How To Make Your Bathroom More Earth-Friendly
If you are making efforts in your everyday life to be green, it should extend to that most private of rooms. And we are not talking paint, here! We are talking about what you are and are not doing to make your bathroom more Earth-friendly.
In addition to the environmentally sound things you already do, such as recycling and using those dandy reusable grocery bags, there is much more you can do to live a greener life.
Think about your bathroom…really think.
1. Water usage
Water conservation is a bigger deal than most people might think. It takes energy to heat water, and unless you are using all solar or wind energy all the time, you are burning fossil fuels in order to have hot water and a toilet that does not sweat in the summer. Consider switching to a low-flow shower head or even a water-conserving toilet in order to both save water overall and decrease energy usage. (If you have a water bill, your savings will help pay for switching.) Get into the habit of conserving water during your daily routine. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth, shaving your legs, or waiting for your conditioner to do its job. In the bath, consider not filling the tub as high as possible. Use the lowest water temperature you can stand while showering, and set a timer for three minutes. (If you can’t get your body clean in three minutes, there is a problem!) And if you have kids, train them from an early age to use the timer otherwise they will be in the shower until the hot water runs out.
2. Lighting
Daylight is free and does not cause pollution. Let light in to your bathroom, especially during the cooler seasons, and it may help heat the room. Similarly, close shades and curtains during the hotter seasons, keeping heat out as much as possible so that the air conditioning has less work to do. Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs, which use less electricity and last longer than incandescent bulbs. Buy night lights with a sensor that shuts them off during daylight.
3. Personal care products
As you use up items in your bathroom, seek out more environment-friendly skin care products, hair care products, and cosmetics, which are not only better for your body but better for the Earth because they are produced with the environment in mind. Look for labeling that designates them as organic, not tested on animals, containing all natural ingredients, and verify that the package is recyclable.
4. Towels
Consider replacing old towels with those made of organic cotton, hemp or bamboo fiber, all of which are made from renewable sources. Take it one step further and seek out thinner, waffle-weave towels instead of thick, fluffy ones as they will take less time and use less energy in the dryer. Reuse your towel several times before washing, too. You come out of the shower clean, so your towel cannot be very dirty! Always wash your towels in a full load of laundry, and use environmentally safe detergent. Old towels can be turned into a reusable shopping bag or beach tote, if you are a crafty person. Send your old towels to an animal shelter, or even cut them up for rags instead of throwing them away.
Believe it or not, you can have a big impact in these littlest of rooms by making wise choices. Thinking a bit about how the bathroom fits into the environmental “big picture,” along with taking steps such as taking reusable bags with you to the grocery store or using public transportation will go a long way toward making our planet a better place to live.