Low Flow Shower Head
Some people just can't start their morning without a long hot shower. But a low flow shower head doesn't have to mean less power when you shower.
Low flow doesn't mean low performance, it means that air is added to the water stream so that you have the same water pressure, but with just a little less water.
This is so important if you have an older house with an older shower head. Old school shower heads use up to 6 gallons of water per minute while shower heads manufactured after 1994 must use no more than 2.5 gallons per minute. Using a low flow shower head could reduce your water usage to 1 gallon per minute.
You can even choose a model with a shutoff valve that lets you turn off the water while you lather up. Just turn the valve back on and enjoy the rest of your shower with the same temperature and pressure that you started with.
Saving water saves energy too!
If you're using your shower, you are probably using hot water (I know I am). Because it takes energy to heat all of that water, when you use less water, you use less energy too.
More Ways to Save
Low flow faucets
You can do the same thing for your sink that you just did for your shower. A faucet aerator can reduce your water usage from 2.2 gallons per minute to 0.5. By adding a faucet aerator to your kitchen sink, you could save 75% more water when you rinse your dishes.
Keep it short
Consider taking a shorter shower. Shoot for 10 minutes or even try for eight. Every minute you shave off your time means that you're saving more water. A gallon here and a gallon there eventually add up and means that you save money on your water bill and your energy bill.
Take a Bath
There's no doubt that everyone needs to unwind every now and again. If you've had a really long day and are really craving some extra time in the shower, consider a bath instead. If you're in the shower for more than 10 minutes, you are probably better off just taking a bath.
Return to Conserving Water from Low Flow Shower Head
Return to Carbon Footprint Facts from Low Flow Shower Head