Doing a bathroom remodel is a big task. Now if you are going green, it would entail so much more. Here are some tips on how to achieve a green bathroom.
For your cabinet choice, get one that was produced with wheat board. Any other material that would have low VOC will do. The average ones have urea-formaldehyde. This is used to ward off probable damaging VOC’s lasting to 15 years.
As for your vanity tops, stone surfaces that have been engineered are pretty famous. Recycled tile is more commonly used for vanity tops than to counter tops in the kitchen, primarily because grout maintenance is easier when in your bath rather than in the kitchen.
For the lighting, opt to use fluorescent. Using it alongside electronic ballasts will provide extreme efficiency and functionality. If it will not work for your vanity though, opt for functional halogen selections. Natural light is a big help as well, minimizing the need for electric light.
Ventilation wise, experts highly recommend vent fans. It is useful in getting rid of unpleasant smells, irritants that are floating in the air as well as moisture which later on cause mold issues. Once done showering, just let the fan go on for around 20 minutes. Enlist a timer if needed to make sure that the fan stays on as needed in getting rid of the moisture all around the room. If possible, expert’s advice that having a window open to let daylight in as well as natural ventilation can be a great help. Just ensure that your window has good insulation.
Recycled glass is a good option for the area that is surrounding your shower. The same goes for ceramic. Another popular pick would be porcelain. Grout lines must not be thick and not sanded so that it will be more feasible in terms of cleaning and not likely to be damaged by mold as well as mildew. The epoxy grout should also not be colored dark or white. Although acrylic does not require that much maintenance like fiberglass, it is not long lasting and not the environment friendly.
Tile is usually recommended to be the best flooring for bathrooms just like natural linoleum. It can keep up with the environment found in a bath. You can also use cork but just ensure that they are able to withstand the constant splash of water. The same goes for bamboo. Vinyl sheet is highly discouraged as well as tile products.
In choosing your caulks as well as your sealants, choose the ones that are low on VOC or those that have none at all. Although these cleaning products contain elements that ward off mold, most of it has VOC’s that are harmful.
Aside from those mentioned above, there are many other choices in having a green bathroom. It may require you to spend more but it will be well worth it.
You can choose to get water heaters that do not have a tank. Although it is very costly, in terms of energy, it consumes 20% lesser of that compared to the usual heaters around. Another example would be urinals that do not have water and toilets that are made to be composting. Its main asset is water conservation.
