Checklist for a Green Bathroom Remodel
Just like remodeling a kitchen, you can create a solid investment by remodeling your bathrooms. This is also a great room to “green” as there is high potential for problems in bathrooms. With all of the moisture that is generated in the bathroom, making sure to build green and with natural materials is important.
Let’s get straight into the list this time. The same things are true with a bathroom remodel as were discussed in regards to the kitchen. Cost can be kept under control and finding the right help for the project is very possible in today’s construction climate.
A Checklist for Remodeling the Bathroom
1. Increased wall insulation. Taking care of the envelope is a must. You can do a million things inside the bathroom, but if you sacrifice the insulation envelope, then you have limited the efficiency of the room in a way that cannot be easily updated later.
2. Light bulbs. Use energy efficient light bulbs. This could be compact fluorescent bulbs, LED lights, or some other efficient option. Stay away from incandescent whenever possible. They produce massive amounts of heat and waste a lot of energy.
3. Natural Flooring. Use materials that will hold up well in the bathroom. Use the most natural materials you can find that fit the requirement of resilience as necessary to handle the potential of water exposure. Some options include cork, bamboo, sustainably harvested wood, natural tile, and linoleum. Be sure that the flooring can be installed in high water areas as kids getting out of a bathtub tend to drag a large part of the tub’s water with them as they get out!
4. Wall Finish. If you plan to use paint on your walls, be sure it is a low VOC paint. Other options include natural plaster, lime wash, casein paint and oil finishes on wood.
5. Recycled materials for counters. Again, durability is important here as is functionality. There are lot so materials available to choose from for your counters. Consider something recycled. Tile, refurbished wood, steel, glass, and many other options exist.
6. Water. Use flow reducing fixtures to lower your water usage. This is even more important in a bathroom remodel than in a kitchen. Obviously, there are massive amounts of water used in a home each year and reducing the water used in the bathrooms is the best place to curtail that usage. Don’t buy the multiple head showers. Instead, reach for simplicity.
7. Natural cabinets. Most cabinet boxes are full of formaldehyde and other nasty glues. Purchase cabinets that are made with natural materials and that don’t use nasty glues in the construction.
8. Vented room. Use timer switches on the bathroom vents. This allows you to turn them on and leave them on after you have left the room. Keep in mind that the steam from your shower will linger in the room long after you leave if you don’t have the ventilation fan on. At the same time, leaving a fan on for the day after you have left for work doesn’t make sense either. The timer gives you the best of both options.
9. Filtered water. Use a whole house filter if you can afford one. This will filter all the water in the entire home, not just the bathroom. Most people think about drinking filtered water and have no problems showering in their unfiltered water. That doesn’t make much sense actually because your skin is your largest organ. It absorbs massive amounts of chemicals like chlorine from the water the moment you step into the shower. Filter all the water in your home if you can.
10. Double flush. I don’t mean flush your toilet twice. I mean use a toilet that has two options for flushing: a low flow option and a regular flow. Use the low flow option as much as you can.
11. After the remodel. Be sure to use natural cleaners and materials in your bathroom after the remodel. No point in creating a healthy space only to fill it with chemicals after you have started using it again.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew Morrison is the co-founder of Straw Bale Innovations, LLC, a company specializing in straw bale construction education and the proprietor of www.StrawBale.com. Andrew has a passion for straw bale construction that is matched only by his desire to teach his knowledge to others. For over 15 years, Andrew was a skilled, licensed general contractor with experience in designing and building both conventional and straw bale homes. In 2007 Andrew closed his contracting company to focus entirely on teaching workshops and consulting. You can learn more about his workshops at www.StrawBaleWorkshops.com and his consulting services at www.StrawBaleConsulting.com. Andrew received a BA degree from Hampshire College in 1995 for Glacial Geology. He also has a degree in construction technology form the College of the Redwoods.
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