room that will reduce the usage of water and energy while still being fully functional.

Make sure that you are meeting with a couple of different ones to ensure that you are choosing the best ones in your area.

Opt For A High-Efficiency Toilet

Another sign that is a big water guzzler is your toilet. They are responsible for over one-third of your home's water constitution. Depending on what type of toilet you have, you are either using three gallons of water per flush or if you have an older one, you can be using up to several gallons per flush.

To prevent that from happening, you can install a highly efficient model. Those use up to 1.3 gallons of water per flush. Another thing that you can add to make it even more eco-friendly is adding a quality bidet toilet seat. This way, you will not only be saving on your water bill, but you will also have to spend less money on things like toilet paper.

Switch To LED Lighting

What a lot of people don't think about is that even a small change can make your home eco-friendlier. Therefore, making the switch to LED lightbulbs is a great way you can renovate your bathroom. If adding more windows to your bathroom is not something in your budget, the best thing that you can do is install more LED lighting.

Invest In A More Energy-Efficient Water Heater

Another great thing that you can add while renovating your bathroom is a more energy-efficient water heater. Having a nice warm shower when you don't have a good water heater is wreaking havoc on the environment.

What people don't think about is the fact that a water heater is the second-highest energy consumer in your home, maybe even the first if you have one that is not working properly. They not only use an exorbitant amount of energy, but they also use more water than needed. That is why you need to look for ones that have the energy star certification.

Another great way to make your bathroom eco-friendlier when renovating a bathroom is by installing solar water heaters or tankless ones.

Cut Down on VOCs You Are Using

VOCs, otherwise known as the Volatile Organic Compounds, are released into the environment by many different materials. They can be emitted from things like paint, curtains, and many other things. VOCs are harmful to the environment as they are big air pollutants.

The simplest thing that you can do is choose to paint your walls with no-VOC paints and make a switch to bamboo shower curtains and organic products.

As you can see, renovating your bathroom in an eco-friendlier way doesn't have to cost you thousands of dollars or make sacrifices. Even a single change will make a difference to the environment and in the quality of your life. Take it one step at a time, and just like that, you will have an eco-friendlier bathroom.

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Written By:

Alison Pearson is an interior design student. She is a writer and designer, but her ultimate passion is fitness and health. She is also a bibliophile and her favorite book is "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner. Follow her on Twitter.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Photo by Steven Ungermann on Unsplash