How to efficiently remodel your bathroom

Resource Efficient Remodeling in Your Bathroom There are many ways to save when remodeling your bathroom. Consider measures that save both energy and water. Low flow shower heads, faucets and toilets save a significant amount of water without sacrificing performance. Conserving hot water saves on energy used to heat the water. Sealing leaks prevents moisture damage and avoids related health problems. Efficient ventilation fans and lighting can also add to your savings and comfort. Low Flow Fixtures Faucets The aerators in low flow fixtures cut your water usage, but not your comfort. These faucets use as much as 40% less water than conventional faucets, or about 2.5 gallons per minute compared to the standard 4 gallons per minute. Though less water is delivered, few people notice a difference at the tap. Low flow faucets and showers are simple and inexpensive to install. Installation is no different than that of conventional faucets. Directions will be included in the product packaging. If you are not ready to replace your faucets entirely, aerators may be added to your existing faucets. Aerators can be found in any hardware store and typically cost less than $5. f simply adding a new aerator to the fixture, unscrew the old aerator. Apply white pipe tape around the threads of the new aerator. Put the rubber washer inside the end and screw the new aerator onto the faucet. Run the water to test, making sure no water leaks out the side. If there is a water leak, gently tighten by hand until it is sealed tightly. Showers Low flow shower heads save about 50% of the water a conventional shower requires, or about 2.5 gallons per minute as compared to the conventional 4 or 5 gallons per minute. A good fixture will save water and still deliver a great shower. Using less hot water for your shower also saves energy because less water must be heated for the shower. Aerators can also be added to existing shower heads if you are not ready to replace the entire unit. Various models are available that increase spray velocity, reduce splash, while saving both water and energy. Toilets New toilets require less than one-third the volume of water of older models. If you are not planning to replace an existing toilet, you can install water-saving devices such as a toilet dam. A toilet dam can be made by simply filling a small plastic water bottle and placing it in the tank. Be sure to place it away from the moving parts in the tank so as not to interfere with flushing. Ventilation Fans Taking a shower and running the faucet releases a lot of moisture into the air. As your bathroom steams up, the moisture can condense on surfaces and wick through porous materials. This can cause mold and decay in materials. Mold can also cause health problems, particularly for people with respiratory illnesses. A ventilation fan will help remove the moisture from the bathroom and force it outdoors. ENERGY STAR qualified ventilating

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Consider measures that save both energy and water.
2. Look for and obtain low flow shower heads, faucets and toilets in order to save a significant amount of water without sacrificing performance.
3. Sealing leaks prevents moisture damage and avoids related health problems. Efficient ventilation fans and lighting can also add to your savings and comfort.