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How to Green Your Bathroom

11.22.2010 01:33 PM
Stop, put down the green paint!!!  I’m not talking about that sort of Green.
Whew. Welcome back!  If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, I’m talking about making your bathroom more environmentally friendly! Earlier last week we talked about how to Green Your Toilet.  As an addition to that article, here are some ways to save yourself some Washington green and save Mother Nature from early retirement:
Green your toilet!  See previous post...
Install a graywater system
It’s a safe and practical way to capture and filter the water used by faucets, washing machines, dishwashers and appliances, and reuse it for non-potable purposes.  More info, call us!
Turn off the tap/showerhead when not in use
This no-brainer saves an average of 4 gallons per minute!
Fix leaky faucets & pipes
Roughly 14% of US household water is lost down the drain due to these!
Buy a faucet aerator & low-flow showerhead
This decreases the flow of water to save you from wasting!
Use natural cleaners
These can be home-made or store-bought. Many stores sell cleaners that are even non-toxic, making it safe for children and pets.
Dispose of pharmaceuticals properly
Ie, not down the drain! Your meds can end up in drinking water and harming wildlife
Use a shower timer
Any one will do – even an egg timer from the kitchen!
Use a non-vinyl shower curtain
Vinyl curtains off-gas harmful chemicals and can harbor other health problems, so a good alternative is Hemp, PEVA, organic cotton, or one made of recycled materials.
Install bath enclosures
A nice long-term alternative for those who don’t want a curtain
Buy eco-friendly towels
Dry off with ones made from natural and organic fibers and low-impact dyes
Use eco-friendly toilet paper and facial tissue
You want ones with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled content and that have been whitened without chlorine bleach.
Now that you’ve got some ideas how how to Green Your Bathroom, go! Green your bathroom and be a better person for it!! 
Keep checking our blog for further postings on how to green your home!

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Greening Your Toilet

11.11.2010 01:45 PM
Outside it may be snowing, but inside you’re probably wondering what more you can do to save money and help Mother Earth from growing gray hairs. 
A question that’s becoming increasingly popular is, “What can I do to green my home?”
Well, that’s a question with many answers, so today, we’ll start with your bathroom. More specifically, your toilet.
Not to be confused with turning your toilet green, greening your toilet can be accomplished several ways.  We’ve written a list to make it easy!
  • Flush less often: Listen to Bernie Focker, and “if it’s yellow, let it mellow; if it’s brown, flush it down!”
  • Flush with less water: You can place a filled jug into the storage tank.
  • Check your toilet for leaks: Leaky toilets can waste up to 200 gallons per day!
  • Choose recycled toilet paper: The higher the post-consumer fiber the product contains, the better. 
  • Install a high-efficiency toilet (HET): HETs use less than 1.6 gallons of water per flush (gpf) and can save over  4,000 gallons of water per person per year. If you want to go a step further, use a dual-flush toilet!  This allows for less water to be flushed for liquid loads, and more water for those that might need a little extra push.  Feel neck deep? Call us for more info.
  • Dispose of pharmaceuticals properly…not down the toilet! Most wastewater treatment facilities aren’t equipped to filter these substances, so your meds can turn up in drinking water supplies or harm wildlife.
  • Recycle your old toilet: The porcelain is often used to make concrete for roads and sidewalks.  Ask your local recycling center if they have recycling programs for toilets.
Now that you have some ideas, go and make your toilet green!  Er, green your toilet!
Keep checking our blog for more info on how to green your house!
 

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