A study of 2,000 adults found they spend an average of 11 minutes under the water each day, sometimes for the sole reason of enjoying time to themselves
A survey involving 2,000 grown-ups has highlighted that most adults groove under the shower for about 11 minutes every day, often using it as an escape for some solitary chill-time.
The boffins have crunched the numbers and say if you run an 11-minute mixer shower, you’ll gobble up around 132 litres of H2O—which takes about 5.8 kWh energy to heat.
Switching to an electric shower isn’t quite so thirsty though—lasting the same time will only soak through around 54 litres and 1.9 kWh of juice.
It turns out 43% of Brits are happy to let showers linger longer than needed, even when a rapid rinse is enough to banish the grime.
Yet, even with splashing extra minutes daily, only 28% actually ponder on their water wastage, whilst a startling 21% blithely ignore it.
In the battle against excess, topping the charts to cut down on aqua use while washing is having shorter showers (44%), taking them less frequently (27%), turning off the tap mid-routine (also 27%), and immediately tackling any drips or leaks (19%).
Daniel Lintell from Triton Showers, the firm behind this bit of research and a nifty online calculator offering personalised water and energy saving advice, chimed in, saying: “It can be easy to take a shower for longer than you actually need to, and many actually cherish this moment of peace when they can be by themselves during a busy day.
“The feeling of getting clean after a long day can’t be beaten – but it’s important to think about the impact you’re having when you’re in the shower.
“Finding alternative approaches to getting those few minutes of peace could be a valuable way to make sure you’re doing your bit for the planet, your pocket, and yourself.
“If reducing your time spent in the shower isn’t feasible – or you simply enjoy spending time there – then consider water-conserving tactics like fitting a flow regulator to a mixer shower, turning down the water flow when lathering, or using an electric shower.”
Research has shown that 25% of people listen to music while they shower, whereas 10% prefer the company of a podcast.
Moreover, 11% relish the tranquillity away from their hectic home life, while 16% mull over various matters during their shower.
On average, individuals bathe five times weekly, with a surprising 12% confessing to showering more than once daily.
However, they typically let the shower run for almost one and a half minutes before stepping in, resulting in seven minutes of wasted water each week on average. The survey revealed that half (51%) wash their hair several times a week, and 21% do so daily.
Disturbingly, a forgetful 17% even admitted they don’t always remember to switch off the shower afterwards, findings from OnePoll.com indicated.
Despite this, a significant 81% of respondents consider themselves to be environmentally conscious, with an impressive 97% engaging in various eco-friendly habits, including recycling (72%), using reusable bags for shopping (66%), and utilising energy-efficient light bulbs (55%).
Moreover, 61% acknowledge that wasting water has a detrimental impact on the environment. However, approximately a third of respondents had only a rough estimate or were uncertain about the financial cost of their daily showers. Notably, 48% cited the potential for monetary savings as a primary motivator for reducing their shower time.
A spokesperson for Triton Showers commented: “As well as the environmental impact of water waste, I’d encourage shower users to think about the money they could be saving.”
They further highlighted the financial implications, stating: “The average shower currently costs the billpayer around 6p a minute – it all adds up over time, and by taking shorter showers and not leaving it running before or after you wash, you could be turning those pennies into precious pounds.”