Shower Power (Part 4)

Final PSP Recap

My PSP for this term has been to limit my showers to five minutes. It has been an eye-opening experience for me because it has made me more aware of how much water I consume not only by showering, but also through other daily activities like flushing, doing dishes, and washing my hands. It is amazing how dependent we are on water and how much we take it for granted.

Triple Bottom Line

I haven’t been able to come up with any social impacts of my shorter showers, especially since my showers before my PSP were only ten minutes longer. It’s not like anyone else directly benefits or suffers from me trimming my shower times down by a few minutes. In terms of economics, my shorter showers save me very little money since water is so inexpensive.

The environmental impacts of my decision are the most significant: as you can see from the “Shower Log” table, I have saved a total of 110.25 gallons during these past four weeks. If I were to apply these savings to the rest of the year (110.25 gallons x 12 months), I would save a total of 1,323 gallons! If these savings were applied to the entire population of Corvallis, 73,159,254 gallons of water would be saved annually (1,323 gallons x 55,298 people). On a global scale, this would mean 9.60 * 10¹² gallons of water would be saved annually (1,323 gallons x 7,255,560,200).

Source: https://www.e-education.psu.edu/eme807/node/642

Although domestic water use only accounts for approximately 8% of US water use, small changes can make a big difference cumulatively. Every drop of water saved means more water is available to maintain aquifers and surface water ecosystems and fewer resources are needed to run wastewater treatment facilities.

Source: http://www.wpclipart.com/animals/aquatic/fish/_happy_fish.jpg

Shower Log
Shower Date	Time	Water saved (vs. 15-minute shower)
6/27/15	3 min 30 sec	40.25 gal
7/7/15	5 min 0 sec	35.00 gal
7/12/15	5 min 0 sec	35.00 gal
Total water saved		110.25 gal

Spreading the Word

One way I could get my family and friends involved is by talking to them about my PSP and challenging them to time their showers for a week. Once they realize how much water they use, hopefully they’ll be willing to make small changes like reducing their shower time by a few minutes or turning off the water while shaving.

However, a water conservation study published in Sage Journals brings up a good point: people may be more likely to reduce their water consumption in ways other than bathing, since showering “includes a series of behaviors (soaking, soaping, rinsing)” and is also used for relaxation. With this in mind, my conservation efforts may be more effective if I try to encourage others to do things like use more mindful hand washing practices instead.

My Future

As for the future, I’m not sure how strict I will be about keeping my PSP. I may choose to continue timing my showers, but keep them under ten minutes instead of five. A potential tool to help me reduce my showering times would be to keep a journal logging my shower times and the approximate amount of water I am using per shower.

I think taking shorter showers would be especially challenging in the winter, when a hot shower is so comforting. Other PSPs I would consider doing include eating more local foods and using public transportation more often.

Final Reflections

Overall, I have enjoyed documenting my PSP experience these past four weeks. I’ve learned more about my water footprint and the triple bottom line. I’ve also become more comfortable expressing myself through blogging. It’s amazing how publicly documenting your experiences makes you so much more accountable. I’m not sure I would have kept my PSP as strictly if I had just kept a private journal.

Thank you for following me on this journey! I hope it has inspired you to make positive changes, especially in regard to water.

References

Penn State. n.d. 6.2 Water conservation and protection technologies. Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Available from https://www.e-education.psu.edu/eme807/node/642

Richetin, J., Perugini, M. Mendini, D. and R. Hurling. 2014. Conserving water while washing hands: the immediate and durable impacts of descriptive norms. Environment and Behavior. Sage Publications. 1-22. Available from http://eab.sagepub.com/content/early/2014/07/29/0013916514543683.full.pdf+html

United States Census Bureau. 2015. State and County QuickFacts: Corvallis (city), Oregon. United States Census Bureau. Available from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/41/4115800.html

United States Census Bureau. 2015. US and World Population Clock. United States Census Bureau. Available from http://www.census.gov/popclock/

Shower Part (Part Three)

Recap

Now that we’re nearly done with week three, I have some more updates to give you all. As you saw in my first and second posts, my PSP for this term has been to limit my showers to five minutes.

