Three Things to Look for in an Eco-friendly Bathroom

André Fonseca, CEO of Zypho, gives us his suggestions for making bathrooms as environmentally friendly as possible...

The environment is one of the world’s hottest issues right now (quite literally), pushing many new buyers to seek properties that are environmentally-friendly or which can be easily upgraded.

According to a recent survey from Accenture, 72% of people reported actively buying more environmentally-friendly products than they did five years ago, while 81% said they expected to buy even more over the next five years.

Unfortunately, most existing properties are pretty wasteful. Take the toilet, for example. A single flush can use up to six litres of water (older models using far more). Since the average person flushes five times per day, that’s around 30 litres of water going down the toilet.

Even new builds aren’t exactly eco-powerhouses. They may be better insulated and have eco-friendly toilets, but environmentalism goes beyond trapping heat and trimming the amount of water we flush down the drain ‒ it is permeating all aspects of the home.

So, what environmental concerns should you bear in mind when buying a new home? What eco-friendly devices make a real difference in the bathroom? And what can you do to upgrade your bathroom to make it more eco-friendly without compromising on cleanliness?

1. Low-flow fixtures

Freshwater is a precious natural resource we need to protect. One way of dramatically lowering your water usage is with low-flow fixtures in your bathroom. These highly-efficient showerheads, toilets and faucets all drastically reduce the amount of water being used without really affecting the quality of the shower/flush/flow.

New builds often feature dual-flush toilets. These have two flush methods, helping to reduce the average water consumption per flush to four litres or less.

Another, less common, fixture you may want to install is a low-flow shower. The Nebia Spa Shower, for example, uses 10 precision nozzles to atomise the water. Not only does this leave you feeling just as clean as a regular shower, but it also saves up to 65% of the water!

2. Heat recapture

Power showers are a great modern convenience and are found in most new homes. However, if you have a smart meter installed, you’ll know how much energy power showers use ‒ they’re one of the biggest energy drains in the entire house!

What’s worse is that, in a power shower heated to 40° Celsius, the water going down the drain is still around 38°.

A device your new bathroom probably won’t have (but which is easy to upgrade) is Zypho. Their innovative recovery/recapture system uses that 38° water to pre-heat the fresh mains water going up to the shower, helping to save up to 67% of the energy cost of heating a shower. 

3. Recycled fixtures and fittings

Bathrooms contain some of the largest items in your entire house and most are non-recyclable. Take bathtubs, for example. Most are made of fibreglass or acrylic ‒ two materials that are durable yet difficult to recycle. 

There are, however, some more environmental options to look out for, such as KALDEWEI ‒ a German company that makes bathtubs made from steel enamel, which can be completely recycled. 
Also keep an eye out for recycled or recyclable floor tiles, cupboards and fixtures to help make your new home an eco-paradise.

Ensuring your new bathroom is eco-friendly will mean asking the right questions of your estate agent or the existing owner. It’s also likely you’ll have to make some upgrades yourself. However, while some of these solutions may cost a little more upfront, the money and resources they save will benefit both your wallet and the world!