Eco Bathrooms – Part 6 – Baths
The next article in this Eco Bathroom series looks at baths. Most of us know that baths are uneconomical for water usage. A nifty way to save water is to salvage your bath water, by diverting the waste water into the garden. Try to reduce the number of baths you have per week, opt for a shower instead and avoid buying oversized baths with gadgets and gizmos.
When buying a new bath, look for reclaimed iron or steel from your local salvage yard, these can be re-enamelled and hold a classic beauty of their own. This helps divert waste from landfill and stops the demand for new (virgin) materials and manufacture, which both use a lot of energy and resources. They will last a lifetime and are recyclable – however they do not hold heat well (30% loss).
Stone is a natural and durable material, although it is expensive and tends to stain. These are gaining popularity in modern bathrooms, with top end manufacturers selling sleek designs. However, they don′t hold heat well (50% loss). Quarrying and the weight of this material reduces the eco credentials with the amount of energy and resources used. Reconstituted or composite stone baths are a good substitute as they are lighter, cheaper and create less waste during manufacture. The downside is the added synthetic resins during processing, which are toxic.
Wooden baths hold the heat better and take less energy during manufacture than other bath options. Easily repairable, although the synthetic resins used for moisture resistance on the surface are usually toxic. Timber ideally should come from a local sustainably managed forest.
Happy bathing!
Related posts:
- Eco Bathrooms – Part 7 – Showers
- Eco Bathrooms – Part 5 – Taps
- Eco Bathrooms – Part 3 – The WC
- Eco Bathrooms – Part 2 – Sanitary ware
- Eco Bathrooms – Part 4 – Sinks/ Basins
- Surface Finishes Part 3 – Household paint & sustainability
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