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BANG FOR THE BITE
If 10,000 Biters shorten their showers by just 30 seconds, in a year we'll save enough water to fill up to 22 Olympic-size swimming pools.
COCKTAIL FACT
France and Russia have territories in the greatest number of time zones: 11 each.
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home › tip library › Timing Your Showers
Wanna make your showers Green(wich)?
The Bite
First, figure out how long(itude) they are. See how much time you spend between getting in and toweling off, and try shaving off 30 seconds - just for kicks.The Benefits
- A new (l)attitude. Just being aware can cause you to change your habits (often subliminally).
- Prime (meridian - last pun, promise) water savings. For every 30 seconds you shorten your shower, you'll save up to 4 gallons of water.
- Freeing up local funds east to west. America's wastewater plants and drinking water systems spend about $4 billion each year to treat water.
Personally Speaking
One bonus for shortening your shower that Toshio and his three roommates (who all get ready at the same time each morning) discovered: You're less likely to run outta hot water.Wanna Try?
Tricks for keeping track of how long you spend in the shower:- Time yourself with a kitchen-egg timer, stopwatch, or the Shower Coach - an electricity-free timer that suctions onto your bathroom tiles ($5).
- Put on a favorite album and figure out how long you're in the shower based on the number and length of songs that play by the time you get out.
- Put the stopper in the tub and see how much water collects as you shower.
Sep 15,2008
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All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.
On Golden Showers
While brainstorming around the topic of shorter showers, one of the other editors (a copy of Worldchanging goes to the first person to correctly guess which one in the comments) suggested peeing while showering could save the water you'd normally use to flush your toilet. I was this close to personally researching the topic when I came across this feature from our friends at Grist.
It's good to know we're not the only ones willing to tackle the big issues.
-Toshio...off to scrub the tub...
Biter Comments...
A couple of things that were not mentioned in todays post:
You can do two more things to cut down the amount of water you use in the shower; the first is to turn off the water while you lather up with soap, the second is to turn off the water while you massage shampoo into your hair.
In Europe, most people do it as a habit.
On a recent trip to the EU, I discovered this little trick. The showers are so small, that if I didn't turn off the shower while I lathered and shampooed, the water would wash the suds away at once. Because there is no room to back away from the flow of H2O, the only way to get clean is to shut off the tap while you generate the foam, then turn it off to rinse.
No, you don't end up any less clean.... its all about the suds and a good rinse, not standing under water.
It is also very relaxing..... and lets you focus more on cleaning between your toes, behind your ears, and getting a good scalp massage.
I personally don't do the soap thing at home (guilt), but I do turn off the water when I shampoo my hair.
It makes a difference!
you're just not punny.
please stop.
poorly executed puns stretched through nearly every tip are just tiring. not even groan worthy.
thanks.
Put a pail or basket in your shower to catch the water before it gets hot. Use it to water plants. I measured how much water it took before turning hot and was surprised to find out it was 2 gallons.
Switching to a low flow shower head (& faucet aerators) makes difference too. These reduce the water flow down to 2.5 gallons per minute instead of the 8 posted in the article. I installed a low-flow waterfall shower head and can't tell that there is less water coming out.
Great suggestion about catching the cold water for the plants!
I'm surprised that you didn't mention showering together! At least for couples, rather than having the water run for 2 separate showers, there is just 1 shower. Plus it's fun!
Is the editor LA Mike?
*laughs* I'm impressed at the lengths you'll go to for eco-friendliness!
tammy, I love your flower watering idea. I usually let water intended for plants stand for a bit so the chlorine evaporates. Brilliant.
Cyndy, I second that idea! Very fun. ;)
~Jess
You got it, Gloria.
There is an on/off valve that you can attach to your shower head that makes it really easy to stop the flow of water and start it up again without having to reset the water temp all over again. I had one at my old house and am planning to install one at my new house.
Urinating on the feet in the shower is supposed to be a way to get rid of foot odor as well as possibly kill athletes foot.
Using the bucket to catch shower water also can be used to "flush" the toilet if poured in when only urine is in the bowl. Avoids one flush.
If you have a pool, it can be poured into that to add water from evaporation if you live in a really hot area. Could also help fill a kiddy pool or wash the dog or car.
Also add a bowl in the kitchen sink to catch all the clean rinse water you have--no soap or salt water & use it to water plants too. Every bit saves.
About peeing in the shower? Normal urine is sterile - no bacteria = no germs, folks! If you've got bacteria in your urine, you already (wince)know it, and you're 1)dialing your physician and screaming "Yes, it's an emergency!" or 2)mainlining cranberry juice, herbs, etc.
Your practitioner might also tell you to try urinating while sitting in warm water to ease the pain.(of urinating!)
Then wash gently and pat dry. Pat sounds even a little rough... if you've had a bladder/urethral infection, you know what I'm saying. Dab? Pet? Smooth? Air dry? Try and read this without crossing your legs in empathic pain.
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Alan | September 15, 2008 at 06:44 AM