Source: http://www.vosizneias.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/show4.jpg

PSP: Past, Present, and Future

So far, this has been a pretty easy adjustment for me and I think it would be fairly easy to maintain long-term. In my first year of college, I imposed a similar rule on myself: I turned the shower water off during the times when it was unnecessary to have it running, like when I was shaving my legs. Although it made showering less relaxing, the benefits of saving water far outweighed the inconveniences. I feel the same way about my PSP and so far I have not forgotten about it or failed to keep it.

*See math from first and second posts

Maintaining Motivation

One of the main motivators for me to continue my PSP in the future comes from actually calculating how many gallons of water I’ve been saving per shower. Oftentimes, quantifying a problem is the best motivator for change because it makes the issue and the impacts of your actions much more tangible.

Source: http://sustainabilitypartnersintl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/sustainabilitypartnersintl_com_triple_bottom_line.jpg

Triple Bottom Line

My PSP has altered my environmental impact more than it has affected my finances and social life. This is because municipal water is so cheap: in Corvallis, the water consumption rate prices ranges from $1.66 to $3.01 per 100 cubic feet. I can’t think of any way that taking shorter showers significant impacts anything socially.

See You Next Time!

That’s it for now. I’ll give you some more updates next week.

References

City of Corvallis. N.d. Utility Rates. City of Corvallis, Oregon. Available at http://www.corvallisoregon.gov/index.aspx?page=96

Shower Power (Part 2)

PSP Recap

As you can see in my first post, I have made a personal sustainability promise (PSP) to limit my showers to five minutes. Motivators for this change include recent water scarcity problems in western states and a general desire to reduce my overall eco-footprint.

Good News!

So far, it has been fairly easy for me to implement this change. For my first shower, I decided to further restrict my time limit by taking a three and a half minute shower. We’ll see if this overachieving mentality persists as the weeks progress.

*15-minute shower – 3-minute 30 second shower= 52.5 gal – 12.25 gal (see math from first post)

Challenges

It has been difficult for me to remember to bring a timer with me in the shower. I forgot my phone for my first shower and opted to count in my head instead. Although this saved my phone from potential water damage, it also made showering a less relaxing experience and increased the likelihood of inaccuracy in counting. It’s also pretty inconvenient to remember to repeatedly start and stop counting when I turn the water on and off.

Solutions

A potential solution is to buy some kind of waterproof timer. Because I would want the timer to have an accurate start-and-stop feature, I would probably avoid the cheaper hourglass type. Amazon currently offers a decent waterproof start-and-stop timer for about $14.00.

Timer choices

Sources: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00876CQ8S/ref=s9_simh_gw_p79_d0_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=0NMTHG5D3NZVV3KKHYPT&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop

http://www.amazon.com/5-Minute-Shower-Coach-Niagara/dp/B004YNSGQO/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1435859013&sr=1-2&keywords=hourglass+shower+timer

I can’t help but wonder if the resources required to make these timers and their eventual home in a dump somewhere are worth the amount of water they help save. Even if my head count has some level of inaccuracy, wouldn’t it be more economically and environmentally responsible to I avoid purchasing a timer altogether? I’ve found that we as Americans have a tendency to “over-gadgetize”.

The timer dilemma: how much technology is too much?

Source: http://cdn29.elitedaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/large43.jpg

That’s All, Folks 

In sum, I’m feeling optimistic about my PSP and hope to have more insight to share next week!

References

Niagara Conservation. 2015. 5 Minute Shower Coach by Niagara. Amazon.com. Available from http://www.amazon.com/5-Minute-Shower-Coach-Niagara/dp/B004YNSGQO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1435803391&sr=8-2&keywords=shower+timer+waterproof

Snyder, S. N.d. Water Scarcity: The U.S. Connection. The Water Project. Available from http://thewaterproject.org/water_scarcity_in_us

Taylor Precision. 2015. Taylor Splash ‘n Drop Impact and Water Resistant Timer/Clock. Amazon.com. Available from http://www.amazon.com/TaylorSplash-Impact-Water-Resistant-Timer/dp/B00876CQ8S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1435803061&sr=8-3&keywords=shower+timer+waterproof

Shower Power

           Every day countless gallons of water are wasted needlessly. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), household leaks cause approximately 1 trillion gallons of water waste in the U.S. annually (US EPA, n.d.). For my Personal Sustainability Promise (PSP), I want to help reduce my water usage by limiting the length of my showers to five minutes. Depending on factors like water pressure and faucet heads, this will reduce my shower water needs from approximately 30 to 75 gallons of water per fifteen-minute shower to 10 to 25 gallons (US EPA, 2015). Some tools I will use to ensure that I do not exceed the five-minute limit include using a stopwatch and turning the water off during the times when it is unnecessary to keep the faucet running, like when I am letting the shampoo and conditioner soak into my hair. Although I already only shower about twice per week (sorry if that grosses you out!), I believe this change will help me to significantly reduce my overall environmental impact.

