Eco baths & ShowersPart 3Part 3 of my bathroom articles looks at sanitaryware - eco baths, showers and shower doors/panels from an environmental and health perspective.
Eco baths - the alternatives2 points to think about with eco baths:
1. Water saving
2. The bath itself
Water saving is the priority with so much being used per bath. Salvage your used bath water and use a diverter to collect this waste water for the garden. Ideally remove the bath and replace with a water saving shower. However this is not practical for everyone. If you must keep your bath think about reducing the number of baths you have per week and install a shower either in a separate cubicle or over the bath, so that you can use the shower the majority of the time. Avoid buying baths that are larger than normal e.g. luxury size or whirlpool and stick to standard or reduced sizes.
However they can last longer than a lifetime and at the end of their lifespan they can be recycled. These materials do not keep the heat as approx 30% of the hot water used is to heat the cast iron or steel. Wooden baths made from sustainable forests are an alternative option. They hold the heat more and do not use as much energy during manufacture as other materials. They are also easily repaired. However moisture repellent coatings are generally made from synthetic resins which are toxic. Stone baths are made from compressed natural materials, are extremely durable although costly and prone to staining. Stone baths are less effective at holding heat than cast iron or steel baths with approx. 50% of the hot water lost to heat the material. However they use a huge amount of non renewable resources and energy for material extraction (mining) and manufacture. The weight of the material is also a concern as transportation throughout the lifecycle uses a large amount of energy, especially if overseas (quarry – processing – manufacture – distributor – retailer - end user). You can specify a similar bath made from composite stone and resin, which is far lighter, cheaper and creates less waste during manufacture. The compromise is the synthetic resins which are toxic.
Whatever choice you make, at the least be mindful of the water you use and if you are buying a bath, make sure it's an eco bath.
Eco showers - the alternativesShower gadgets use a phenomenal amount of water; power showers, spa nozzles or 4 or 5 nozzles in one shower. 5 minutes in a power shower can use the same amount of water as a full bath. One gadget that is of benefit, is the shut off button so that when you are shampooing your hair you can shut off the flow of water and turn it back onto the same heat without touching the taps. This should be used as much as possible, rather than standing away from the shower when soaping.
Shower doors/cubicles/curtainsOpt for glass shower doors, enclosures and panels that have a ‘frameless’ design to reduce the amount of metal framing needed. These are durable, easy to clean and will not offgas into your home. Look for textiles made from natural or organically grown ingredients that have been treated with plant/vegetable based dyes e.g. 100% certified organic cotton are a good eco shower curtain choice. However, such textiles have not been treated to make them water resistant and they can harbour mould and bacteria if not adequately dried.
Continue reading part 4 of the eco bathrooms guide here.........
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You can find beautiful vintage examples of reclaimed cast iron or steel baths from your local salvage yard. They can be re-enamelled and painted to bring them back to life. Cast iron and steel baths made from new (virgin) materials use a huge amount of non renewable resources and energy for material processing and manufacture. 
Reducing your time in the shower can also help save water - a 5 minute shower uses around 30% of water from a full bath. It is not just the amount of water to think about, but the energy used to heat water too – adding to your utility bills savings & saving finite resources if reduced. Try an ‘air shower’ control that fits to your showerhead, combining air and water to create the same pressure but without using as much water. Low flow showerheads reduce the number of litres of water used per minute by up to half. 
