Sustainable Bathrooms

Published by islandstocottages on

An outdoor shower setting shows bright blue concrete walls and a well drained mix of gravel and stone ground with lots of lush green plants around.

There are lessons to be learned in every aspect of our lifestyle. And all over the house for that matter. Especially when it comes to sustainable bathrooms. With a little will, it is easy to take an honest look around and find a ton of small—and not so small—improvements to bring to our space to make it more efficient day after day. More fun too to be honest and, last but not least, more eco-friendly.

Bathroom Oasis : A Green Spa To Boost Our Everyday.

We might all have a different place to call home. But needless to say, our sanctuaries all have something in common. Any home needs a bathroom ! Full bath, half bath, 3 pieces, 4 pieces, 5 pieces bathrooms. Accessible bathrooms, seasonal outdoor showers (yeah!!!), open concept bathrooms—wait, whaaat ?—well, that, maybe not so much… But anyhow, no matter what defines our bathrooms and no matter how small or spacious they might be, bathrooms are essential to successful logistics for everyday use.

Defining Sustainable Bathrooms.

A sustainable bathroom is well thought and well built to stand the test of time. It should be constructed ingenuously and durably to last for a long time. All while requiring the minimum care and maintenance possible. Bathrooms are not a place where to cut corners or use poor finishes. By nature exposed to tough conditions, breeding elements to a very concerning threat to our Northern Hemisphere’s indoor lifestyle : mold. Sustainable bathrooms have to be easy to clean, and to maintain. And built of materials resistant to the very elements it has to face constantly, moisture.

Sustainable bathrooms have to be able to handle extensive use as well. Unlike the tentative craft room that may see some action only once in a while, no bathroom can be left unattended for more than a few hours. So you’d better love it too ! Durable timeless hardware and sustainable long lasting floor finishes will make all the difference.

Green Pampering.

Sustainable bathrooms are also a place for pampering. No. Let me rephrase that. They are THE place for pampering. And they should reflect that. With proper eco-friendly lighting and ventilation. And proper features to meet all of the family’s requirements.

In the bathroom, we need to be particularly mindful about the products we use to look after ourselves. The type of creams we apply to our skin. The type of hair removal devices we use. The make-up we choose and the way we remove it all have an impact on the wastes we generate overall, and on our health. We need to be aware of the way we treat our body. And the effects toiletry items have on the environment. Much has to be done in that department for a better daily eco-print… Bathrooms in general generate a lot of waste. But there is so much we can do to improve this ! From reusable make-up pads to eco-friendly feminine hygiene products to switching to unpaper toilet paper and letting go of questionable peeling products in favor of durable options with no side effects on the environment… There is world of possibilities awaiting to be explored to make our spa time more sustainable.

Conserving Our Resources.

Once we hit the shower, it is all about resources conservancy. Sustainable habits include reducing the length of our ablutions. Preferring timed showers to bath, and lowering temperature for a hint of peps at the end. It might mean slightly increasing the room temperature before hand as to not overly extend the cosy shower time only to postpone the brisk exit of the enclosure once the water is turn off. Brrrr….

When it comes to bathrooms, there is a fountain of potential to transition easily and happily to a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Not all solutions will fit our specific needs. But rest assured that there is something, at least one little thing, that you can do to improve your eco-print and that will work just great for you.

Categories: Sustainable Living

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