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Green bathroom renovations, such as the installation of a dual-flush toilet, help conserve energy while saving homeowners money.

With the way utility rates are continuing to rise, many homeowners are looking for ways to reduce energy consumption. Home remodeling projects are a good opportunity to do just that. If you’ve got some bathroom renovations lined up for this year’s budget, there are plenty of things you can do that will:

• Increase your enjoyment of your home
• Provide a return on your investment
• Reduce your family’s environmental impact

Water-saving Measures

Electricity isn’t the only utility that’s trending upwards. In many municipalities throughout the Okanagan, quarterly water rates are also increasing. And the bathroom is one of the primary places where we use water the most. In fact, the simple act of flushing the toilet can account for as much as a quarter of total household water usage.

To cut back on your water consumption, try installing any of the following:

• Dual-flush or ultra-low flush toilets
• Low-flow faucets
• Low-flow showerheads

Be sure to talk to your Kelowna contractors to see which makes and models offer water efficiency, without sacrificing performance.

To further conserve water, thoroughly inspect your plumbing while you’re going through your bathroom renovations and check for any leaks in need of repair. By simply upgrading your fixtures and repairing leaks, you could potentially save hundreds, if not thousands, of litres of water every year.

Insulation

If your bathroom-remodeling project requires you to open up walls, take this opportunity to see what your insulation levels are like and upgrade them as necessary. Even if you don’t have to open up your walls, it’s possible to blow insulation into your wall cavities to boost your RF values.

While you’re at it, ensure that the exterior walls in your bathroom have a continuous air barrier. Coupled with sufficient insulation values, this will:

• Save money on heating and air conditioning
• Reduce drafts and make your home more comfortable
• Reduce the possibility of moisture infiltration into your home

Ventilation

You may already have a bathroom fan, but if it isn’t properly sized it might be completely ineffective at removing excess moisture. In some instances, bathroom fans aren’t even installed properly. Rather than venting directly to the outdoors as they should, you might find that the duct terminates in an attic, crawl space or soffit, which can lead to the formation of mold and rot.

In addition to being much quieter, newer models of bathroom fans are incredibly energy-efficient. Many come with energy-saving features, such as:

• Timers
• Humidity sensors
• Other automatic controls

This enables them to operate when needed, without wasting energy.

For other useful bathroom remodeling hints, read our post: 5 Small Bathroom Renovations that Make a Big Difference.

If you have a home renovation project that requires professional attention, call the Kelowna contractors at Rafter 4K. From bathroom renovations to swimming pool installations, our expert tradesmen can do it all.

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