Bathroom - Energy Efficiency
As the bathroom is one of the most used rooms in the home, and the primary user of energy behind the kitchen, it is worth creating an energy efficient bathroom to not only help the environment but your hip pocket. By using such concepts as plumbing, heating, and ventilation in clever ways, you can have a comfortable bathroom that does not waste water or energy.
Ventilation in the Bathroom
Ventilating the bathroom is absolutely vital in order to avoid a build up of moisture that can possibly damage the structural components of the home. Ventilation also helps to prevent the formation of mould and mildew which can cause problems with allergies, as well as being unsightly. The best way to ventilate the bathroom efficiently is to ensure that the bathroom has a window that is capable of good cross-ventilation. There is no point in installing a small window, as it will not be able to handle the volumes of air required to keep the bathroom dry. If installing a different window is not an option, then you can install an exhaust fan that vents to the outside of the home. To prevent the fan being left on accidentally, it is possible to connect it to the light switch so that the fan turns on and off as the light does.
Saving Water in the Bathroom
You may be surprised to learn that approximately forty percent of all the water used in the home is used in the bathroom and the toilet. So, if you wish to save water, the toilet, taps and shower are the main areas to look at in the bathroom.
A dual flush toilet is much more efficient than a standard toilet as some are capable of using as little as 4.5 litres of water for full flush and 3 litres for a half flush. If you don’t want to replace your toilet with a new one, there are gadgets available that you can fit to the toilet to reduce the amount of water being used. These work by only allowing the toilet to flush when the button is physically held down. Also consider using a rainwater tank for flushing the toilet or grey water from other areas of the home (such as the laundry). This water is perfectly adequate for toilet flushing and will save you from using precious mains water supplies.
Bathroom taps and showerheads are also two ways of saving water in the bathroom. Water efficient taps should have a rating of AAA or more, or ideally AAAA or higher. If you are not replacing your taps, a water aerator will reduce the volume of water that comes from the tap significantly. Standard showerheads can use as much as 20 litres of water per minute. Simply by switching your showerhead to one rated AAA or higher, you can reduce that amount to just 9 litres of water per minute without suffering a loss of water pressure.
It is also important to check your plumbing in the bathroom regularly, to ensure that there are no leaks anywhere – whether it is from the taps, the toilet or the pipes themselves. Leaks are often so minor that they go undetected while wasting litres of water over what can be a very long period of time.
Hot Water and Heating in the Bathroom
Hot water is the number one necessity in the bathroom, and the use of a solar hot water system will drastically reduce the amount of electricity or gas that you use. Ensure that the system is placed as closely as possible to the three main hot water usage areas – the bathroom, kitchen and laundry. If solar hot water is impractical in your residence for whatever reason, consider using a continuous flow hot water heater. Continuous flow heaters only heat the water as it is being used, ensuring that the hot water never runs out, as well as ensuring that hot water is not sitting in a storage tank being constantly heated until it is used. Whatever hot water system you use, make sure that the hot water pipes are insulated.
Heating is often a necessity in the bathroom, especially in the colder areas of Australia. There are several heating options available such as underfloor heating, heating lights, and heating systems that run on gas or electricity. While heating is a major user of energy, it is possible to minimize the amount used by using your heating appliances correctly. Choose a heater that is the right size for your bathroom so that it does not have to overwork or underwork, and also only operate your heater as necessary. Do not leave it on for hours just so that the bathroom is toasty warm when you enter. Only turn it on long enough to banish the chills and make the bathroom comfortable to use. If you have a large family, it may be worth scheduling bathing times so that it is within the same block of time – meaning that the heater only has to be turned on once instead of multiple times throughout the day.
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