Q: Which uses less water, a shower or a bath? This has been an ongoing debate in my home.
Asked by Anonymous, Northridge, Calif.
Sometimes it can be hard to convince yourself to take shorter showers. While studying in Monterey last spring, I relished long showers after jogs in the foggy weather. But when my roommate installed a small waterproof timer, its impending beep was enough to get me out of the shower sooner. If that beep isn't enough, you might try something like Elisabeth Buecher's time-sensitive, inflating shower curtains.
Okay, maybe that's more art than science. But if these devices don't convince you to use less water, how about a health incentive? That's right, those kids who refuse to take baths may be on to something. A traveling companion once told me that he was avoiding showers to build a mosquito-repelling layer of dirt. I'm pretty sure he repelled more friends at the dinner table than mosquitoes; still, fewer showers could actually provide some health benefits. Showering less may protect your skin by allowing it to retain moisture and "good" bacteria, which fight off "bad" bacteria. Shampooing less also helps your hair retain moisture and shape. If you're worried about oily hair, dry shampoo that you apply to absorb oil and then brush out may provide a solution. You can find dry shampoo at beauty supply stores like Sephora or from personal care brands like Tresemme. Don't want to fork over the cash for another product? Make it yourself!
Still, if you're like me, you may not be able to part with daily showers. So read on for additional ideas to reduce the environmental impact of good hygiene.
Other ways to green your shower
Shaving: You could simply stop, or shave less. However, given the draw of keeping up with social norms and expectations of a kempt appearance, I imagine that may not always be an option. If you still opt for the daily shave, an easy eco-friendly step you can take is to save water by turning it off while shaving. Opting for razors from recycled products also saves resources. For those who prefer electric razors, solar-powered razors and man-powered wind-up razors provide alternatives. Whatever you choose, make sure to steer clear of disposable razors, which consume extra resources and create unnecessary waste. If you prefer waxing to shaving, you can still green your habits. Body sugaring is a cheap and chemical-free substitute to petroleum-based waxing.
Soaps and shampoos and things: This previous SAGE article discusses environmentally friendly personal care products at length so I'll just make a brief comment: less is more. As I see it, there's no need to use five hair products when one will do just fine.
Your towel: Rather ironically, the amount of water consumed to produce the towel you use to dry off substantially outweighs the amount you use to shower. Bath towels are conventionally cotton, and cotton is not as innocent as the jolly Fruit of the Loom commercials suggest. The World Wildlife Fund notes that one kilogram of cotton (enough for a T-shirt and a pair of jeans) can take more than 20,000 liters of water to produce. Even more, cotton is incredibly chemical-intensive, using 24 and 11 percent of the world's insecticides and pesticides, respectively. In addition, cotton often requires copious amounts of synthetic fertilizers. The Organic Trade Association reports that it can take almost 1/3 pound of synthetic fertilizer to grow just one pound of cotton.
Fortunately, there are alternatives. Organically grown fibers, though still big water consumers, are not chemical-intensive like conventional cotton. Bamboo fibers are also on the rise because bamboo grows exceptionally quickly—up to 1.5 meters per day—and does not require pesticides or insecticides. Wood pulp from sustainably harvested trees is another, more eco-friendly source of fiber. For more on sustainable textiles, check out this previous SAGE article. And to get started on your search for eco-friendly towels, look at this green buying guide.
Shower curtains: Have you ever noticed the smell that emanates when you open up a new vinyl shower curtain? As it turns out, that smell isn't "fresh." It's actually toxic chemicals contaminating the air you're breathing. According to the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, some of these volatile compounds may stick around for as long as a month after you unwrap and hang your vinyl curtain. These toxins can damage your liver, not to mention your respiratory, central nervous and reproductive systems. The heat and humidity of steamy showers only make matters worse, increasing the release of chemicals. Fortunately, there are some alternatives.
Eco-friendly shower curtain options include organic cotton, bamboo, hemp and other natural fibers. Hemp seems especially promising because it can be grown and processed without much input, and it is durable, antifungal, antibacterial and machine-washable—important traits for mildew-prone shower curtains. You can compare an array of sustainable options at Pristine Planet. Whatever choice you make, you can rest assured that it will almost certainly outmatch vinyl.
Greening behind-the-scenes
There is one major factor we have omitted from our discussion of sustainable shower choices thus far: water heaters. It's easy to forget that energy—a lot of it—goes into heating our shower water. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, water heating can account for 14-25 percent of household energy consumption. Some relatively easy steps to reduce this energy sink are: lowering the temperature of your water heater thermostat to 120°F; insulating your water heater tank; and insulating your hot water pipes. Installing a newer, more efficient water heater—or even better, installing a solar water heater—is a larger step that could drastically cut your energy use. Big steps like this require significant amounts of planning and a fair chunk of change, but by increasing efficiency and reducing unnecessary energy use they can pay back big time in the long run. And who knows, you might even save enough energy to earn yourself another bath night.
Tessaly Jen, '11, is an earth systems major.
