If you’re planning a bathroom remodel for your Atlanta home, consider incorporating green features. Many homebuyers today—particularly millennials and Gen Z buyers—prefer homes with eco-friendly and sustainable features. A modern, updated bathroom that’s also environmentally friendly is not only a great way to add value to your property; it also gives you plenty of opportunities to save on water and energy bills.
Here are some of the eco-friendly upgrades you can add to your bathroom.
Low-Flow Toilets
Toilets are responsible for nearly 30% of a home’s water consumption. If your toilet was manufactured before 1994, chances are it uses around 3.5 gallons of water per flush. On the other hand, low-flow toilets use only 1.6 gallons of water per flush, saving over 50% of water consumption. Of course, installing a low-flow toilet not only saves water, but also reduces the amount you spend on your bills.
Water-Saving Showerheads
Showering accounts for around 17% of a home’s water usage, which is why installing a water-saving showerhead is an excellent idea. These showerheads use less water than the traditional kind, while still providing adequate water pressure. Water-saving showerheads use around 1.5 to 2.0 gallons per minute compared to traditional showerheads, which use 2.5 gallons per minute. This means you can save up to 2,700 gallons of water per year.
Installing a shower in lieu of a bath is also a great way to save on water. On average, you can use only around 62 liters of water per shower compared to 80 liters of water per bath. Power showers, however, use up around 136 liters so they are not recommended if you’re going for an eco-friendly bathroom.
Energy-Efficient Lighting
The lighting in your bathroom can also have a significant impact on your energy bills. Installing energy-efficient lighting, such as LED bulbs, can reduce your energy consumption and lower your electricity bills. LED bulbs use around 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. They also last longer, helping you to save money in the long run.
Sustainable Counters and Tiles
Using environment-friendly materials for tiles and counters can also help along your green efforts without compromising the look of your bathroom. Natural materials such as marble and stone have a low carbon footprint. They can last for generations, require minimal manufacturing, and do not emit VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) that can harm the environment. Ceramic tiles are also environment friendly as they are made from natural clay, which makes them almost 100% compostable. Solid surface materials such as Corian and Altrock are eco-friendly countertop choices as well as they are low in VOCs and make use of recycled materials. Some are even 100% recyclable.
Smart Plumbing
The latest smart home technologies include practical and environment-friendly bathroom features, such as self-cleaning toilets that use less water, touchless faucets that only activate when in actual use, and fixtures that can be connected to water monitoring apps.
By adding eco-friendly features to your bathroom, you can make a significant impact on the environment and your wallet, while making your home more appealing to future buyers. Talk to your contractor about how to design your bathroom remodel with sustainability in mind.
