Tenant Restroom
Restrooms provide many opportunities to save water. Use low flow aerators on lavatories (.5 gpm), low flow showerheads (2.5 gpm), and dual flush toilets (0.8/1.6 gpf) or low flow toilets (1.2 gpf). Waterless urinals save significant amounts of water, but require slightly different maintenance regimes, so custodial staff must be trained to maintain them properly. Automatic sensors on lavatories can also result in savings, but automatic flushes on toilets often result in double flushing and are not recommended. Look for durable, water resistant and easily cleanable finish materials with additional green features, such as partitions with recycled content or flooring made from natural linoleum. View Planning Strategies
Interested in Tenant Restroom-related products?
View related green products and services on the Green Procurement Compilation
Tilt device for optimal viewing
Click on a hotspot to learn sustainable strategies and compare materials for that system
- Door System
- Flooring
-
Flooring
- Select durable, easy to clean, water-resistant, and slip resistant floor surfaces such as stone, porcelain, or ceramic tile for tenant restrooms.
- Use Green Seal certified chemicals and solutions when cleaning to protect indoor air quality.
- Evaluate sustainable attributes such as high recycled content and low VOC's to determine the most appropriate sustainable product for the space. Remember that adhesives may be required for flooring, and these may add VOC's even if the finish flooring does not.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- Restroom Accessories
-
Restroom Accessories
- Select toilet room partitions that are highly durable and water resistant.
- Use accessories that contain recycled material, are manufactured locally, and are easy to maintain.
- Consider using high efficiency hand dryers to eliminate the need for paper towels. If paper towels are used, use un-bleached towels that are made from 100% post-consumer recycled content.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- Plumbing Fixtures
-
Plumbing Fixtures
- Install new plumbing fixtures that are durable, effective, and water-efficient.
- Retrofit existing plumbing fixtures with equipment to maintain functionality but reduce water use.
- Provide water-efficient showers for staff that bicycle or run to work.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- Ceiling
-
Ceiling
- Use acoustical ceiling tiles with high Noise Reduction Coefficients (NRC) to reduce noise pollution and allow for ease of access to the plenum space for maintenance.
- Use light-colored ceiling tiles to reflect daylight to allow natural light to effectively move throughout the space.
- Evaluate sustainable attributes such as regional manufacturing, recycled content, and low VOC to determine the most appropriate materials to use for a sustainable ceiling.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- HVAC
-
HVAC
- Use and maintain supplemental exhaust vents to effectively ventilate restrooms.
- Use a 100% direct exhaust system operated by a timer or the building automation system in order to eliminate odors and improve indoor air quality.
- Install occupant control thermostats that have prescribed temperature range limits to promote occupant comfort.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- Walls
-
Walls
- Use durable and water-resistant wall and base materials such as porcelain, stone, or ceramic tile.
- Select easy to clean wall surfaces for ease of maintenance.
- Use low VOC wall finishes to protect indoor air quality.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- Lighting
-
Lighting
- Use efficient LED lighting where practical to reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs.
- Use sustainable lighting practices such as occupant sensors to decrease utility costs. Make sure to use ultrasonic sensors in obstructed rooms such as restrooms.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- Plumbing Fixtures
-
Plumbing Fixtures
- Install new plumbing fixtures that are durable, effective, and water-efficient.
- Retrofit existing plumbing fixtures with equipment to maintain functionality but reduce water use.
- Provide water-efficient showers for staff that bicycle or run to work.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- Lighting
-
Lighting
- Use efficient LED lighting where practical to reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs.
- Use sustainable lighting practices such as occupant sensors to decrease utility costs. Make sure to use ultrasonic sensors in obstructed rooms such as restrooms.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- Walls
-
Walls
- Use durable and water-resistant wall and base materials such as porcelain, stone, or ceramic tile.
- Select easy to clean wall surfaces for ease of maintenance.
