How Green is Green?

Are you thinking about “Going Green” for the New Year? Like any New Year’s Resolution, it is hard to keep if you plan to do it all at once.

Where do you begin? If you are one of the thousands of home owners in the US planning a bathroom remodel in 2010 you have found a great place to start.

Begin by asking yourself a few questions. Do materials ultimately determine what shade of green a bath will be or does the water usage in the bathroom once it is in use by the home owner determine how green the space is? I believe that the answer is a personal one. Green is in the eye of the beholder.

Here are some ways that a bathroom can be green:

• Conservation of water usage - by using a Low Flow Shower Heads you save up to 30% on your water usage without sacrificing a great shower

• Energy efficient lights and heating can save dollars and minimize your impact on the grid.

• Recycled glass tiles make a beautiful design statement and are a great re-use of materials.

• Materials from local sources minimizes your carbon footprint. If you are lucky enough to live in an area with a Cabinetry Company you can use regionally grown woods by local trades people.

• Universal Design of the space. Click Here to read more on how Universal Design is Green.

• Re-use of “grey water” from the bathroom to the garden.

• On-demand water heaters have been in use worldwide for years. They are a great way to save space, save water and energy.

• Anti-Microbial coatings in areas where water can deposit is a effective way of preventing the spread of germs in the bathroom.

The discussion of green often promotes more questions than answers, but it offers the bath designer and the homeowner an incredible opportunity to explore options and come up with an amazing end result. New products are introduced daily giving us more design opportunities and tools to be greener than ever before.

Happy New Year!

Hana Hammer