<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Ask Umbra’s video advice on showering]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Cacaoatl http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/ Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:25:39 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/1 Actually, I don't shower every day. I shower every few days. Showering every day is uneccessary and bad for the skin and the planet. When I shower, I shower "Navy style": get wet, turn off water, lather up, rinse.

]]> Actually, I don't shower every day. I shower every few days. Showering every day is uneccessary and bad for the skin and the planet. When I shower, I shower "Navy style": get wet, turn off water, lather up, rinse.

]]> Comment #2 by leahs133 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/ Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:51:56 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/2 Comment #3 by GreeningTX http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/ Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:26:48 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/3 1. In the summer, shower with cold water. Exhilirating.

2. The rest of the year, capture the water that flows while you're waiting for the hot water to arrive. Use it later to flush the toilet, bathe the dog, water the plants.

3. Try what one of my students does: capture most of the shower water in a basin for subsequent use.

4. Push for building code changes that would allow gray-water systems to be installed during new construction or renovation.

]]> 1. In the summer, shower with cold water. Exhilirating.

2. The rest of the year, capture the water that flows while you're waiting for the hot water to arrive. Use it later to flush the toilet, bathe the dog, water the plants.

3. Try what one of my students does: capture most of the shower water in a basin for subsequent use.

4. Push for building code changes that would allow gray-water systems to be installed during new construction or renovation.

]]> Comment #4 by ewendt http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/ Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:44:33 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/4 Comment #5 by dobegrama http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/ Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:31:50 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/5 Comment #6 by GreeningTX http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/ Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:52:51 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/6 A Google search will turn up lots of sources. Or you can convert an old bedsheet. Any of these will easily keep water from penetrating.

]]> A Google search will turn up lots of sources. Or you can convert an old bedsheet. Any of these will easily keep water from penetrating.

]]> Comment #7 by dobegrama http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/ Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:00:11 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/7 Comment #8 by consciousmom http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/ Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:40:41 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/8 Try showering (or bathing) and stopping up the drain - then use a siphon (found at carefree spa) to drain water out the bathroom window into a collection barrel that can later be used for watering the garden.

]]> Try showering (or bathing) and stopping up the drain - then use a siphon (found at carefree spa) to drain water out the bathroom window into a collection barrel that can later be used for watering the garden.

]]> Comment #9 by WaterConsNYC http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/ Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:52:28 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/9 The current Federal standard is 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm).  There are standard showerheads available at 2.2 gpm, 2.0 gpm and as low as 1.0 gpm.  The US EPA's WaterSense program, which is the current standard-setter for water-efficient but well-performing equipment ( www.epa.gov/watersense ) is working on a voluntary standard that will have a lower flow rate but probably also specific showerhead design features.  Showering is very subjective and what actual flow you'll get from a showerhead depends in part on water pressure.  "Pressure compensating" showerheads deliver the same flow over a relatively wide pressure range.  Personally, I use a handheld showerhead.  It delivers water directly to your body instead of having much of the water miss your body and so lets you use a lower flow rate head and get the job done efficiently.  Second, they come with all kinds of useful and fun massager settings.

 

]]> The current Federal standard is 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm).  There are standard showerheads available at 2.2 gpm, 2.0 gpm and as low as 1.0 gpm.  The US EPA's WaterSense program, which is the current standard-setter for water-efficient but well-performing equipment ( www.epa.gov/watersense ) is working on a voluntary standard that will have a lower flow rate but probably also specific showerhead design features.  Showering is very subjective and what actual flow you'll get from a showerhead depends in part on water pressure.  "Pressure compensating" showerheads deliver the same flow over a relatively wide pressure range.  Personally, I use a handheld showerhead.  It delivers water directly to your body instead of having much of the water miss your body and so lets you use a lower flow rate head and get the job done efficiently.  Second, they come with all kinds of useful and fun massager settings.

 

]]> Comment #10 by Yoyo http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/ Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:27:49 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-16-ask-umbra-video-showering/10 GreeningTX, you're on the right track!  Here in Victoria, Australia, we've had a drought so long we've stopped counting the years ... so now many of us use a bucket or two in the shower to capture almost all the water from the shower.  The showers have low-flow heads, and we limit the time under them - four minutes is ample for a healthy person.)

At home, we even keep a plastic bowl in each handbasins to catch hand- and face-washing water for flushing the toilet.  We also have another bowl in the second sink, which captures vegetable rinse water; this goes straight in to the compost bucket (which takes ALL non-fatty kitchen waste), which is kept under the sink, then emptied daily into the compost heap.  Between these measures and a couple of rainwater tanks, we've been able to keep our garden green AND productive throughout the drought.


Good on you for encouraging your students to use water responsibly - keep it up!


]]> GreeningTX, you're on the right track!  Here in Victoria, Australia, we've had a drought so long we've stopped counting the years ... so now many of us use a bucket or two in the shower to capture almost all the water from the shower.  The showers have low-flow heads, and we limit the time under them - four minutes is ample for a healthy person.)

At home, we even keep a plastic bowl in each handbasins to catch hand- and face-washing water for flushing the toilet.  We also have another bowl in the second sink, which captures vegetable rinse water; this goes straight in to the compost bucket (which takes ALL non-fatty kitchen waste), which is kept under the sink, then emptied daily into the compost heap.  Between these measures and a couple of rainwater tanks, we've been able to keep our garden green AND productive throughout the drought.


Good on you for encouraging your students to use water responsibly - keep it up!


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