How can a bath addict become more environmentally friendly?

Question

I really want to be more green. I recycle and turn off lights when I am not using them. Overall, I would say my carbon footprint is lower than the average. However, I love soaking in the bathtub after a long day or when I have a cold. This makes me feel guilty though, as it uses more water than a shower. I would say I take a bath probably twice a week and shower the other days. Show I feel this guilty? It's my biggest environmental vice.

Answer 1

If that's your only enviromental sin, then you're way above the curve. Soak away.  

Answer 2

My father could answer this question. He lives in a big house on a quarter acre, and uses only 250 gallons a MONTH of water. So here are his suggestions: Don't use bubbles. Remove the water with a bucket to flush the toilet, water indoor plants, water outdoor plants, fill a birdbath, and to run the first wash cycle of laundry. Remove the laundry, use the water again for another load, etc. When done, fill the washer with clean water and rinse each load without allowing the water to drain. Then put it on spin dry for each load. You can also use bath water to wash your vehicles, rinse down a patio, etc.

Answer 3

False guilt, my friend.  Unless you are bathing in a running water Olympic sized tub, doubt you are using more water than a shower unless you take the Navy showers where you run water, turn of, soap and then shower off.  I have been recycling since the '60's EA-ZPG movement and am one of those "canny people" whom cash in beer and soda cans to help with gas tank in car pool.  I use a portable swamp cooler for room cool rather than run AC all day and also look for ways to narrow and shorten the carbon footprint in daily life.  No doubt you are as conscientious and conservative as I am and I really do not resent your sharing of the planet or obligate you to sacrifice your life or health because of political extremists.  Do what you feel is right without adopting unreasonable dictates from mass hysterics.

Answer 4

Isn`t it obvious - bath with a friend :)

Answer 5

Use the same bath water every time.

Answer 6

if you want an environmentally friendly solution to taking baths then you need to check out a product called "ThermaSsure". It is a simple product which maintains a constant temperature of your bathwater as well as cleaning the water as it reheats - and will do for  as long as you want!

It is a product from the UK, and I hope it might help you out!

Answer 7

Install a grey-water tank. It recycles the water from the bath and sinks and reuses it to water the garden, wash the car, etc. I don't know much about it, but I'm sure if you google it, you can find lots of info.

Answer 8

hye bud sounds like your very enviromentally conscious anyways. i dont think you should be feeling giulty if you gotta bathtub its your right to use it try maby not filling it up as much, but seriously if your doing your bit in other ways dont worry about it, its ok you are not a BAD person for having baths, if you feel really bad you could use the water from the bath to water the plants...hope it helps...:)

Answer 9

This day in age, no one's perfect. However, there are ways to tackle your guilt if you're willing to try new things.

To relax, try yoga or meditation. No water needed! It works wonders for me when I'm stressed. I strongly suggest giving it an honest try.

But yes, when I have a cold, I need a bath too. And in this case, or if yoga/meditation doesn't cut it for you, there are other ways to rid yourself of environmental guilt. Try to even things out with mother nature by biking to work once a week (or to the grocery store, coffee shop, library etc.) Or, if you're already awesome and take the bus every day, try volunteering at a nature center or park.

You're already one step ahead of most people simply by caring, and for that, I thank you.