Let’s face it, the bathroom isn’t the most glamorous room in your household. Ranging from staid and boring to downright dangerous, many modern bathrooms are not designed as thoughtfully the rest of our homes. The irony in that fact is that bathrooms are one of the most expensive rooms in the house to build, averaging about $10,000 a pop. Still, for all their expense, the design hasn’t evolved too far beyond shiny fixtures and his ‘n her sinks: many of us are still using the five-by-eight bathroom with the three fixtures — toilet, sink, and tub — all lined up in a row. And while it might help maximize space, having a dirty fixture where you deposit your waste (the toilet) next to two where you clean yourself (the sink and the tub) doesn’t make for the healthiest environment.

Here are some great Green Bathroom renovation tips that will make your home healthier for your and your family as well as Greener:

Stop Wasting Precious Water

Saving water is one of te key elements to going green in order to save our planet as well as your renovating your bathroom. Although much of the waste is caused by our bad habits, installing and maintaining water-saving bathroom fixtures is an enormously important step. Start by installing low-flow shower heads and faucets and fixing any leaks as soon as they happen. A further step is to set up a gray-water system that collects water from the sink and shower and feeds the toilet and the garden.

Thinking of a Better Sink

In a perfect universe, we could all purchase a hybrid sink-toilet, where the grey water from the sink is used in the toilet bowl. However, if this isn’t in your Green Budget, there are many other options to consider when choosing the right sink. First, the sink vanity height should be at least 36 inches, which will allow you to stand up straight while you wash, which is easier on the back. Next, consider a kitchen-type faucet with sprayer, so that you can rinse the sink easily — you can save water and wash your hair with it, too. Finally, consider the materials and layout of your sink: Hospital-plumbing brass sinks, which have big paddle handles that you can operate with your elbows and go with recycled and eco-materials, such as natural ceramic or non-toxic cement, for your hardware and sink basin.

If You Can’t Stand the Heat…

More than 10 percent of our energy bills typically come from heating up hot water. The more common ways to reduce that number is to use less of it for bathing, washing your hands, and doing household chores (such as doing the laundry in hot water), you can also consider these options:

1. Setting up a solar powered water heater — they used to be either expensive or just not very effective; now many companies are selling evacuated tube water heaters for under $5,000.
2. Installing a waste-heat recovery system (pdf) that preheats the shower water with the warm water going down the drain.

Say No To Mold!

The best way to prevent mold in the first place it to use materials that don’t promote mold and mildew growth, are eco-friendly, and are easy to clean. In Japan, a lot of baths are lined with cedar and wood; cork and water resistant woods have natural mold inhibitors in them. For floors and walls go with recycled glass or ceramic tiles, Marmoleum (a good old fashioned linoleum material), low-VOC paints, and natural plasters like American Clay, which absorb and release moisture, mitigating the potential for mildew. For counter tops, consider those made from recycled glass cullet, or compressed, sealed, recycled paper, such as Paperstone and Richlite. Mold is not only ugly, but it is extremely hazardous to you and your family’s health.

We hope these Green Bathroom Tips will help you live a healthier, happier and Greener lifestyle, while you do your part in saving the planet.

Green-Zen.com