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The 3 Minute Green Shower

Your probably asking yourself...what are you talking about?

I base this on one simple fact: every 2 minutes in the shower equals about 15 gallons of water, which is about as much water as a person in Africa uses for everything in their life for a whole day. That includes bathing, cooking, drinking, cleaning.....everything.

The average American spends at least 8 minutes in the shower per session. If you take 2 showers a day, that would be 16 minutes.

And beyond that: The typical American household wastes about 8000 gallons a year just waiting for hot water to arrive at the tap.

Letting the tap flow while you brush your teeth wastes between 3 and 6 gallons per session. Brush your teeth 3 times like you should, and that number increases to a possible 18 gallons wasted.

Plug the drain in your tub before turning on the water and waiting for it to warm up. The average bathtub faucet flows between 4 and 6 gallons per minute.

During a regular summer, the average American lawn uses about 10,000 gallons of water.

Let's put this waste in financial terms: For every 2 minutes you are able to shave off here and there-- you'll save an average of $40 per year.

Maybe 3 minutes is still too long?

Just kidding.

Best of luck and go green

Douglas B. Garbe

Your green friendly eco-realtor

Posted by Douglas Garbe, Real Living Real Estate Solutions on 08/17/2007 05:01 PM

Comments (81)

green, ennvironmentally friendly, green realtors

Post is included in group: Real Living
Post is included in group: Environmentally Responsible Real Estate Professionals

81 Comments on The 3 Minute Green Shower

AUG

2007

This just doesn't work.

Folks in Africa have made and make socioeconomic, religius and political choices that make them victims. Americans didn't make decisions for them and we're not responsible for their plight.

I won't be sent on a guilt trip because I'm an American.

Hold on here Lenn. We should be looking at green alternatives for the benefit of ourselves not because of others elsewhere. I have children who might in turn have children. What I do today could ultimately affect them 25 years from now.

Douglas, a 3 minute shower is kind of quick. A better alternative is having a shower head that restricts the flow to 2 gallons a minute. Every manufacturer has them now and they are great. Lots of pressure, just less water.

Good post.

Get a bucket and a bowl to bath with. When the water is all gone, it's all gone. Good way to keep the water bill low! Good for the planet too.

My father tried to teach us to shower this way - QUICK when I was a kid. To save money on water. He was in the Navy and thats the way they did it in the Navy. 6 kids $$.

Douglas:

When my son was in the second grade, his project was to get the family to do something for ecology. I made a suggestion and the next day he presented to his class the idea of a "NO FLUSH DAY." I don't remember what grade he received but I thought it was an excellent idea to save water. :)

AUG

2007

Bill, I wonder if the whole no flush concept is generational. My grandparents used to abide by the yellow mellow rule. Just doesn't seem the best answer for today's generation.

Installed low flow sink faucet (free from Portland Or H20 dept back in 93 to save water) It had a built in extra valve on the end of the faucet - abrupt pressure change from other valve at the end off the faucet caused a pipe joint to burst, had to remove sink to repair pipe, chipped counter top, replaced with new counter got new sink to fit new counter hole, had to get matching toilet...since toilet was up removed old linoleum and found water damage from shower on floor, replaced floor boards and shower, tile and shower door, and finally repainted room.

Saved 20 gallons of water. ;)

AUG

2007

Jim:

I gotcha. If its yellow let it mellow. If its Brown, Flush it down. Sorry Cleveland Football Fans.

Douglas, thanks for brining that up. We installed a European shower head years ago, which is a water miser. We take short showers and I keep a bucket in the shower to capture excess water to use to water plants. The water issue is so serious and people just keep watering their lawns and taking 45 minute showers. One day, one day, the picture is not going to be very pretty.

Douglas - Great comments you received! I shower quickly because I get up later than I should then hop on my computer and have coffee browsing what happened in the rain while I was sleeping. Then I start commenting and all of a sudden...OOPS! I am supposed to be on the road!

Great ideas! I know we pay a TON for our city water here and water saving ideas could save me a lot of money. I DO like the option Wayne offers - restrictive shower heads have changed and are not the drip...drip...drip...anymore they used to be!

