The Record Homescape 07-02-2020

8LF | THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020 | THE RECORD A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION OF THE RECORD Homescape INTERIOR DESIGN ❚ HOME IMPROVEMENT LIVING GREEN Innovations in bathroom fixtures save water, energy By FRAN J. DONEGAN SPECIAL TO HOMESCAPE Thanks to advancements in insulation, heating and cooling equipment, and lighting, our homes use less energy today than they did in the past. As a result, there are now “green” products for every room in the house, especially bathrooms. And anyone planning a bathroom remodel can make a significant environmental impact, while saving on water and utility bills. Just about every fixture in the bathroom comes in a watersaving version. “But most clients have no idea about what is available,” says Peter Salerno of Peter Salerno Inc., a design build firm in Wyckoff. “They say things like a toilet is a toilet, what’s the big deal? But once I start explaining to them that there are different options available, I find that conservation is important to people both for the environment and the cost savings.” In a recent survey, the National Kitchen and Bath Association asked its bathroom professional members to name the elements that will help future designs limit the environmental impact of new and remodeled bathrooms. Items that were named as solutions over 65 percent of the time included low water use toilets, low-flow faucets and showerheads, energy-efficient ventilation fans and LED lighting. TOILETS RE-IMAGINED It was not so long ago that the standard toilet used six or seven gallons per flush. In fact, many of those water hogs can still be found in today’s bathrooms. But toilets manufactured in the past few years use about 1.6 gallons on average per flush. While toilets that meet WaterSense criteria use even less. WaterSense is an Environmental Protection Agency voluntary program that promotes water-saving products. “There are products coming out that use even less water than mandated by government or building codes, even “green” building codes,” says Brian Maffia of GPS (General Plumbing Supply), headquartered in Edison. Dual-flush toilets offer another way to conserve water. These fixtures have two buttons. One is for liquid waste that requires only 0.8 gallons per flush. The other is for solid waste that uses a full 1.6 gallons. “That equates to 20 to 60 percent less water or about 13,000 gallons per year,” says Salerno. WATER-STINGY FAUCETS Showers are often at the center of bathrooms designed to provide a spa-like experience. Many feature rainfall shower heads, handheld shower faucets with multiple settings and body jets, and all are intended to pamper the user. But shower faucets often account for as much as 20 percent of a household’s water use. Up until 1994, shower faucets could provide as much as eight gallons of water used per minute (GPM). Today though, shower faucets are limited to 2.5 GPM and vanity faucets are capped at 2.2 GPM. But there are faucets that use even less water. WaterSense showers must use less than 2 GPM, and vanity faucets are limited to 1.5 GPM, a 30-percent reduction over standard faucets. The newest low-flow faucets and showerheads mix air with the water stream to create a true soaking experience. “Aerators allow air to go into the showerhead creating the effect of more water coming through,” says Salerno. “If you have the same experience while saving water, why not do that? The feeling is that the flow is equal, but it is actually 20- to 30-percent less water.” Because of aeration, the reduction in water flow is not really noticeable while showering. “You wouldn’t notice the difference until you tried to fill up a bucket and saw how slowly it filled,” says Maffia. VENTILATION FANS In order to remove moisture, bathrooms should have exhaust fans that vent to the outside. But proper sizing of the fan is important, as is the correct way to use the fan. It should be running during a shower, as well as for 20 to 30 minutes after the shower is complete to clear the room of moisture. Energy Star-rated fans use less Many modern bathrooms today are designed with dual-flush toilets, aerated showerheads and faucets, and LED lighting fixtures. electricity than standard models. Energy Star is a program of the Environmental Protection Agency that promotes energy-saving products. Energy Star fans with lighting are rated to save as much as 70 percent of the energy used by standard fans with lighting. LED LIGHTING LED lighting uses up to 90- percent less energy than the standard incandescent light bulb, and it lasts up to 15 times longer. LED fixtures have been used in bathrooms for some time, especially in recessed lighting fixtures. And as the bulbs and lighting quality have improved, LED is used in vanity and makeup mirrors, as well. One emerging trend is to incorporate LED into medicine cabinet mirrors. When the mirror is touched, the perimeter lights up. “These take the place of side sconces and give a sleek look that everyone wants,” says Salerno. NELLEG/GETTY IMAGES WATER HEATERS Most homes have a large water heater that holds from 45 to 80 gallons of water. The water is kept at warm temperatures 24/7 and energy is used to heat the water whether you are showering, sleeping or away from home on vacation. But there is an alternative that can save 10 to 34 percent of the energy used. Tankless, or on-demand, water heaters supply hot water only when it is needed. There is no storage tank and unlike a traditional water heater that can run out of hot water, ondemand units keep producing hot water for as long as you need it. “Think of a four-person family who have an 80-gallon water heater,” says Maffia. “That is fine when everyone lives there, but if the kids leave then only two people live there and you are still heating 80 gallons of water all day, all year. That’s a huge waste of energy.” YOURSTYLE GPS something for everyone. 1.800.CALL GPS | shopgps.com Bayonne | Bergenfield | Eatontown | Edison | Flemington | Green Brook Hawthorne | Lakewood | Matawan | Morris Plains | Orange | Paramus For additional locations please visit our website.