9 tips to make life in your bathroom more sustainable
“Sustainability” is a big word that should be used sparingly. Here is how it is used most commonly in the world of Gustavsberg, with the emphasis on the environment, economy and social issues: “To accommodate your own needs without compromising the opportunity of future generations to accommodate theirs.”
We have put together a list of 9 tips to make life in your bathroom more sustainable. The fact that sustainable for the environment and for your wallet are two sides of the same coin is an added bonus.
1. Make conscious choices
Only replace products that really need upgrading, and bear in mind that there is much that can be reused and/or recycled. Take time to read about both the products and the manufacturers before buying new items.
2. Choose resource-efficient products
It is often how you use a product that produces the greatest impact. Check whether the products you want fulfil requirements and recommendations for environmentally certified properties: Miljöbyggnad (Green Building), Nordic Swan Eco Label, BREEAM, LEED, etc. And keep an eye out for product-specific requirements:
ENERGY-CLASSED MIXERS
A major study conducted by RISE reveals that switching to modern, Energy Class A mixers for your washbasin and shower, and an Energy Class B mixer for your kitchen can help you save fully 28 per cent energy. In practice, this translates into a saving of around 1,680 kWh per year for a family of two adults and two children.
WATER-SAVING TOILETS
Most toilets use a lot of tap water when they flush. An old toilet uses 6–9 litres of water per flush, whereas a modern model from Gustavsberg uses only half as much. The revolutionary flushing technology “Hygienic Flush” additionally improves hygiene and reduces the need to use strong cleaning agents.
3. Think function
Read about what’s available, and think about the functions you want. For example, reducing draught through the shower area makes it possible to lower the temperature of the water while still enjoying the same feeling of warmth. So buy a shower wall that seals tightly against the floor and avoid positioning ventilation intakes right in the shower room.
4. Choose quality
It is important to choose products that last and last; “Use once and throw it away” is never a sustainable solution. Good quality pays dividends in the long term – bathroom furniture designed to withstand humid environments, for example. It is also important to choose a supplier that maintains a stock of spare parts so that you can breathe new life into old products.
5. Choose timeless design
Design itself can also be more or less sustainable. It pays dividends to invest in attractive, high-quality bathroom furnishings that feature carefully considered design. Choose products that keep on looking good.
6. Plan
Is underfloor heating a viable option for your bathroom? Could you supplement it with heat recovery in the drains or ventilation? Can you design it differently to shorten the supply pipes? A lot of basic assumptions can help you save energy, and a well-planned bathroom will last longer before it needs renovating. In most cases, the best move is to ask a pro for advice.
7. Need-based control
What units can you control on the basis of needs? Lighting, for example. There is no need to have the light on in the daytime and when the bathroom is empty. Or the temperature in the room. Adjust it to be a little higher early in the morning and then to decrease automatically when there’s no-one at home.
8. Choose products with a small footprint
A product’s footprint from its actual production is declared via an EPD (Environmental Product Declaration). A recycled product generates no footprint of its own, but it may prove inefficient to use. If you choose Gustavsberg products, you can order new parts to upgrade both functionality and efficiency.
9. Choose Gustavsberg
We include both social and economic issues in our work with sustainability. We make demands on our supply chains – with regard to human rights, fair pay and equal rights, for example. We have also been a leader in technology that saves water, energy and money since the 1970s. Today we have a range of environmentally certified and -declared products products designed to match the LEED, BREEAM, Miljöbyggnad (Green Building) environmental assessment systems, as well as the EU Taxonomy. Moreover, our operations are ISO certified in the fields of quality, the environment, energy and OHAS. Choosing Gustavsberg is the sustainable choice.
Work it out
The energy calculator at gustavsberg.com makes it simple to work out how much you stand to save – water, energy and money – by switching to energy-efficient mixers and economy-flush toilets.
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