Best for the Bath: Eight Eco-Friendly Products for Your Green Bathroom
From handmade tiles to shower filters, these products are healthy for you and the environment.
By Laurel Kallenbach
July/August 2004
Whether your bathroom serves the entire family or is your private mini-retreat center, make it a place that’s healthy for you and the environment by outfitting it with energy- and water-saving devices, nontoxic materials, and items of artisanal beauty.
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1. Get creative with color using Oceanside Glasstile’s luxurious handmade tiles made from discarded recycled bottle glass. Shown are cobalt Tessera one-inch mosaic tiles, which contain up to 85 percent recycled content and come in iridescent or non-iridescent finishes. (760) 929-4000.
2. Your skin and lungs absorb the chemicals in shower droplets and steam—including chlorine, a possible carcinogen. Chlorinated water can also cause dry, itchy skin and scalp. The Rainshow’r CQ1000 Dechlorinating Shower Filter comes with a low-flow, massaging showerhead that conserves water and removes at least 90 percent of free chlorine. $45–$50; $17.50 for replacement cartridge. (800) 243-8775.
3. Who’s the fairest of them all? Faces in the mirror are doubly beautiful when framed by a Fair Trade, reclaimed-copper mirror from Susan Hebert Imports. Using discarded copper, artisans in central Mexico hand-forge works in the traditional way and receive a living wage. This 27- by 20-inch oval mirror is $340; other designs and sizes available. (503) 248-1111.
4. Clear the air of unpleasant scents and moisture that could lead to mold and mildew. The Solitaire Ultra-Silent Bath Fan from Broan contains a high-efficiency centrifugal blower, is safe for installing over tubs and showers, and is Energy Star rated, so it uses 65 percent less energy than most standard models. $212. (800) 558-1711.