5 Simple Ways to Save Water & Energy In Bathrooms
The truth of water shortage is growing. The effects of persistent deficiencies, when there’s simply not enough water to fulfil human requirements, are already being seen in several regions of the world. We in the UK may also run out of water unless we all work collaboratively to prevent water waste and overuse.
There’s no doubt that the bathroom uses a great deal of water and power during the day. Time spent with the water flowing from shaving, brushing teeth, showers, baths, and the toilet all adds up, especially in a busy household. What’s more, styling tools plugged in and electric shavers and toothbrushes consume more energy than their counterparts. Still, it’s clear that there are plenty of ways to save water in the home.
Set up a showerhead with better efficiency
Modern showerheads aren’t just easier to clean and uphold, but more importantly, some models only use six litres of water per minute. When compared to an older showerhead, which can use up to 20 litres of water per minute, this is a significant saving. Newer showerheads also aren’t as expensive or complicated to install as you might assume, as here’s a useful installation guide about replacing a showerhead and hose.
More handy hints about saving water in the shower include simply setting a timer on your phone to five minutes (who can ignore that annoying beep?), turning off the handle when shampooing your hair, and even placing a bucket under the flow to collect any cold water which can be used to water plants.
Don’t ignore that dripping tap
It’s astonishing how simple it is to become used to a leaking tap, yet it’s said that even a single drip per second wastes 22 litres of water over the course of 24 hours. Either update your bathroom tap to a contemporary model with better systems for preventing drips, or contact a plumber to discover where the leak is coming from. The environment and your water bill will thank you!
Be mindful while at the sink
We’ve all become aware of the importance of hand washing in recent years, but there’s no need to let the water (make sure it’s on the cold setting as well) flow down the sink pointlessly. After wetting your hands, you can turn off the tap while using soap to lather up, and then turn the tap back on when you need to rinse. It’s a painfully simple process, but those 10-15 seconds of water use all add up in the end. The same can be said for shaving and brushing your teeth.
Unplug electrical items when not in use
As amazing as electric toothbrushes have become, they only need to be charged roughly once or twice a week. This means you don’t need to keep the charger plugged in all the time, as it will consumer unnecessary. Similarly, for electric razors, hair dryers, and so on, simply unplug and put away any items. This also helps the bathroom appear tidier and clutter free!
Consider doing a cold wash for your laundry
Cold washes save far more energy, as there’s no need to heat up water and the load is often completed much faster. It’s worth noting that many stains are actually better washed in cold water, as hot water can make certain blemishes set into the clothing. Some fabrics can also shrink or fade in hot water, but still look fresh and washed even in cold water.
The clothing or accessory label will tell you if the item can be washed in cold water, but there’s also a good explanation regarding the debate of cold water vs. hot water for your laundry.
As you can see, there are many simple ways to prevent water and energy loss in the bathroom, but they all require some effort and attention to get the job done.