AUG

2007

Using cold water instead of warm whenever possible is another great way to cut down on water bills, energy used and reducing the usages of dirty energy suppliers. Tankless water heating systems and solar water heaters are another great tool. Check with local suppliers to learn more about credits offered by state, city and utility companies.

Thanks for these tips. I can save a lot of water already! However, I think women will always need a couple extra minutes.

AUG

2007

Great tips! We all need to learn to save water.....that includes not watering those green lawns! If it can't survive the summer heat, we need to plant something that will!!!

Douglas,

Great post, I love the numbers-really brings it home. Thank You.

AUG

2007

In order to conserve, going forward I will shower on my front lawn while the sprinklers are on....

Yuck! Thanks for the reminder!

I don't like it but we have to start facing reality. The more populated we become, the less natural resources we will have to go around. Water being one of them. I wouldn't call myself an environmentalist, more of a conservative. I started shortening my showers to 5 minutes a while ago. My father does take the 3 minute shower (retired chief in the navy). I just can't seem to make 3 minutes but 5 should do. Now I just have to get my wife and daughter on board.

Good Luck;)

AUG

2007

Great post Douglas! These numbers really give one something to think about when using precious water resources.

AUG

2007

About 30 years ago while visiting my family in Germany I was shocked to see how much attention end collective efforts they were investing in the water consumption. While the water was running in the kitchen sink (the word running is not accurate, the water was barely coming through the faucet)... did not run in the shower. Water pressure very law everywhere. And it was not for the ecological reasons, but economical. Water was,at that time, more expensive than the electricity! I don't know today.

SEP

2007

Thank you all for the great comments.

Douglas

Great advice, I loved the break down of water usage. I'll start my stopwatch every time i get in the shower now.

SEP

2007

All of this information becomes even more interesting when you realize that there is a large segement of the population that really doesn't care.

I sense some hositility in some of those comments!?

I take 5 minute showers. I have long hair and I manage to shave and bathe. I wash my hair, condition my hair, shave my legs and underarms, bathe with soap and all in under 5 minutes. If I can do it I know anyone can.

I don't water my lawn. I have an aerobic septic system that does it for me and anywhere else just doesn't need green grass if it doesn't grow on its own!

SEP

2007

I love your blog, thank you for bringing interesting ideas to this forum.

SEP

2007

umm okay i totally understand this whole concept of the water. water is good(:

hahahahahhha

matthew is a loser.hes a gay.

OCT

2007

As usual, its is the negative comments that say the most.

Douglas,

Those are very meaningful stats about water usage. Your everyday routine includes all of them and most of us are unaware how much water waste there is. A couple of simple changes in habits can save gallons of it. Shaving with running water is another serious waste producer.

OCT

2007

Great reminders, Douglas. I just forwarded your content to my daughter. Let's see what impact YOUR words will have on her.......lol!

Cheers! from DC....where we're in a drought!

Jaynee

OCT

2007

Jaynee - good luck with your daughter. It is interesting to me just which generation seems more interested in this particular dilema.

OCT

2007

I usually take about 2 1/2 mins. to shower... 3mins if I'm washing my hair. Created a gadget that saves me a lot of hot water in the shower, posted a video of myself using it. http://itjustmakessense.net take a look and tell me what you think!

OCT

2007

Unbelievable! Please, everybody go visit the above mentioned site. It is an amazing invention that combines good sense with practicality. I am completely impressed. Good job Fred, my hat is off to you.

OCT

2007

Again, please everybody go visit http://itjustmakessense.net. The gadget is amazing!

OCT

2007

i love your posts!

i just took my lawn out this year (at my vacation property-at home on the west coast you really don't need to water-grass dies in the summer and comes back on its own in the winter) and had it replaced with indigneous grasses and plants and cool stones...having been to Africa, I would be surprised if most people have the 15 gallons per day...or 1.5 gallons for that matter!

i like your blog

Patricia Houlihan

realtor and environmental lawyer

Patricia - always nice to have another realtor who believes as I do. I like that title, Environmental lawyer, awesome!

