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Tips for being green in the bathroom
Quick tips
Conserve water
Dutch academic Dr Jan Kooijman suggests that using water wisely is as important, if not more so, than recycling.
Don't run the tap when you brush your teeth
Rinsing your toothbrush and turning the tap off again rather than leaving it running takes no effort at all, but if everyone in the UK did this, the amount of water saved would be enormous.
Have a shower instead of a bath
Showering can use two to three times less water than having a bath.
Replace ordinary light bulbs with energy efficient ones
They might cost more initially, but they last much longer and are significantly better for the environment.
Turn the lights off when you leave a room
This is one of the easiest things anyone can do — and the difference it can make to the amount of energy we consume is considerable.
Turn your thermostat down
Your thermostat should be at about 60°C — if it is hotter than that, you're wasting money and energy.
More tips
Buy a dual flush loo
If you're buying a new toilet, make sure it has a dual flush.
Choose the right boiler
Dripping taps mean you're wasting water. Check your taps and replace worn-out washers.
Install spray taps in new sinks and baths
Spray taps use less water than normal taps.
Only flush paper
Things like nappies, condoms and cotton buds shouldn't be flushed down the toilet — they should be bagged and binned.
Put a water-saving device in your cistern
Water saving devices in your cistern help to conserve water. Your water company will probably provide one for free.
Conserve water
Dutch academic Dr Jan Kooijman suggests that using water wisely is as important, if not more so, than recycling.
Don't run the tap when you brush your teeth
Rinsing your toothbrush and turning the tap off again rather than leaving it running takes no effort at all, but if everyone in the UK did this, the amount of water saved would be enormous.
Have a shower instead of a bath
Showering can use two to three times less water than having a bath.
Replace ordinary light bulbs with energy efficient ones
They might cost more initially, but they last much longer and are significantly better for the environment.
Turn the lights off when you leave a room
This is one of the easiest things anyone can do — and the difference it can make to the amount of energy we consume is considerable.
Turn your thermostat down
Your thermostat should be at about 60°C — if it is hotter than that, you're wasting money and energy.
More tips
Buy a dual flush loo
If you're buying a new toilet, make sure it has a dual flush.
Choose the right boiler
- Condensing boilers are 90% efficient (they reclaim some of the heat from the flue gases)
- Combination boilers are 80% efficient, only heating water when it is needed
- Conventional boilers are only 75-80% efficient, older ones can be nearer 60%.
Dripping taps mean you're wasting water. Check your taps and replace worn-out washers.
Install spray taps in new sinks and baths
Spray taps use less water than normal taps.
Only flush paper
Things like nappies, condoms and cotton buds shouldn't be flushed down the toilet — they should be bagged and binned.
Put a water-saving device in your cistern
Water saving devices in your cistern help to conserve water. Your water company will probably provide one for free.
