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A good shower can be taken without using much water. The cost of heating water is a major household energy cost, especially for those who luxuriate in long hot showers or wallowing in a tub loaded to the gunwales with hot water.

Here is the way to get clean and save energy and $$$. First, buy a cheap little valve that goes behind the shower head and that allows you to regulate the force of the stream without fooling with the faucets (once they are set to delive water at the temperature you need). Then turn on the water, but not full blast, and wet your whole self dwon. Then turn it OFF and soap up. When you are soaped up good, turn the water back on and rinse off. This is what is called a "Navy shower," because in the Navy, fresh water is not as abundant on ships at sea as it is on land and sailors must cooperate to conserve it. I find I can shower effectively in about 5 gallons of water this way, only part of which is hot water. It helps keep utility bills down and deprives me of essentially nothing, since I am not one of those people who bathes or showers for recreational purposes, as some do. Try it and see what it does to your utility bills. Of course, you might have to do some strong persuasion on those teenagers or other kids in your household who care little or nothing about energy conservation. SECOND TIP: when rinsing dishes under the kitchen faucet, do NOT just automatically turn the hot water on high volume. It takes only enough water to fully cover the surface of the plate, bowl, etc. as you wipe it down. Women in particular seem to know only one way to open a tap--full blast! Rinse sensibly; don't use a torrent to do what a gentle stream will do. I require a 5% percent commission for any savings you achieve through this advice.
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I grew up with a very FRUGAL granmomther. These are things we practiced in her house growing up.

I take a cool shower (not cold), wash clothes in cold water with the exception of towels and undies. And I use a small stream to rinse my dishes. I also use cold water to rinse dishes with - you rinse clothes in cold water, why not the dishes too? I do not use a dishwasher - my hands do all the work.
quote:
Originally posted by beternU:
A good shower can be taken without using much water. The cost of heating water is a major household energy cost, especially for those who luxuriate in long hot showers or wallowing in a tub loaded to the gunwales with hot water.

Here is the way to get clean and save energy and $$$. First, buy a cheap little valve that goes behind the shower head and that allows you to regulate the force of the stream without fooling with the faucets (once they are set to delive water at the temperature you need). Then turn on the water, but not full blast, and wet your whole self dwon. Then turn it OFF and soap up. When you are soaped up good, turn the water back on and rinse off. This is what is called a "Navy shower," because in the Navy, fresh water is not as abundant on ships at sea as it is on land and sailors must cooperate to conserve it. I find I can shower effectively in about 5 gallons of water this way, only part of which is hot water. It helps keep utility bills down and deprives me of essentially nothing, since I am not one of those people who bathes or showers for recreational purposes, as some do. Try it and see what it does to your utility bills. Of course, you might have to do some strong persuasion on those teenagers or other kids in your household who care little or nothing about energy conservation. SECOND TIP: when rinsing dishes under the kitchen faucet, do NOT just automatically turn the hot water on high volume. It takes only enough water to fully cover the surface of the plate, bowl, etc. as you wipe it down. Women in particular seem to know only one way to open a tap--full blast! Rinse sensibly; don't use a torrent to do what a gentle stream will do. I require a 5% percent commission for any savings you achieve through this advice.


I see you dont know anything about women either...... lol
I grew up in a very frugal household. One of the few luxuries that were allowed were moderately long, hot, steamy showers. I think this came from my father serving in the Pacific during WWII, where such showers were rare. We also never went camping as a family because he said he'd done it for four years, and didn't care to do it again.

I'm one of those people that take showers for "recreational" purposes. It gives me 20 minutes of the day to wake up, get clean, steam open the pores, relax, and do my best thinking of the day without hearing my name called for anything.

If for some reason I'm in a hurry, I can get the necessities done in about 2 minutes.

There are other ways besides a Navy shower to conserve water.
Last edited by CrustyMac
quote:
Originally posted by TNFAN96:
I grew up with a very FRUGAL granmomther. These are things we practiced in her house growing up.

I take a cool shower (not cold), wash clothes in cold water with the exception of towels and undies. And I use a small stream to rinse my dishes. I also use cold water to rinse dishes with - you rinse clothes in cold water, why not the dishes too? I do not use a dishwasher - my hands do all the work.


I can wash most clothes in cold water - HOT for towels, undies and rags.

However - - I have to have a HOT shower and a strong water pressure to wash and rinse my hair, thats everyday. I am sorry but thats my 15 minutes of enjoyment. I might not get another relaxing moment all day so Its worth a hundred or so bucks a month to me. Big Grin

And the dishes - must be washed and rinsed with HOT water. Is using cold sanitary? Confused
QUOTE]Originally posted by beternU:


Here is the way to get clean and save energy and $$$. First, buy a cheap little valve that goes behind the shower head and that allows you to regulate the force of the stream without fooling with the faucets (once they are set to delive water at the temperature you need). Then turn on the water, but not full blast, and wet your whole self dwon. Then turn it OFF and soap up. When you are soaped up good, turn the water back on and rinse off. This is what is called a "Navy shower," because in the Navy, fresh water is not as abundant on ships at sea as it is on land and sailors must cooperate to conserve it. I find I can shower effectively in about 5 gallons of water this way, only part of which is hot water. It helps keep utility bills down and deprives me of essentially nothing, since I am not one of those people who bathes or showers for recreational purposes, as some do. Try it and see what it does to your utility bills. Of course, you might have to do some strong persuasion on those teenagers or other kids in your household who care little or nothing about energy conservation. SECOND TIP: when rinsing dishes under the kitchen faucet, do NOT just automatically turn the hot water on high volume. It takes only enough water to fully cover the surface of the plate, bowl, etc. as you wipe it down.QUOTE]

I grew up taking "Navy showers." We had well water both at home and at our camp. It does save water and water heater costs.

I have always heard to wash dishes in hot water and rinse in cold water. The cold rinse gets the soap off the plates better. The soap is a surfactant and works by lifting food and dirt. I know when the Boy Scouts go camping and have no hot water for cleaning their dishes (we live in a dry area and fires are usually not permitted), they take along some bleach to add to the water. I think it is a small amount, like a teaspoon to a gallon of water. Maybe this is an idea to use if you are trying to save on water heater costs. I am not all that sure bleach is something that I would want left on my plates, though, so I would rinse well!

I have heard that using a dishwasher with a good hot water source and turning off the heated drying cycle is more efficient than hand washing both in terms of water usage and energy costs.

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