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Regis Philbin
Jun 3rd, 2008, 06:54 PM
Just one more aspect of your life that the watermellons want to control. Just a matter of time before they pass a law requiring all showers be 5 minutes or less.

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUST26027920080603?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews&rpc=22&sp=true

Speed up bathing and save energy

Tue Jun 3, 2008 11:00am EDT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Speedier family baths could help Japanese cut their burgeoning energy consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a government report said on Tuesday.

Japanese households consume less energy than their U.S. and European counterparts, but consumption has been sharply increasing --jumping 44 percent between 1990 and 2005 -- a big reason the environment white paper zeroed in on ways for people to save energy.

Families should not only shorten their daily showers by a minute -- a common recommendation in the West -- but should try to take baths in quick succession, the report said.

Japanese usually wash outside the tub and then soak in hot water, which is then reused by the next family member. That means the water must be reheated each time if the next person in line dawdles.

Hot water use in bathrooms and kitchens accounted for 39 percent of energy consumed in Japanese homes, a stark contrast to European households, where energy is mainly used for air-conditioning and heating, the report said.

Japan is one of the world's most energy-efficient countries, but greenhouse gas emissions from companies and households have been on the rise in recent years, prompting the government to raise public awareness for global warming.

Richard Tafoya
Jun 3rd, 2008, 07:04 PM
Shorter showers have been a recommendation in drought-stricken California since I was a kid. As has not leaving the sprinkler on in the front yard to the point where you're flooding the gutter.

This is news? Sounds more like common sense.

pinky
Jun 3rd, 2008, 07:24 PM
Shower with a friend instead. Two for the price of one! :wink:

db44
Jun 4th, 2008, 10:03 AM
Great, Claire, you can be Brad's bathing buddy! :blueeek:

I've always tried to take short showers, and try to turn the pressure half-way up (down?).