Designing the bathroom system for future scenario

Abstract

Around half of energy in the world is used in the building and much of that devotes to keep people comfortable. A major impact on total energy and resource consumption as well as a problem of rebound effect in daily activities significantly cause by user behavior. Bathroom is an area where energy-intensive practices such as cleaning and bathing take place. Over 70% of water consumption on the household level is used in the process toilet and personal care. These problems point to a possibility of design contribution in order to change user lifestyle and behavior of bathing and reduce the level of energy and resource consumption in thebathroom. By means of literature research and data collection, life cycle perspective, culturaldifference, and historical study are important sources of inspiration for design ideas andconcepts. Based upon survey questionnaire result and evaluation, it is found that natural facilitation is the most acceptable and appropriate concept for a new bathroom system design and development. Thus, the new bathroom system will consist of two main units: bathroom unit and greywater treatment unit. Greywater heat recovery and gravel filtration system are applied in the new bathroom system to reduce water and energy consumption. For future research, the continuous study on material selection and new technologies related to bathroom system is required to improve and develop the system further in order to reduce the level of energy and resource consumption for sustainable future.