I recently just read an article entitled “How to wear the season’s trends. Though the article didn’t have anything to do with bathrooms, what stuck in my head was a line offering a piece of advice which said: “No matter how odd an item looks on the shelf or hanger, try it anyway. You might be surprised how much you like it.” Sometimes we are so uptight or stuck in our ways that it is at times difficult to take chances with our money especially when it seems everyone is cutting back. Now you can tighten your purse and hope for the best or you can bring a little joy into your life by making cost effective and environmentally friendly improvements to your bathroom. It is interesting to note that despite the dismal housing industry, interest in energy-efficient homes has not diminished. Sustainable building techniques are no longer considered a luxury but are a value-adding aspect to your home, ensuring you’re your bathroom renovations will be financially sound and pay off in the future?

"Summary: Green building statistics indicate that green building trends are in sync with luxury bathroom trends and bathroom tile trends. Sustainable bath design and green construction trends has made going green in your bathroom the "in" thing. Water sense for new homes is a start to a net-zero , energy efficient, high performance bathroom."

The bottom line is, you need to evaluate how your investment will yield you the greatest return so you can monopolize on the somewhat tanking home improvement market. One sure way to get the most from your money is to incorporate green technology into your bathroom renovation project. Investing in green technology whose new appliances and fixtures save you water and energy can only benefit your family in the long run. You selection of materials, incorporating natural light into your bathroom space, using green insulation and green flooring materials go a long way all contribute to these green building trends.

The proper building and materials help reduce greenhouse gasses. The goal of course is to eventually create a Net- zero home, where the home generates more energy than it uses though the use of solar panels and other green technologies.  Though this may seem far fetched now, architectures, engineers and government planning agencies are already looking to make this happen by 2030. With mass acceptance comes mass production and a sizable reduction in building cost. But what about right now? If you have the cash for that big bathroom remodelling project then that’s great but you don’t have to break the bank to spruce up your bathroom, water aerators, energy efficient fixtures and installing a just-in-time flash heater for you water supply can help with your green effort . By installing a simple thing like a new shower door could save you having to buy new shower curtains every couple of months. Stick to the smaller affordable improvements that still provide you with the satisfaction of making your living space a little greener and a little better.

While it is a good thing to keep some cash for a rainy day, it’s always wise to take care of repair in your bathroom that could lead to more extensive damage later on such as a leaky toilet or pipes. Planning ahead also helps; look for sales, find out when is the best time to buy supplies, even buying second hand isn’t so bad if the product is in good shape. While the recession has made us more money conscious, that doesn’t mean we have to eliminate the little things in life that give us pleasure. Purchasing shiny new water saving faucet set can sure brighten your day and add a sparkle to your bathroom.

Learn more about green bathroom trends in this related article. 

Don’t forget to check out our other categories on upgrades for your bathroom, draft up your bathroom ideas, bathroom remodeling information, the direction of bathrooms and bath product viewpoints for the latest information.

Learn how to become a bathroom guru!