Bath tub: reduce CO2 emissions

Bath tub water consumption: How to reduce your ecological footprint

We actually know that regular, hot baths have a negative impact on our personal carbon footprint. A full bath consumes twice to five times as much water and energy as a shower. That is not good for the environment. Not to mention the costs, because all those liters and kilowatt hours are also reflected in our bills. If you now say: „I need my full bath! I'd rather save money on shopping and offset my CO2 emissions by cycling", then that's perfectly understandable and your right. Relaxing, switching off and getting away from it all are incredibly important. For this reason, hansgrohe has a solution for you.

Do away with the bath tub altogether and just take a shower?

Because hansgrohe is an expert in wellness, the company develops product solutions that are designed to make everyone happy. And: it conducts research. Because everything the Green Company develops takes the environment into account. For example, hansgrohe has carried out a CO2 analysis around your ecological footprint in the bathroom have it carried out – with interesting results on the Saving in the bath tub. Just this much: mermaids and squeaky duck captains can breathe a sigh of relief before they go under.

Modern bath area with matt black hansgrohe tap.
Resource-friendly bathing: With a little mindfulness in your purchase and behavior, you can save a lot of water, energy, greenhouse gases and costs around the bath tub. Source Instagram: casa_egly

How many liters fit in a bath tub?

Rushing through commercially available bath tubs with every full bath on average 100 to 200 liters. Giant tubs consume many more precious resources. Resources in the majority, because after all, every single liter of water also requires heat energy. For comparison: When showering, the average is 40 to 60 liters. So you can save a lot of water, energy, greenhouse gases and costs by showering off. Shower beats bath tub. The CO2 balance is clear.

Reduce water consumption in the bath tub - tip 1: shower instead of bathing

Minimalist bathroom with freestanding bath tub and matt black, floor-standing hansgrohe tap.
Whether you prefer to take a bath or a shower: Water and energy-saving showers and taps are extremely significant for your personal carbon footprint in the bathroom. Source Instagram: stoneandchrome

Fortunately, there are wellness showers. Anyone who invests in a shower system with several showers and wellness jets will enjoy a time-out for body, mind and soul comparable to bathing in a tub. Anyone who chooses showers with an economy function and microfine PowderRain jets, for example, will be delighted with the savings potential and the feel-good factor: Why not invest in a Floor-level shower without stumbling blocks. Because this is how you make provisions for old age;

Do you want to calculate your potential CO2 savings in the bathroom?

Öecologically well thought-out products such as those with EcoSmart consume far fewer valuable resources – while maintaining the same level of comfort. Whether bathing, showering or washing your hands: With the hansgrohe water saving calculator quickly find out how much water and energy you can save with hansgrohe taps and showers.

Conserving resources and saving in the bath tub (usage phase)

The hansgrohe CO2 analysis distinguishes between „use phase" (= CO2e emissionsß during the use of a bathroom product) and „creation phase" (= CO2e emissionsß during the manufacture of a bathroom product). Here are the specific figures for the usage phase in your household: 

  • The Water requirement in the bath tub causes CO2e emissions of 40 kg CO2e (per complete service life of 20 years in a 4-person household)*.
  • The Energy requirement for hot water in the bath tub generates 2,460 kg CO2e (per complete service life of 20 years in a 4-person household).

The results show: For you, the biggest lever for saving greenhouse gases at the bath tub is hot water, and by a wide margin. We have many opportunities to reduce our demand for hot baths and cut our costs;

*The calculations are based on a standard bathtub in a German bathroom:  

Reduce water consumption in the bath tub – Tip 2: bathe less often and less hot

  • Make the full bath a luxurious exception to your bathing routine, and bathenot quite so often as usual.
  • Reduce your CO2 footprint by not quite so hot bathe as usual.
  • Consume fewer resources by using the Do not let the bath tub fill up Keyword: half filling or seat bath.

Unlike basin taps, the flow rate (= water consumption of liters per minute) is not as important for bath mixers. After all, you want the bath tub to fill as quickly as possible for a full or half bath.

Modern hansgrohe bathroom with minimalist bath tub and toilet area.
You don't want to do without your beloved full bath for wellness or health reasons? You shouldn't either. There are some good tips for bathing in a more environmentally friendly way. Source Instagram: glogowscystudio

Do you shower in your bath tub?

