Shower or bath

[Curmudgeoness]

Which is more energy and water efficient?

I think that the statistics we hear that showers use less water are based on averages. Each person showers and baths differently, so for you, it may be a surprise.

I take baths. I tolerate showers but enjoy a bath. I took showers for years, thinking that this was the best for the environment. Then I decided to put a plug in the tub before I started the shower to see just how much water I was using. It was a surprise to see that there was more water in the tub than if I would have taken a bath. Of course, I am not one of those people who fill the tub to overflowing for a bath, but I don't feel as if I don't have enough water either.

I wonder if others would also have the same experience if they tried this, or have tried it.

[canoeist52]

1. Well.. if you take a bath with a friend you'll find you need less water in the tub.

Then yer really frugal AND romantic.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. LOL.

No argument here.

But unfortunately, the only other living thing in this house is my cat----and he doesn't displace enough water.

[canoeist52]

6. LOL, although I sure kitty could displace a lot of water all over the bathroom if you attempted it.

[Curmudgeoness]

7. After I posted that, I thought the same thing.

We won't find out, OK?

I am afraid this could be me if I tried! (I couldn't find a beat-up-and-maimed smilie.)

[NEOhiodemocrat]

20. I still have my patch from the 60's

Save Water, Shower with a friend.....

[MADem]

3. Your postive bathing experience is more important than a gallon saved here or there.

Some people can get in and out of the shower in moments, and even turn off the water to soap up, then turn it back on. That's no fun, IMO.

I say enjoy that bath--get a good book and have a nice long soak!

[maddezmom]

4. I'm quick in the shower but don't turn off the water

A shower to me is like washing your face or brushing your teeth...something you have to do daily. However, I enjoy soaking in the tub at least once a week. I either read or watch something on my iPad.

[Curmudgeoness]

8. That is a definite plus....but I was

thinking that we often just listen to the experts tell us something, and we don't experiment to find out if it applies to us. Often, we just go along with the conventional thinking without realizing that we would be able to do things we enjoy instead, and not be doing any harm. I have been doing more and more experimenting on what works and what doesn't for my particular circumstances.

[NMDemDist2]

5. if you turn the water off in the sink as you brush your teeth

you'll more than make up for the water you 'waste' in a long bath OR shower

When you aren't actually using the water, give a quick flick of the wrist and turn off the tap. You can always turn it right back on again.

How many times a day do we mindlessly let the tap run? Brushing our teeth, shaving, washing our hands, rinsing the dishes, cleaning vegetables, getting a cold drink.

According to the new EPA WaterSense initiative, the average bathroom sink faucet flows at a rate of two gallons a minute. You can slow that flow by installing a new low-flow faucet.

You can also save up to 8 gallons of water a day simply by turning off the tap while you brush your teeth in the morning and at night. Do the same while you shave.

Other tap tips: Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge so you don't have to run the tap to get a cold drink. Rinse soapy hands for 15 seconds to kill germs. Scrape rather than rinse dishes. Soak veggies first, then do a quick rinse to clean.



Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/going-green/tips/tap-water-conservation-tip#ixzz1mBQs5d8X

I actually brush my teeth in the shower huddled in the corner of the shower while waiting for the hot water

[Curmudgeoness]

9. I heard that years ago, and implemented it.

Today, I could never imagine letting the water run while I brush my teeth....it is just habit. (I couldn't imagine huddling in the corner of the shower with cold water streaming down and brushing my teeth either, but to each his own, I guess.)

All of those are great practical tips. I went through a time when there was strict water conservation where I was living, and I learned a lot of things....

Keep a large kettle/pot in your sink, and when you must run the water (mine was always waiting for hot water), catch all the water and use that to water plants, cook with, etc.

Use bath water to water the plants outside by collecting it in a bucket. Or scrub the bathroom after your bath with the water in the tub. Same goes with dish water if you don't have a dishwasher (which I don't have and never used when I had one).

When I wash dishes, I start with less than an inch of water and first wash the silverware. Then while I rinse them, I get more water in the sink. Then I do glasses and cups, rinse and get more water in the sink. I still will only have half a sink of water by the time I finish the pots and pans.

I think almost all of this is just "think". Think of what you are doing out of habit. You will usually find a way to be more efficient.

[NEOhiodemocrat]

10. I like your dishwashing idea

I try to save water as much as possible, and that sounds like it will really cut down on the water I use for dishwashing. Thanks for the idea!

[NMDemDist2]

11. my shower is 4 feet square

so plenty of room to stay out of the way of the rain head in the center while the water warms up

[Curmudgeoness]

12. Sweeeeeeet!!!!

I would embarrass myself to have a picture of my bathroom---it is lucky if it is the size of the tiled area there.

But...I guess you can't find out if you use more water than if you take a bath. There is no tub there.

Is that SEATS in you shower???? OMG.

[NMDemDist2]

13. yes seats and jets behind them

and a hand held wand too, but honestly we never use any of that. it's a steam cabinet shower minus the steam generator. it saved us $400 to have them keep the steam unit.

my thinking was, once i close the door and turn on hot water, i'll have steam anyway.

we do have a tub in the guest bath, but i've only used it to bathe the dogs

as for the size of the bathroom, it's really a waste of space, i'd much rather have a larger closet and a pantry !! we didn't change the floorplan of the trailer though, but i wish now we would have

edit to add, that space with the new tile is about 9x7

[NMDemDist2]

14. here's my journal entry of the remodel

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/AZDemDist6/60

[Curmudgeoness]

17. Oh, holy shit.

That is just what happens to me every time I attempt anything. Nothing is as it seems, and there are so many problems that were hidden. You had a real mess----but you done real good. That bathroom is beautiful now. My whole bathroom is less than 8x5 with toilet vanity and tub. Old houses!

I have to agree that those huge round tubs are useless! It takes too much water for me to take a bath because I could never fill it guilt-free.

[cbayer]

15. Since I am confined to taking only "military showers" most of the time, I just

love to indulge in a real bath when I get the opportunity.

Everything I have read before says that showers are more efficient. But I don't think the difference is all that great for those that take regular showers. It's a small price to pay for the comfort, relaxation and indulgence of hot, bubble bath.

[Curmudgeoness]

16. See there, you save water all the rest of the time,

and you deserve that nice bath. You probably still don't use as much water/energy as others do, even if you fill that tub full when you do take a bath. I don't have the time during the week for a nice bath, just a short and quick one----but the weekends, ahhh.

[Kolesar]

18. I shampoo my hair in the sink and scrub my toes fastidiously before even starting the shower

I don't shampoo every day. I heard it on NPR, so it's ok, fellow liberals!!

[GoCubsGo]

19. I don't shampoo every day, either.

It's better for your hair, especially when you start getting older. Shampoo dries out your hair, as does age. I get really sweaty when I work out, but I only wash my hair every other day. On off days, I just rinse it. I have noticed that my hair is less dry since I cut back washing it. I recently got it cut, and she cut it way shorter than I had intended. I'm not complaining, as it looks good AND I find that I use less shampoo, conditioner and water when I wash it.

As a disclaimer, I am not suggesting that people cut their hair short in order to save on water and hair care products. It was just an added benefit for me.

[Adsos Letter]

21. I love to read in the tub, but never feel like I've really gotten really clean with a bath.

So...I just put about 6" of nice warm water in there to enjoy my read, then soap up in the tub, and use the shower for the rinse. I always feel cleaner using fresh water for the rinse.

Not sure how much water it actually uses, but our water bill is never much.