A Bathroom Remodel Game Plan for the Eco-Conscious Atlanta Homeowner

One of the best ways to run an eco-friendly household is to go green during your bathroom remodel. As you plan for this project in your Atlanta home, consider the following tips that can help you save energy, conserve natural resources, and do your part in improving the earth.

Be water-wise

The bathroom is the biggest water-waster in the house, with toilets responsible for 27% of total water consumption, and showers for at least 16%. Start your bathroom remodel by assessing your water fixtures. Ask your plumber or contractor: are my showerheads, faucets, and toilets efficient – or are they in fact letting resources go down the drain?

There are usually two ways to save water in the bathroom:

Dual-flush it. Install a toilet that empties only half as much water when needed, and can save up to 17,000 gallons of water per year.
Go low-flow. Low-flow faucets can reduce a sink’s water flow by 30%. A “low-flow” showerhead uses only 1.5 to 2 gallons of water per minute, compared to the typical model that uses 2.5.

Improve heat and light

Water isn’t the only resource you can conserve through a bathroom remodel. You might also be guzzling up savings and energy if your water heater, exhaust fan, and lighting are inefficient. Consider doing the following:

Try tankless. A “tankless” water heater only heats water when you need it. With one, you neither waste energy for heating – nor the hot water you might not use.
Upgrade ventilation. Inefficient exhaust fans push out heated air even as they remove mold-causing moisture.
Light up with LED. Certified LED lighting uses 90% less energy and lasts 25 times longer compared to traditional bulbs.

You can also redesign your bathroom to let in more natural light. It’s a surefire way to bring in more warmth and illumination without wiring a single appliance.

Embrace eco-friendly design

Once you’ve ensured your fixtures are functional, you can focus on other elements of the bathroom – like walls, floors, cabinets, and countertops – that you can also design for eco-friendliness.

Build with natural materials. The list of natural and organic materials for your bathroom is extensive: low-toxicity ceramic (for tiles and vanities) and bamboo (for cabinets and shelving) are just the tip of the iceberg.
Renovate with recycled materials. Reclaimed wood and recycled tile are popular options, but glass and steel can also be reused for your shower doors, towel racks, and bathroom windows.
Be VOC-free. Some paints, coatings, and furnishings (not to mention household cleaners and body care products) contain volatile organic compounds, or VOCs – harmful chemicals that poison indoor air quality. Choose certified VOC-free products to keep both you and your bathroom healthy and eco-friendly.

With these tips and the help of an equally eco-conscious contractor in Atlanta, you certainly can complete a green bathroom remodel.

Sources:

Green Bathroom Remodeling, HouseLogic.com
7 Things to Consider for an Eco-Friendly Bathroom Remodel, Earth911.com
A 7-Step Checklist for an Eco-Friendly Bathroom Remodel, Elemental.Green

Chad Robichaux

August 17, 2026

Sterling did an amazing job on our bathroom / laundry room renovation. We now have a beautiful space that fits well into our life for years to come!!

fin mad

February 26, 2026

Philip and the entire crew are amazing! Very thorough with special attention to detail and nothing short of quality work. They make sure everything is perfect. Would definitely want to use them for future projects. Strongly recommend.

Kate Hodgins

December 30, 2025

Philip and the Sterling Works team were wonderful to work with on my bathroom renovation! From the estimate to completing the final punch list, the project went smoothly and stayed on schedule. Philip was at my house daily for the bulk of the project, ensuring that all of the subs were coordinated and completing the project exactly as promised. Any small issues that arose were met with solutions from the experienced team. I highly recommend Sterling Works for your next home renovation!

Kate Ravin

June 2, 2025

My husband and I cannot praise Sterling Works highly enough! Philip has assembled and overseen a team of pros who do gorgeous, precise work, turning our cramped, hideous 1970s bathroom and small walk-in closet into the Japandi retreat of our dreams--a room we can age into with confidence. Would we use Sterling Works again? Absolutely! If you're lucky enough to find them free, grab them fast! A+++++++++

Nicole Zavodnick

May 4, 2025

Philip was hands down the best contractor from start to finish of a project we could have asked for. His attention to detail and understanding my vision for our kitchen was so easy to communicate. The crew he hires from demo and structural engineering work, to cabinet making to local recommendations for suppliers of appliances, countertops, etc are all top notch. The best part was his timeline and budget were accurate and we had no surprises there. I hope he never retires for my own sake. Most of all, he is an in town local and kept our house and dogs safe while we underwent this huge renovation! Peace of mind while turning a project over was such a relief.

Sam Burnwall

April 14, 2025

Sterling Works did an absolutely incredible job giving us the kitchen of our dreams. They weren’t the first business we met with when planning our kitchen renovation, but we knew after meeting with the owner, Phil, that we had found the right company for the job. Phil understood our vision for our kitchen and was really invested in giving us exactly what we wanted. He was the first contractor that we met with that actually had suggestions and gave some of his own ideas that helped us to make some key decisions. As far as timing goes, I know it’s impossible to promise an exact date for a project, but despite the hiccups that come with renovations in a 70+ year old house, they moved swiftly (not too swiftly as to make mistakes) and finished right on time as promised. 10/10 would absolutely work with Sterling Works again and would recommend them to anyone.

Stephanie Kelly

October 24, 2024

I am so happy with our our 2nd floor renovation project turned out from Sterling Works. Everyone was wonderful to work with, from the flooring crew who had to pivot when the original plan wasn't going to work, to the carpenter who built our custom vanity and the rest of the crew who did excellent work. They all took our wishes into account, offered suggestions based on their professional expertise, and made sure we were happy with the end results. Our house finally feels more like a home than an apartment and we are thrilled with the results.

Benjamin Kodish

June 16, 2024

We recently completed a project with Sterling Works and could not be happier with the experience and outcome. We updated both our kitchen and primary bathroom and they both turned out great. The entire process working with Philip and his team was easy from initial planning to completion. Philip’s team is wonderful. They are all very talented and do meticulous work. Also, they are also extremely friendly and polite. In addition to the great work, they also do the “little things” like cleaning up the work site at the end of every day, which really does make a huge difference with all of the work taking place in the house. Overall, the project was completed on time and there were no surprises on cost. We would highly recommend Sterling Works and are already considering updating a guest bathroom with them later this year.

Mark Caridi-Scheible

January 13, 2024

Had my kitchen completely redone with a lot of special requests and Sterling Works managed it all beautifully. They were extremely professional and all the work was done on time. Philip was so easy to work with and highly responsive, as were all of his crew. The subcontractors he chose were also highly professional and easy to work with. My kitchen turned out stunning, so if you want quality work done on time, these are the guys.

Erin F

October 28, 2023

I just finished a kitchen and second room remodel, working with Phil and his crew. I cannot say enough about the process and the results. Phil really helped guide me through the whole remodel process and communicated with me next steps, schedule and the all-important budget. As we came upon a couple of issues and choices, he and his crew were able to offer solutions and options and implement them to perfection. For example, my house is very old so I was terrified of what we would find once we opened the walls. And we did find something – some of the pipes were split and leaking beneath the house, as well as into the basement. Phil and his crew were able to deal with this new situation almost immediately. Going into this, I also worried about having a whole crew in the house for such a long period of time. His crew is really the best group of guys. But by the time the project was finished I could not imagine, not having them around! They are really good people!!! I cannot overstate that! This whole scary process was so easy and enjoyable due to their knowledge, experience and ingenuity. My remodel is absolute perfection. I definitely recommend Phil and hope to have future projects with them. Sincerely, Erin