Taking shorter showers is a great way to reduce water usage in your home. Did you know: by taking 5 minutes off your shower, you can save 40-50L of water? Make that a habit and it can really add up over a year.
Reducing water use is important for a few reasons:
- Water scarcity: Many regions of the world are experiencing water scarcity due to droughts, overuse of water resources, and climate change. By reducing water use anywhere on the planet, we are helping people everywhere on the planet.
- Energy consumption: It takes energy to treat, pump, and heat water. By reducing water use, we can also reduce the amount of energy required to deliver water to our neighbourhoods.
- Cost savings: Reducing water use can also save money on utility bills and reduce the need for expensive water infrastructure projects.
Here are some tips to help you take shorter showers:
- Set a timer: Use a timer or stopwatch to keep track of the time you spend in the shower. First, time your regular showers, and then work on taking a minute off every week until you’re in a shorter routine.
- Plan ahead: Plan out your shower routine in advance so you can be efficient with your time. For example, shampoo and condition your hair first (if it’s wash day), then wash your body.
- Use a low-flow showerhead: A low-flow showerhead can help reduce the amount of water you use while still providing enough water pressure to get clean. There are so many options out there now for this (that still feel like some good pressure!), so do your research before buying.
- Consider taking a "Navy" shower: A Navy shower involves getting wet, turning off the water, lathering up, and then turning the water back on to rinse off. This technique can help you save water and still get clean.
- Turn the temperature down slightly: When the water is a little cooler than you like, you may want to get out if it sooner!
- Create a shower playlist: Match the song(s) to the length of your ideal shower time. Ahem, we’ll be starting with Bohemian Rhapsody on there! You can shorten the playlist over time as you get comfortable with the new routine. Eventually, you’ll know what part of the songs to be lathering, rinsing, etc.
By adopting these simple habits, you can significantly reduce the amount of water you use during your daily showers. You'll notice it on your water bills, and the planet will thank you.
And, if you want to save your hairstyle for another day, may we recommend a great shower cap? :)
Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