- Use low VOC wall finishes to protect indoor air quality.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- Ceiling
-
Ceiling
- Use acoustical ceiling tiles with high Noise Reduction Coefficients (NRC) to reduce noise pollution and allow for ease of access to the plenum space for maintenance.
- Use light-colored ceiling tiles to reflect daylight to allow natural light to effectively move throughout the space.
- Evaluate sustainable attributes such as regional manufacturing, recycled content, and low VOC to determine the most appropriate materials to use for a sustainable ceiling.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- Restroom Accessories
-
Restroom Accessories
- Select toilet room partitions that are highly durable and water resistant.
- Use accessories that contain recycled material, are manufactured locally, and are easy to maintain.
- Consider using high efficiency hand dryers to eliminate the need for paper towels. If paper towels are used, use un-bleached towels that are made from 100% post-consumer recycled content.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- HVAC
-
HVAC
- Use and maintain supplemental exhaust vents to effectively ventilate restrooms.
- Use a 100% direct exhaust system operated by a timer or the building automation system in order to eliminate odors and improve indoor air quality.
- Install occupant control thermostats that have prescribed temperature range limits to promote occupant comfort.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- Door System
- Flooring
-
Flooring
- Select durable, easy to clean, water-resistant, and slip resistant floor surfaces such as stone, porcelain, or ceramic tile for tenant restrooms.
- Use Green Seal certified chemicals and solutions when cleaning to protect indoor air quality.
- Evaluate sustainable attributes such as high recycled content and low VOC's to determine the most appropriate sustainable product for the space. Remember that adhesives may be required for flooring, and these may add VOC's even if the finish flooring does not.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- Lighting
-
Lighting
- Use efficient LED lighting where practical to reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs.
- Use sustainable lighting practices such as occupant sensors to decrease utility costs. Make sure to use ultrasonic sensors in obstructed rooms such as restrooms.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- Walls
-
Walls
- Use durable and water-resistant wall and base materials such as porcelain, stone, or ceramic tile.
- Select easy to clean wall surfaces for ease of maintenance.
- Use low VOC wall finishes to protect indoor air quality.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- HVAC
-
HVAC
- Use and maintain supplemental exhaust vents to effectively ventilate restrooms.
- Use a 100% direct exhaust system operated by a timer or the building automation system in order to eliminate odors and improve indoor air quality.
- Install occupant control thermostats that have prescribed temperature range limits to promote occupant comfort.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- Plumbing Fixtures
-
Plumbing Fixtures
- Install new plumbing fixtures that are durable, effective, and water-efficient.
- Retrofit existing plumbing fixtures with equipment to maintain functionality but reduce water use.
- Provide water-efficient showers for staff that bicycle or run to work.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- Restroom Accessories
-
Restroom Accessories
- Select toilet room partitions that are highly durable and water resistant.
- Use accessories that contain recycled material, are manufactured locally, and are easy to maintain.
- Consider using high efficiency hand dryers to eliminate the need for paper towels. If paper towels are used, use un-bleached towels that are made from 100% post-consumer recycled content.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- Flooring
-
Flooring
- Select durable, easy to clean, water-resistant, and slip resistant floor surfaces such as stone, porcelain, or ceramic tile for tenant restrooms.
- Use Green Seal certified chemicals and solutions when cleaning to protect indoor air quality.
- Evaluate sustainable attributes such as high recycled content and low VOC's to determine the most appropriate sustainable product for the space. Remember that adhesives may be required for flooring, and these may add VOC's even if the finish flooring does not.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- Ceiling
-
Ceiling
- Use acoustical ceiling tiles with high Noise Reduction Coefficients (NRC) to reduce noise pollution and allow for ease of access to the plenum space for maintenance.
- Use light-colored ceiling tiles to reflect daylight to allow natural light to effectively move throughout the space.
- Evaluate sustainable attributes such as regional manufacturing, recycled content, and low VOC to determine the most appropriate materials to use for a sustainable ceiling.
Click Design Guidance to View Additional Best Practices
- Door System
