EPA Earth Month Tip of the Day - April 9, 2011: Shower power! Taking a five-minute shower rather than a bath saves water.

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 12:30.

Shower power! A full bathtub requires about 70 gallons of water, but taking a five-minute shower saves water by using 10 to 25 gallons. Put a little timer or clock near your shower so you can see how fast you are. Save even more water, and money on your water bill, by installing a water-efficient showerhead, or ask your landlord to install one if you rent. More about using water wisely.

Use Your WaterSense!

By making just a few small changes to your daily routine, you can save water, save money and preserve water supplies for future generations. The WaterSense label will help you identify high-efficiency products and programs. These water efficient products provide the same performance and quality you've come to expect, but with the added benefit of water savings.

Along with using WaterSense labeled products, adopt the following water efficient practices to save money and protect the environment:

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save that water

Submitted by rnojonson on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 15:19.

I put a hand held flex hose shower head in the bathroom to help my wife bathe her elderly mom. It is handy in saving water. Get wet, shut off, soap up, rinse, done! Water where needed, when needed.

I am sure most use the bath room as a "me time" space. To use the shower to endulge your senses, relax, full body stimulus, wet moisture, sound of rain............don't forget the meter is running, cha-ching!

The goal: Roof top solar hot water + gray water recycling

Submitted by Jeff Buster on Thu, 04/14/2011 - 15:48.

Hey MoJo - Flex hose is a good idea - ladies like it too because they can keep their hair dry in the shower.   When you talk about "me time" - you must be talking about my room mate!   I can hear the water meter and the hot water heater both working - and then all that hot water goes down the sewer.

But it is a pleasant indulgence to space out in a warm shower, so slowly I have been re-plumbing so that almost all (sunny days required) the shower hot water will come from roof top solar hot water heaters, and all the shower water will be reused for flushing the toilets in the winter - and toilets and garden for the summer.  

National building code (BOCA) should require very new house to have a 18" x 18" vertical chase down the center of the house from rooftop to basement (I took out the old brick chimney) so that insulated lines can be run from roof top solar panels to basement hot water storage tank.   I call this the "eco chase".  This way, if the new home builder doesn't want to put in the investment, the installation of solar hot water will be easy for the homeowner down the road.

I also intent to use the chase to run wiring for roof top solar photo voltaic panels - as I am able to install them. 

Best, Jeff b