How Can I Create a Luxurious Yet Eco-Friendly Bathroom?

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Flow-Regulated Showerheads

Many San Diego homeowners say that the number-one comfort feature they want in the master bathroom is a spa-like showerhead. No longer designed just to get you clean, showers have become one of the most indulgent features in the home. And fortunately, with the latest fixtures and features, you can achieve an eco-friendly shower without sacrificing luxury.

The key is to find showerheads with a built-in flow regulator, not a flow restrictor. This maintains a constant flow of water regardless of the pressure to ensure an enjoyable shower experience every time while minimizing water waste. It’s also useful to find a multi-functional showerhead that provides a broad, gentle stream of water on one setting and a pounding massage on another. This versatility offers luxury without the need for multiple water-wasting showerheads.

Aerated Faucets

Today’s low-flow faucets feature beautiful designs that reduce water consumption while maintaining adequate pressure. Aeration is the key. This adds tiny air bubbles to the stream of water to create a sense of higher pressure without the waste.

Look for a bathroom faucet that features a WaterSense label to ensure it meets stringent EPA criteria. These faucets use no more than 1.5 gallons per minute (GPM), decreasing water usage by 30 percent in comparison with the standard flow of 2.2 GPM. Americans could conserve billions of gallons of water if everyone in the country retrofitted their sinks with aerated faucets.

Low-Flow Toilets

Another way to conserve water in the bathroom is with a low-flow toilet. Today’s standard toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF), which is already a 50 percent improvement over the previous standard of 3.5 GPF.

However, you can take your water conservation efforts up a notch with a High-Efficiency Toilet (HET), which only uses 1.28 GPT, a 20 percent improvement over standard toilets. Dual-flush toilets are another option, providing the best of both worlds with a 0.8-gallon flush for liquid waste and a 1.6-gallon flush for solid waste.

Sustainable Materials

Lowering your water usage isn’t the only consideration to take when designing a luxurious master bathroom with eco-friendliness in mind. You should also consider the building materials you use. Here are some sustainable options to consider:

• Choose a quartz countertop, which uses scraps of natural stone to reduce waste.
• Opt for tiles, countertops, or a sink made from recycled glass.
• Replace the countertop on your existing vanity rather than replacing the entire thing.
• Reuse old tiles in the new bathroom design.
• Resurface your tub or sink instead of replacing them.
• Check local sources for salvaged materials that might go well with your luxurious master bath design.
• Use low- or no-VOC paint to keep the concentration of volatile organic compounds low in your luxurious master bathroom.