Conserving Energy in the Bathroom

By Scarlet

There are many ways that we can all conserve energy. We make little choices every day, even in the bathroom that can add up to big energy savings.

Keep in mind that whenever you save water, you actually save energy, even when the water is not heated. In fact, according to Energyquest.ca.gov, “the biggest use of electricity in most cities is supplying water and cleaning it up after it's been used.” I’ve put together a few tips below to get you started on your eco-friendly journey:

Ways to Use Less Water In The Bathroom

1.    For everyday bathing, take a short shower instead of a bath because they use much less water. You will save energy by not heating all that extra water, which is significant because water heating accounts for approximately 25 percent of a home's energy use!

2.    Use cold water when possible. For example, when washing toothpaste down the drain, cold water works just as well as hot but doesn't waste energy heating the water.

3.    Install water saving low-flow shower heads. These are generally pretty cheap and easy to install and can reduce water waste by approximately 3-7 gallons per minute.

4.    Install water aerators on you faucets. Again very cheap and easy to install.

5.    Low flow toilets can save you quite a bit of water as well. If your toilet doesn't need to be replaced yet, you can make a simple, cheap modification that will save water. Add a Toilet Tank Bank, only about $2, to displace water in your tank and use less water with each flush.

6.    Check for leaky faucets or running toilet. Both will waste a significant amount of water and should be fixed.

Other Ways to Save Electricity in the Bathroom

1.    Remember to unplug anything with cords in the bathroom when not in use. Not only will you conserve energy, you will also increase safety as you ensure your electronics will not accidentally fall into water or cause electric fires.

2.    Energy efficient light bulbs will also increase your savings.

3.    Turn off the lights when you leave the room and if you can't get everyone on board with this, you may want to install a movement sensor to cut lights on and off automatically.

4.    Make sure that different areas of the bathroom are wired to have different light switches so that you can use only the lights you need.

5.    Use the bathroom extractor fan only when needed and don't forget to turn it off when it has done the job.

6.    Use the hairdryer only when you really need to. The rest of the time, just air-dry.

All of these little habit changes and modifications to your bathroom can be accomplished pretty easily and will amount to big energy savings. Which of these suggestions do you think you’ll try?