But perhaps you are one of the many people who do not have a shower cabin - and shower in your bath tub. Clever water and energy-saving technologies are very important here. Showers with EcoSmart technology save considerable water one, keyword: „flow limiter". Do you remember? The fewer liters that need to be heated, the lower the CO2 balance and energy bill.

  • Please also read our magazine article on CO2:Take a more climate-friendly shower!

Reduce your CO2 footprint with smart purchasing decisions (creation phase)

In addition to our resource-conserving behavior, we can improve our carbon footprint in the bathroom by making smart consumption decisions. Please make sure that you only buy High-quality bathroom products from the brand manufacturer buy or have installed. The bath mixer or the cheap shower head from the discount store often give up the ghost in no time at all. Such Wear and tear products are cost eaters and hardly anything pollutes the environment as much as multiple purchases. There is another trick to saving CO2 when it comes to your beloved bath:

Reduce water consumption in the bath tub – Tip 3: have a small bath tub installed

Bath tubs with the capacity of a swimming pool leave the footprint of a giant Goliath. But we would rather be Davids. Out of responsibility for the environment and our descendants, we should do without this mega-luxury. After all, every liter of hot water makes the meter rattle and blows greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. If you are currently rethinking and renovating your bathroom:

  • Take a standard tub or even better: a space-saving tray with a smaller filling volume.  

Tip 4: Buy a bath tub made of non-perishable material 

Materials, packaging and recyclability are also important ecological aspects of bathroom furnishings. Create your own Timeless quality products that have a long service life. And those that can be easily recycled at some point. Recyclable steel enamel or high-quality, durable acrylic are recommended as materials 

  • The CO2 analysis by hansgrohe puts the CO2 consumption of a bath tub made of sanitäracryl((bold)) in the construction phase at 101 kg CO2e by comparison.

Tip 5: Choose sustainable products for your bath tub 

What applies to the bath tub also applies to everything you install around it: Hands off inferior plastic with a short service life. cheap plastic stuff! Instead, opt for bathroom products with a convincing life cycle assessment and suppliers who are committed to sustainable value chains and a circular economy. When buying, also look out for environmental seals, eco-certificates and test stickers. Conclusion: Reduce your CO2e balance in the bath tub You can also do this by making sustainable purchasing decisions when it comes to bath materials and bath mixers (concealed or surface-mounted), wall coverings and tiles, hand showers, shower hoses and hose connections. Accessories and storage systems on the bath tub should also be of good, durable quality;

  • You will find plenty of inspiration for bathroom planning under Grüne Dream in which climate-friendly products are used.
  • Here come more Water saving tips for the bathroom. 

Frequently asked questions about saving CO2 in the bath tub

Is it more climate-friendly to shower than to bathe?

Yes, you use an average of 40 to 60 liters in the shower and an average of 100 to 200 liters in a full bath in a standard bath tub. So you save a lot of water, energy, greenhouse gases and costs when you shower. You can save the most with water-saving showers.

Do water-saving showers also include wellness showers?

If you buy a shower system with several showers and wellness jets, you can enjoy a time-out for body, mind and soul comparable to a full bath. And yes: hansgrohe economy showers can be used with microfine PowderRain, for example. You can look forward to the savings potential and the feel-good factor.

What can I do to conserve resources when taking a full bath?

Bathe less often and make a full bath a luxurious exception to your bathing routine. If you do take a full bath, don't bathe quite so hot. And simply don't let the bath tub fill to the brim, this also reduces your ecological footprint.

What are bath mixers from discount stores good for?

With bath mixers from discount stores, there is a risk that their quality and durability will not be convincing. Cheaper models often tend to wear out prematurely, which can make it necessary to replace them soon. Worn products pollute the environment and cause unnecessary waste. Make sure you buy durable bathroom products from a brand manufacturer or have them installed.

What ecological aspects should I pay attention to when buying a bath tub?

When buying a bath tub, material, recyclability and durability are essential ecological criteria. It is advisable to opt for timeless quality products that offer a long service life and can be easily recycled at the end of their life cycle. For bath tubs, materials such as recyclable steel enamel and high-quality, durable acrylic are preferable.

Authorised dealers

Locate showrooms of authorised dealers near you

For all enquiries:
info@hansgrohe.com.sg
For technical enquiries:
technicalservice@hansgrohe.com.sg
Showroom hotline:
6884 5060
Open Monday to Sunday | 11am to 8pm | Visits by appointment only | Last appointment at 7:30pm