Plenty of people have taken steps to create a more energy efficient and healthier home by switching out their light bulbs and replacing energy-hungry appliances and devices with energy sippers. It’s possible to do the same in the bathroom by selecting products that lighten the load on the environment using these tips.

1. Heat the Space

It may seem counterintuitive, but using a space heater in the bathroom if your home is too chilly for bathing will save energy. By themselves, space heaters are the least efficient way to heat, but in the confined space of a bathroom, the short time they run won’t impact your energy bill as much as turning up the furnace’s thermostat to heat your entire home when you only need to warm the bathroom.

2. Use PEVA Shower Curtains

A vinyl shower curtain spews volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your home’s air as it ages. VOCs pollute indoor air and may cause anything from respiratory irritation to serious organ and neurological damage. PEVA, short for polyethylene vinyl acetate, doesn't contain the VOCs that vinyl curtains do and is a fully biodegradable product. The packaging for the shower curtain will indicate whether it's made from PEVA.

3. Upgrade to WaterSense Fixtures

Faucets, showerheads and toilets that carry the WaterSense label established by the U.S. EPA use the least amount of water and are as functional as older fixtures. A commode manufactured before 1980 may use from five to seven gallons per flush, while a WaterSense toilet uses as little as 1.28 gallons per flush. According to the EPA, such a toilet can reduce household water consumption by 60 percent.

4. Choose Toilet Paper Wisely

Most popular toilet paper is made from cellulose harvested from trees. Look for brands that use recycled paper that hasn’t been processed with chlorine and is perfume-free. Chlorine harms the both water resources and the atmosphere. Perfumes contain harmful VOCs. Paper is also available that’s made from bamboo, which is a renewable plant that reaches maturity quickly.

5. Install Timers and Motion Detectors

You can find add-on motion sensors for light fixtures that will turn the light on and off in response to motion detection. Such a device eliminates the wasted energy when the bathroom is unoccupied with the lights on.

It’s important to use the bathroom fan to exhaust humid air, but if it’s left running, it will also pull the cooled or heated air from a fairly large area, making your HVAC system run more often. Putting it on a timer eliminates the possibility of it running for extended periods, a habit that’s just as common as forgetting to turn the lights off.

If you need help implementing any of these features into your bathroom, visit a company like Christophers Bath and Kitchens. By using their help with these tips in mind, you can make your bathrooms places that contribute to a healthier indoor environment and lower your carbon footprint without having to sacrifice any comfort or convenience.