As we hear about the skyrocketing cost of energy in Europe, and the fewer, shorter showers many Europeans are taking, it's time to consider the typical American shower.
Reasons why we should take fewer, shorter showers:
#1. It’s better for your skin.
It’s true that long, hot showers may feel restorative, but they can dry and
irritate the skin. Hot water strips away natural oils that are needed to keep
the skin hydrated.
Warm water rather than hot is better for your skin. After showering, pat yourself dry instead of rubbing vigorously with a towel. Then, apply moisturizers to keep your skin hydrated.
#2. It’s better for the environment and saves money.
For Americans, the average shower lasts about 8 minutes, according to the
Environmental Protection Agency. That’s 20 gallons for every average shower,
based on the standard showerhead using around 2.5 gallons of water per minute.
You can save a lot of water and energy if you shave off a few minutes of your showertime. Showers rather than baths also helps save water because an average bath uses up 35 to 50 gallons of water.
Other ways of conserving water include replacing your showerhead for one with a WaterSense label. Not only can it help save 2,700 gallons of water per year, but it also reduces demands on water heaters and saves energy—330 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, which is enough to power a house for 11 days.
And instead of waiting for the shower to warm up, collect the water to use on house plants or your yard. You can also read here for other ways to cut your water usage in half.
Source: Consumer Reports
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