Where previously few people thought about how long they were in the shower, it is suddenly a problem with the current gas prices. Suddenly that teenager who stays under the shower for half an hour causes annoyance. Because how much does that cost?
According to the Association of Drinking Water Companies in the Netherlands (Vewin), we shower on average for 7.4 minutes and use approximately 57 liters of water. It takes approximately 0.29 cubic meters of gas to heat those 57 liters. From 1 January 2023, the price ceiling for gas is 1.45 euros per cubic meter and the water price is 1.24 euros per 1,000 liters on average. With these prices, a shower costs 0.49 euros.
We do not shower every day, but 0.82 times per person per day, according to the Vewin report Water use at home 2021. According to calculations by Milieu Centraal, which assumes an average household of 2.17 people and takes into account holidays and weekends away, we pay 298 euros per year for showers. If we reduce the shower time to 5 minutes, an average household will save 73 euros per year. For comparison: turning the heating down one degree saves on average about 120 cubic meters of gasor 170 euros with the new price ceiling.
This is of course short sighted. For the real price of a shower, everything counts. Such as the energy contract, the heating method and how many liters of water come through the shower head. And of course also: exactly how long and how hot does everyone in the household shower?
Shorter and less hot showers
According to energy-saving expert Marlon Mintjes of Milieu Centraal, many people don’t even know how long they shower. ‘Measure your shower time with a timer to make that clear to yourself,’ says Mintjes. Then you can start experimenting. More than 7 million households now have a smart meter. Mintjes: ‘Download the app from your energy company and see what the difference is if you adjust the shower time, or if you set the shower thermostat to 35 degrees instead of 38 degrees.’
The price per shower is perhaps not very shocking, says Karin Radstaak of Nibud. ‘But look at the annual difference if you shower less often, less long and less hot with a household of four people. Those totals are important to involve your family and to be able to do it together.’
According to Radstaak, you don’t have to saddle children with money worries right away, but you can show the consequences of their behavior. ‘Make it a challenge: put the money you save in a jar that you can buy tasty things from or do something fun with. And pick a nice song that lasts 5 minutes. When the song ends, the shower turns off.’
Too much showering is not healthy
If this doesn’t convince your kids or roommates, you may want to explain to them that taking a lot of showers isn’t good at all. ‘Most people shower too long, too often and too hot’, says professor of dermatology Tamar Nijsten of Erasmus MC. ‘That’s bad for the skin. Especially if you also use a lot of soap and shampoo. The skin dries out, good bacteria wash away and the skin starts producing more sebum to protect itself. Especially people with sensitive skin, or with skin diseases such as eczema or rosacea, can suffer from this.’
According to Nijsten, there is no guideline for the minimum number of showers. “I’d say keep it short and try not to shower more than every other day. In fact, twice a week is enough. From a bacteriological point of view, even less is not a bad thing, you have to be very furious if you want to get sick from your skin bacteria. Our grandparents only bathed on Sundays and that was fine too.’
Enough arguments for shorter showers, but it is not necessarily easy. ‘Changing a habit is one of the hardest things to do,’ says Radstaak. Fortunately, there are also aids, such as a water-saving cup, a solar water heater and a heat recovery system. Radstaak: ‘The energy bill will not be reduced next year. Some changes to your shower will pay for itself in a few months or a few years. If you can afford it, now is the time to invest in this.’