OCT

2007

Douglas, what a facinating topic! I am so impressed with your understanding and compassion for the issues. Good for you. Mike

Mike - thank you. Too kind.

NOV

2007

Hey.

I have to do a project on what is the best way to conserve water. But where i live, it's against the law to water plants/lawn and wash your cars. You can however, go to a carwash. But what is the best way to conserve water not including watering plants or washing cars??

I was thinking about keeping a bucket in the shower and letting excess water into it and using it to flush your toilets.

Is this the best way to conserve water? Or is there another one i don't know of??

Help Please!!!

NOV

2007

Amanda - I am assuming this is not a joke. Your best bet is to get on the internet and google 'water conserving tips." You will find a lot of ideas. Good luck.

NOV

2007

Douglas, I have been reading a couple of your blogs and I must say I am interested in your idea of a green Realtor. What exactly sets you apart from the other green Realtors in Orlando (if there are any).

hey douglas,

here's yet another way to reduce water consumption...turn the water on to get wet, turn it off, soap up and then turn it back on to rinse. big water saver. my other alternative is to shower with a friend... soap each other up and have fun! you are a handsome devil by-the-way...i'm surprised we've never crossed paths before.

diana p. lim

Having lived through droughts in California -- we got used to turning on the water briefly - then soaping up without the water on -- then a quick rinse off! I think it was under 2 minutes -- -- I just looked up and saw diana just described this as well! LOL. At any rate, it is not fun on a cold day.

Diana - Thank you thank you!

Joan - point well taken. Not fun at all.

NOV

2007

In the 60's we said 'save water, shower with a friend' - - - perhaps we need to remind the younger generations of this golden fun-filled rule!!!!

NOV

2007

Bill & Barbara Jo - Absolutely. Conserving is not a punishment. It really does allow you to do more with what you have, and that includes having more fun.

NOV

2007

It sometimes boils down to just turning off a light when you leave the room. It's that simple.

DEC

2007

Facinating information. The marriage of Realtors and Conservation should be an easy one without any problems. What can their offspring be? A better world! Thank you Douglas for an insightful blog.

DEC

2007

Douglas, I'm overall impressed with your calculations on water and how much is used by the minute. Do you have a meter in your shower?

JAN

2008

This topic - conservation of our natural resources - needs to be the main topic of 2008!!

Great Blog! Lot's of good information, thank you Douglas.

JAN

2008

Gary - no meter in my shower. Just quick no-nonsense shower taker.

JAN

2008

Fabulous!!! I love the shower head idea. I personally am very quick in the shower. I have never timed myself but I'm sure I don't take more than a few minutes. I do have a longer one when I wash my hair because I have very thick long hair. But I don't do that every day. Hopefully people will realize that just because we have an abundance of water at our disposal, doesn't mean we can just let it pour down the drain. Cheers!

JAN

2008

Kathy - I will have more news about the shower head coming up. I have been away for a short time, but now it is time to get back to saving the environment. Saving the earth saves money, that has always been my approach. Best of luck.

JAN

2008

Douglas, I found your blog by going on Google. It was a total coincidence, how cool. Remember me, we went to high school?

Adriana Boucher (me haces falta amigo)

JAN

2008

Douglas.....te voy a llamar a tu telefono. Espero que te encuentras bien!

Adriana

Adriana!!! I am waiting for your call..407 234 7033.

FEB

2008

What is this...facebook?

FEB

2008

Something tells me this is the same person who has been flaming me on the other blogs. You know, things would be a tad more interesting if you let us know who you are.

Bitter bitter.

FEB

2008

I keep trying to get my family to take 5 minute showers... I'll have to figure out how to turn the water to cold after a certain time limit. BTW, Mary Bigelow did a post about how cold showers are actually better for your body and require no soap/shampoo. Interesting. Unfortunately, I don't think I'm ready to go there yet.

Hey Tammy! But we are at least having dialogue, right? There it is, a start. Putting things out there, thinking about alternatives. Offering suggestions and trying new things. We are evolving.

