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Basics of Water Conservation in the Bathroom
Your bathroom can be the one room in your house that uses the most water; from your toilet to your tub and shower to your sink, there's a lot of water that goes down the drain. Each can be minimized with the help of smart materials, though; check out our guide to water conservation in the bathroom.
Toilets
If your bathroom's toilet has been updated since 1994, when a federal mandate was issued, then you have a "low-flow toilet" that uses 1.6 gallons per flush; before that, a toilet might flush 3.5 gallons each time you hit the handle. So if you haven't replaced your toilet in the last 15 years or so, that's definitely job one; if you have, here are some other options that'll save even more water.
I. Dual-flush toilets
Dual-flush toilets have two options each time you flush. With the touch of a button, you select whether you're flushing liquid or solid waste; when it's number one, the toilet uses less water than number two.
Pros of dual flush toilets
The smart design matches water use and function, so you don't have to use much water when you don't need it. Since they're functionally similar to conventional toilets, you can install them without any special plumbing or any design restrictions.
Cons of dual flush toilets
They still use water -- it sounds odd to say it, but some toilets don't -- and they're more expensive than conventional toilets.
How green are dual-flush toilets?
They're definitely a step up on the green scale from conventional low-flow toilets, but get beat out by some other options because they still use water. Still, they can be a significant improvement over conventional toilets.
More about dual-flush toilets
Dual Flush Toilet by Caroma
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II. Composting Toilets
Composting toilets offer a big step forward in water conservation in the bathroom, but they're not perfect for everyone. They're something of a design revolution -- no water or sewer line required, a useful product (compost) instead of toxic sludge results at the end -- but that means that some places just aren't set up for them.
Pros of composting toilets
They cut water out of the equation -- yep, that's essentially 0.0 gallons per flush -- and create compost, something most people can use in their gardens (and something the world can use more of, certainly). They're self-contained, don't require any plumbing, and, believe it or not, in a properly ventilated bathroom, don't smell at all.
Cons of composting toilets
They aren't suitable for every bathroom, and do require some pretty regular maintenance -- like any compost creation, you'll have to add sawdust and perform other regular activities to keep them operating properly, and, of course, harvest the finished product. Because of these limitations, they may be best suited for a bathroom renovation, rather than a simple toilet replacement. Save your pennies, too -- some composting toilet models run into the thousands of dollars.
How green are composting toilets?
Any time you can cut water use out of an equation, that's a game changer. Add the nutrient-rich product that composting toilets create, and you're looking at a solution that's about as green as it gets.
More about composting toilets
The Hot Poop on Alternative Toilets
TreeHugger Tips: Hacking a Composting Toilet
G Word Shorts: Composting Toilet: Video
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Renovation Nation 2: Saving Water With A Composting Toilet: Video
III. Waterless Urinals
Once relegated to airports and office buildings, urinals are gaining traction in residential settings now, too. It may seem a little odd, but they can save tons of water, and if you go with the waterless variety, you won't need any at all.
Pros of waterless urinals
Replacing water with a more viscous liquid, waterless urinals don't need any water at all to "flush," which makes a lot of sense since you're getting rid of liquid waste (a lot of which is water).
Cons of waterless urinals
Many -- but not all -- are designed with men in mind, so it can be tricky to find one that meets the needs of both genders at once. And though they're water-free, there's still liquid involved, which requires upkeep, maintenance, and materials that you can't usually get at the corner grocery.
How green are waterless urinals?
Like composting toilets, cutting water out of the flushing equation make it a much greener process than conventional toilets. It probably isn't quite as green as peeing on your tomato plants, but using waterless urinals is a lot more convenient.
More about waterless urinals
No Splash, No Flush Urinals from Kohler
Small Business Owners: Relieve Water Shortages With Waterless Urinals
Case Study for Flushless Urinals
Low-Flow Shower Heads
The long, hot shower can range from undeniable luxury to guilty pleasure, but no matter how you feel about it, there's no denying that your shower or tub sees many, many of gallons go down the drain; your shower can be one of the biggest water hogs in your home.
While many shower heads are labeled "low-flow," they can still crank out 2.5 gallons of water per minute (GPM). That may not sound like a lot, but it adds up to 25 gallons for a 10-minute shower, versus 10 gallons or less for a shower of the same length with a bona-fide low-flow showerhead. Just be sure to look for the GPM declaration, and lower is better -- you can find them well below 1 GPM these days. Installation is a snap, and the better ones replace water with pressure, so it feels the same as if you were getting soaked with several gallons per minute.
More about low-flow shower heads
Eco- Showerhead - The Real Deal From Real Goods
How to Install a Low Flow Shower Head
Buy Green: Shower Heads
Faucet Aerator
This is another easy one. Faucet aerators mix the water with air, effectively cutting down on the gallons of water your faucet spits out per minute. It may not seem like a big deal, but each one can save about 280 gallons of water each month.
Like toilets, it's often a matter of age; newer faucets come with them already, but very old faucets won't have them. It's easy to tell: If you unscrew the business end of your faucet and see a little screen in there, you're good to go. If you don't, getting one will cost you less than 2 bucks; if your faucet is old enough to not have a screw end, it'll require a little more work -- you'll need a new faucet -- but saving almost 3500 gallons of water per year is worth it, don't you think?
More on faucet aerators
Green Your Home for Winter: Install Faucet Aerators
How to Go Green: In the Bathroom
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