How long should a shower last to save your budget (and the environment)?

Less than a year ago, the debate focused on the time of day when it was better to take a shower, namely in the morning to boost your creativity, or in the evening to get rid of the tensions accumulated throughout of the day. Two teams, two atmospheres. A few months later, the constant rise in energy costs, combined with environmental issues, seems to have changed the game with a new question: how long should a shower last to save money – or at least not spend too much? – and be more respectful of the environment? A debate notably revived by The Guardian who looked at the pros and cons of the ‘four-minute shower’. A record time that leaves little room for relaxation and personal hygiene, according to the experts, who actually give one more minute to accomplish this daily gesture.

A long shower is equivalent to a bath

Better to take a shower than a bath. A concept acquired by ordinary mortals, but which only makes sense if you do not exceed the required duration, namely five minutes. To drag on in the shower would amount to consuming as much water as for a bath. Not very profitable, nor eco-responsible. And yet, the majority of individuals would drag on beyond this duration in the shower. In the USA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the average duration of a shower is approximately 8 minutes, while a survey carried out by BVA-Domeo in 2015 reported a duration of 9 minutes on average for the French. Far too many in view of the recommendations of a host of experts, including the Ecological Transition Agency (Ademe), who recommend favoring showers of less than 5 minutes to reduce, or not see an explosion in, your water and energy bill.

And it must be admitted that a simple calculation confirms this recommendation. If we consider that a traditional showerhead consumes about 15 liters of water per minute, an 8 or 9 minute shower will therefore generate about 120 liters or 135 liters of water respectively, which is almost as much as can be held. some tubs. While a shower of 5 minutes maximum, without turning off the water – but we will come back to this, will only consume 75 liters. A size difference which, reduced to a week, should convince you to reduce the duration of what is considered by many to be a moment of relaxation. And it is only a question here of water consumption… Unless you only take cold showers, you have to add to that the costs linked to the use of hot water, which should continue to rise dramatically in the coming months.

Minimize your bill

Faced with the explosion of energy costs, advice and recommendations are flowing to reduce your bill in an optimal way, and at the same time adopt a more responsible behavior. Beyond the duration of the shower, fixed as we have seen at 5 minutes maximum, Ademe recommends cutting off the water when soaping. A reflex that would again considerably reduce the bill, if it is estimated that around thirty liters of water can be lost unnecessarily. But the Ecological Transition Agency also advises investing in an economical shower head and a mousseur. The first would reduce its consumption to 6 liters per minute, a 5-minute shower only generating 30, while the second would reduce the flow rate by up to 50% “without losing comfort”. Enough to see your water and energy bills drop significantly.

Ultimate advice, and not least, although quite logical, Ademe recommends not to neglect any water leaks. It seems obvious, but an undetected and unrepaired leak can cause up to 600 liters of water to be lost per day depending on its origin. “Read the figures on your water meter just before going to bed. When you wake up, if these figures are not identical and no one has used water during the night, look for the leak!”, advises the environmental agency.

What about personal hygiene then?

Is a shower of less than 5 minutes sufficient for impeccable personal hygiene? Yes, according to many health professionals, regularly questioned on the subject. Questioned by the American media Healthline in 2020, dermatologist Edidiong Kaminska estimated that a shower lasting 5 to 10 minutes was sufficient to cleanse and hydrate the skin optimally. More – or less – could on the contrary weaken it. People affected by skin problems, such as eczema, are also encouraged to reduce this time, as is the thermostat, to reduce the risk of inflammation.

Far from the moment of relaxation appreciated by a crowd of consumers, the quick shower therefore has the merit of being economical and ecological, while meeting the needs of the skin. So many reasons to try it out and adopt it.