We are part of the solutions.

FEB

2008

Is shower water wasted? Isn't it recycled somehow?

George - excellent question. Yes it is recycled and used in a variety of ways. The main point of my blog was about the availability of drinking water, The truth is that drinking water is a limited commodity. There is not enough available for the whole world. So from the larger picture point of view, longer showers kind of don't help. Thank you for your question.

MAR

2008

I am supposed to feel guilty for long showers? Don't think so.

Ben - Bitter bitter.

MAR

2008

Liberals like you want us to give all of our resources to poor people so that you don't feel guilty

Ben - please leave Douglas alone! This is your mother speaking! Or someone's mother anyway!!! LOL! Have fun and take some of the posts to heart. Douglas means well, has a good sense of humor and speaks of CONSERVATION not guilt. His posts shouldn't be seen any other way!!!

ps. I don't want to give my resources to poor people and I don't think Douglas does either...

Mary - You were faster than I! I am not so sure it's Ben. This one sounds like someone who kept harassing me last year about saying good things about Africa.

Exactly. It's not about giving up or getting less. It's about getting THE MOST out of the resources that you have. As well as saving money by not wasting needlessly.

Thanks Mary. You can be my Active Rain Mom.

Just don't spank me.

I love the USA - Nice name.

I think this is the greatest country in the world. I hope you are just trying to have some fun with me, because otherwise you really are an inconsiderate, selfish person with too much time on your hands.

And, like a lot of people who have left comments.....a complete coward by not letting us know who you really are.

There you go again with another (funny) comment that is going to come back and haunt you!! This is fun! Now your "ma" is stalking you!! Ooh! Did I say that online!!!

I wlll be proud to be your "Active Rain Mom!"

(and my ma taught me how to break wooden spoons over derrieres!" Watch out!)

Mary- This is totally degenerating into a Soap Opera from Hell. Now I need to know that you slept with the milkman and Ben is really my brother (who was born a girl but had an operation).

And, of course, there is that weird 'derriere' thing that dad divorced you for.

Oh yes, and I am now just beginning to get some memories back of my Alien Abduction.

Another normal childhood.

You may not agree...but now you have become intwined in ART's soap opera...remember...you brought it up!

Now YOUR derriere is on the line....

MAR

2008

Mary - Well then, we have to flesh out the characters a bit more. And what about those waked out story lines...quality control!

Have you read my blog? My derriere is always on the line. Psycho music....

You can come over and shower at my place - we have plenty of good old free rainwater that falls from the sky.... and you won't have to feel guilty. just kidding - you probably couldn't find my house.

Georgina - Well well. Kind of a long drive...Florida to Maui. What interstate would that be :)

Thanks for the invite.

MAR

2008

Hey Douglas -- the pointless story -- it is your turn to submit a post and try to resurrect it!!! We still don't have an ending and I went through heck 'n back trying to find it!!! It will give you a non-stressful bit of fun! I am very curious to see if we can get it going again!

Mary - Some renegade (and apparentely lax on history) blogger who names himself/herself C. Guevara just tore me a second one with my 'Why is going green political?'.

And something else I learned today: It really does not pay to be honest. If my students could see me now!

Did you know that those anon commenters are not so anon - the gods here can see if it's a member commenting while logged off by tracking their IP address. Heads up commenters! (or is that commentators?) haha

Georgina - There is irony in all this. Go to Maureen McCabe's new entry (I think that is how you spell her name) and find out that I actually wanted this kind of attention.

So, in a way, I got exactly what I deserved.

It's the phone calls that I am really shocked about. But that is another story.

MAR

2008

Doug - It amazes me that a suggestion to save water - seems common sense to me - saving water saves $$$ - gets you the reaction it does... - remember - you control the delete button! and great article!!! keep up the good work....

Eva - Thank you. This has been an awakening of sorts. No deletions for me, I do, after all, invite dialogue. It's just a little sad that the majority of the anger is from fellow Realtors (who should know better).

Thank you.

JUN

2008

Everybody out there, this is probably a good blog to re-read.

Yes, from me.

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