Water Saving Tips

Source: http://mavensnotebook.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/20-percent-water-use-reduction-infographic-5.jpg

            Water is undoubtedly one of the most precious resources we have. Before a deeper analysis of the issue is discussed, it is important to understand that water scarcity problems arise from the lack of convenient accessibility to clean water in specific areas, rather than from the lack of enough water of any quality on the Earth as a whole (Richter, 2014). Water shortages negatively affect the community environmentally, socially, and economically. Environmental problems include natural waterways being too low for aquatic and riparian life to thrive, social issues involve inadequate water for numerous recreational activities, and economic problems include insufficient water for irrigated agriculture. Historically, the western part of the U.S. has been engaged in a virtually non-stop battle with water scarcity issues, which has been exacerbated by recent population increases and agricultural expansions (Richter, 2015). Our neighboring state of California is currently in a severe enough drought for their governor to declare a State of Emergency this past January (CA.gov, 2015). Clearly, the water shortage conditions in the region I inhabit demand a rethinking of my water usage habits on individual, regional, and global scales.

Current Drought Conditions in California

Source: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/jpg/20150616/20150616_CA_trd.jpg

            A 2012 study examining “the energy consumption involved in the production and use of domestic hot water” supports the importance of reducing water usage, especially energy-intensive hot water, by highlighting the fact that water heating accounted for 18% of domestic energy consumption in the UK in 2009 (Boait et al, 2012). By showering for a shorter amount of time, I will be conserving both water and electricity. Although my actions may seem small when compared to the large scope of the issue, I believe they will not only reduce the gallons of water I use, but also help me to be more conscientious about my relationship with water in general. I hope the inconvenience of a slightly less relaxing showering experience will gradually become less noticeable as I adjust to this “new normal”. I may even save time and be more productive as a result. I am excited to blog about this experience, to read about other student’s PSPs, and to hopefully inspire both others to reduce their water consumption.

Water Saved During GEO 300 Experiment

Current shower water usage: 

(2 showers / week) x (52.5 gal / shower*) x 3 weeks = 315 gal

PSP shower water usage: 

(2 showers / week) x (17.5 gal / shower*) * x 3 weeks = 105 gal

Amount of water saved: 

Current – PSP = 315 gal – 105 gal = 210 gal

Water Saved If I Commit to My PSP for One Year

Current shower water usage: 

(52 weeks / year) x (2 showers / week) x (52.5 gal / shower*) = 5,460 gal / year

PSP shower water usage: 

(52 weeks / year) x (2 showers / week) x (17.5 gal / shower*) = 1,820 gal / year

Amount of water saved: 

Current – PSP = 5,460 gal / year – 1,820 gal / year = 3,640 gal / year

*Values derived from the following calculations (US EPA, 2015):

Average 15 minute shower water usage = (30 gal + 75 gal) / 2 = 52.5 gal

Average 5 minute shower water usage = (10 gal + 25 gal) / 2 = 17.5 gal

References

        Boait, P.J., D. Dixon, D. Fan, and A. Stafford. Production efficiency of hot water for domestic use. Energy and Buildings. 2012. Vol. 54. 160-168. Web. 23 June 2015. < http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.proxy.library.oregonstate.edu/science/article/pii/S0378778812003386&gt;

CA.gov. “California Drought.” CA.gov. CA.gov, 2015. Web. 23 June 2015. <http://www.ca.gov/drought/&gt;

Richter, Brian D. Chasing Water: A Guide for Moving from Scarcity to Sustainability. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: Island, 2014. Print.

US EPA. “Fix a Leak Week Fact Sheet.” US EPA. United States Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense, n.d. Web. 23 June 2015. <http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pubs/fixleak.html&gt;

US EPA. Water Trivia Facts. US EPA. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2015. Web. 23 June 2015. <http://water.epa.gov/learn/kids/drinkingwater/water_trivia_facts.cfm&gt;