Are you renovating a bathroom or planning a completely new one? Do you want to keep your CO2 footprint in the bathroom as low as possible? Then you might be interested in our analysis. With the findings of this work, we would like to provide you with a few facts and figures that will help you to create a more environmentally friendly home and reduce climate-damaging greenhouse gases. Especially nice: You don't have to compromise on style, design and comfort.
Many consumers are now aware that everything they buy adds X amount to their personal carbon footprint. Whether we eat mangoes flown in from Asia or carrots from our local community. Whether we take a long-distance trip every year or take the train to the Black Forest: Our behavior influences the climate sometimes more, sometimes less. We can also make smart or less smart consumer decisions when it comes to furnishing our homes. From the screed to Washbasin and hand shower up to the ceiling lamp: The CO2 analysis* exclusively commissioned by hansgrohe shows in a fact-filled and impressive way what has an impact on your CO2 footprint in the bathroom and to what extent. And where the biggest greenhouse gas leaks lurk.
* The scientific analysis is the result of a thesis written by Timo Armbruster (M. Sc.) for hansgrohe in 2022 at the Faculty of Business and Law at Pforzheim University.
The scientific background: All products or buildings (or parts of buildings) cause a lot of energy consumption over their entire life cycle emissions. Six different gases are summarized as „greenhouse gases" that contribute negatively to climate change, the best known of which is Carbon dioxide (CO2). The effect of these gases is measured and compared in CO2 equivalents (CO2e). What basic assumptions were made in the aforementioned CO2 analysis for the bath?
For the CO2 footprint of the bathroom, the hansgrohe analysis uses the The construction and disposal phases of the components are considered as well as scenarios for the utilization phase.
How many kilograms of CO2e are emitted when my ceramic tiles are produced and transported? How much CO2e is emitted during the production of my wooden basin taps? These are questions that determine the greenhouse gas emissions in the Production phase concern.
How many kilograms of CO2e does our family consume when showering and washing our hands? Can we still save hot water in the bath tub or even reduce toilet paper consumption? Such questions concern the CO2 footprint during theUse of the bathroom products and fittings. The most important result of the hansgrohe bathroom analysis is already clear: You can save the most CO2e here – with a clever choice of product.
What are the top five results of the CO2e bath analysis?
How do you actually reduce the CO2 footprint of your bathroom? Read also:
The CO2 bath analysis from hansgrohe shows one thing clearly: Consumers have the greatest leverage to reduce greenhouse gases during the use phase. With EcoSmart technologies You can save valuable resources with taps and showers. It's better to do a little more research before deciding on a bathroom product. Look out for terms such as water-saving, flow-limited, EcoSmart or energy-efficient. Because what you think through before you buy will protect your ecological footprint for many years to come. The potential for CO2 savings is therefore also becoming increasingly important in the production of bathroom fittings. For many products that you install and furnish in the bathroom, you will find an environmentally friendly and more economical variant in the shops. It all depends on the carbon footprint of a product. So look out for international environmental and sustainability certificates such as the Forest Stewardship Council® or the Cradle to Cradle Certified®. You can read about what these certificates stand for in our magazine article on sustainability certificates and environmental certificates;
The CO2 footprint in the bathroom refers to the amount of carbon dioxide emissions caused by activities and products associated with bathroom furnishings and bathroom use. In addition to the building materials for the entire interior, this includes water consumption, water heating, the use of electrical appliances and the production and disposal of hygiene products.
Yes, there are many ways to reduce greenhouse gases in the bathroom and create an environmentally friendly home. By using a water-saving shower system consisting of a shower head and hand shower and adapting your showering habits, you can save a considerable amount of CO2.
hansgrohe toilets and wash basins are made of high-quality sanitary ceramic, which has a long service life and is always climate-friendly. In addition, hansgrohe taps at the wash basin impress with resource-saving functions such as EcoSmart and CoolStart.
Yes. hansgrohe taps on wash basins and bidets require only 5 liters of water per minute at 3 bar as standard (EcoSmart+ products even consume only 4 l/min). The less hot water that needs to be treated, the less CO2 is emitted. This also has a noticeable effect on the energy bill;
Yes. hansgrohe showers with EcoSmart use up to 60 percent less water than those without this energy-saving technology. Less hot water = lower energy consumption = lower CO2 emissions. This is also good for your wallet;