Save water AND energy by making sure your showerhead is as efficient as possible.
What difference does it make?
An efficient showerhead can cut water use (and water heating) by a half, and it still feels ok! Careful use of water is becoming more important as the planet warms.
This activity lowers your carbon footprint by:
108 KG CO₂
What do you need?
- Bucket
- Measuring jug or empty bottle from your recycling
- A helper with a clock or phone stopwatch that counts seconds
Step by step
OK, first we're going to work out the flow rate of your shower. To do this you'll need to run it into your bucket for 15 seconds. Make sure you catch all the water.
Next, measure how many litres of water are in the bucket by scooping or pouring it into your measuring jug or bottle (the label should tell you how many litres the bottle holds). Ask your helper to take a photo of you doing this! Once you know how much is in the bucket, multiply it by four to find out how much water would come out in a minute.... that's your flow rate!
If your flow rate is over 8 litres per minute, it's worth getting a more efficient showerhead. If yours is already efficient - congratulations! Take a photo and upload it now to score your goals.
To get a new showerhead, check your water company's website - some offer free water-efficient showerheads. If you prefer to buy one in a shop, it's probably easiest to unscrew your current showerhead and take it with you to make sure you're buying one that will fit.
Fit your new showerhead, upload your photos as a collage. We need to see the following for VAR to accept the goals: __- picture of jug with calculations __- picture of showerhead order confirmation
Need Help?
Electric showers are usually set with a flow rate of 5 to 6 liters per minute. So you won't need a new shower head. Equiping them with a new shower head could damage the pump mechanism.
It should be free: most water suppliers will send you one for free! Check out on their website or give them a ring.
If you need to buy one, you'll find decent ones for around £10-15.
The showering experience will be pretty much the same.