Don't flush bathroom efficiency down the toilet

Bathroom efficiency? Don't flush it down the toilet.

We've compiled some information from The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Design Trends Survey and EcoFriend.org. Here are some tips to maintain your restroom's style, while increasing your its efficiency.

Smart toilets
Water-saving toilets have never been in style more. Water-saving toilets use 1.6 gallons of water for every flush. Compare that to a standard toilet, that uses five gallons of water for every flush. By using a water-saving toilet, you are saving 100 gallons of water a day per household. Interested in purchasing a new toilet? Try the Home Core, all-in-one toilet. Designed by Dang Jingwei, the toilet is also a sink, mirror, and vanity table. The toilet also saves tens of liters of water that go down the drain.

Curbless showers

Curbless showers save water and allow for universal access. The sloping shower floor directs the water straight to the drain. The showers are accessible for those in wheelchairs, and for those with ambulatory restrictions.

LED lighting
LED lighting is very energy efficient. The savings? LED lights last up to 10 times longer than incandescent lights, and uses only two to 10 watts of electricity.

Accessible designs

Accessible designs are designs that are universal. They can be used by everyone. Aging parents, young kids, and adults alike can share this space. Accessible design features include wide doorways and halls, and wheelchair accessible showers. This design is growing in popularity, because it benefits everyone.

Radiant heated floors
Radiant heated floors can save up to 1/3 of your heating bill. The catch? The floors cost four times more than a forced-air furnace. Radiant heated floors are a low voltage system that does not consume a lot of energy. Only a 15 to 20 amp GFCI-protected circuit is required to run the system. What exactly is a radiant heated floor? The floor consists of a mat with thin heating cables embedded within. This is installed under the bathroom floor, most efficiently ceramic tile.