Don’t Flush out that water: Bathroom fixtures for a greener space

Revamping one’s bathroom is nothing short of bliss. Shiny faucets, a new seat, adorable succulents- there are myriad ways to refurbish the place we spend a lot of time at. Come to think of it, could there be a way to make it great for the planet as well?

There are some pretty interesting inventions in sustainable space with the primary aim of limiting the way we use essential resources- water being on the highest rung of the ladder. Let’s visit a few of these and how using them in place of common bathroom fixtures is going to reduce our water footprints by a large margin.

SUSTAINABLE SHOWERHEADS

We all love a long, soothing shower after a taxing day- and while it gives ample rejuvenation, so does it shed bouts of guilt for the gallons of wasted water.

We are aware of how a shower washes off gallons down the drain- making the bucket a better choice. Although, if there was a way to calm our craving for a hands-free shower without bathing in guilt, performance showerheads are a great option. They use about 1.75 gallons per minute in place of the 2.5 gallons used by a standard showerhead, which saves about 30% of water without any compromise.

The inventors of these showerheads seem to have mastered the art of physics by placing hidden nozzles for jets of water at precise angles- Methven being a great example. Aerated showerheads are another kind that use a mix of air and water to maintain the standard pressure while helping one save, and lastly, there are rain-style showerheads that are wider and spray water over a larger area- giving a wider skin coverage and saving water, well, a lot of water.

Here are some options you can check out.

GREENER TOILETS

If your toilet seat has a 1993 label on it, it is probably using tonnes of water in a single flush- 3.5 gallons per flush to be exact. Learning from this wastage, high-efficiency toilets were invented. The premier ones to list will have to be the ones with two crescent-shaped buttons which serve the function of dual-flushes- the larger one is for your big business and the smaller ones for a quick dash. The two buttons are specifically made to flush different amounts of water. That’s something many of us are still learning. Having the option to control the amount of water flushed gives more power to how much of it is consumed.

These new toilets are designed to be more efficient while using less than 1.3 gallons per flush. Since the inception of these high-efficiency toilets, the water consumption of users with HET has greatly reduced.

Here is an option you can browse through to do your bit to conserve water.

RECIRCULATING WATER KITS

Standing under the shower while switching the lever left and right while trying to maintain an optimum temperature is an old winter story. An invention was bound to be underway- similar to the one used in hotels, a recirculating water kit helps you get hot water directly to your line while reducing wastage. With an immediate supply of hot water to all the faucets and showerheads, these unique systems pump hot water through the hot water piping system and back to the heater. The waiting time is drastically reduced as the recirculation pump moves water in the line back to the water heater- while also saving on your time while you rush to the office.

Here is a perfect example.

CONSERVE WITH FAUCETS

New-age faucets save about 30% of water without sacrificing anything at all. If you opt for a water-saving faucet as a family, the annual usage of water is going to reduce by a high margin- as we all are aware of the frequent use of faucets for daily activities. Especially during the time of the pandemic when washing hands is a matter of safety rather than just basic cleanliness, faucets are being used more than ever.

Water-saving faucets or better called sustainable faucets are made to dispense the amount of water that is required. Also, adding nozzles to taps to create a mist-like effect that gives adequate water without wasting much is another great way to save water.

Here are some great options to fit in your sink in place of the normal tap.

As individuals who can make an essential choice, we owe a bit to the planet by working on the things we can change, while also saving for ourselves in the long run. Add these fixtures to your bathroom and reduce your water footprint with the right balance.