Books & Music...

Ever since I was 11 years old, I've held daily showering as a high value. I came to that decision when I went to Disney World that summer and spent sweltering July days standing in line with people who didn't share that same value. But as I've re-evaluated my footprint on this planet, I've found myself asking those tough questions, like "Is showering daily really good for the earth?" Most people who come into daily contact with me would probably scream, "You showering is good for all of the earth's inhabitants."

Sometimes, it's healthy to consider such questions and how the daily habits of our culture have impacted the earth. In Wake Up and Smell the Planet: The Non-Pompous, Non-Preachy Grist Guide to Greening Your Day, authors Brangien Davis and Katharine Wroth propose simple ways we can actually do something. It's fun, pithy and practical.

Here's a green nugget from the book ... and the answer to my all-consuming question about showering:

"Most people consider bathing a fairly crucial part of the daily routine. But for those who worry about global water resources gurgling down the drain, the mere prospect of washing up can be a downer. Very few bathers have the time, space, or stamina to limit water usage to barrel-collected rainwater heated in solar sacks. Which means many of you are left standing on the bathmat, shivering in your skivvies, wondering which wastes less water—a shower or a bath?

"The answer will vary depending on how long your showers are, how many gallons rain down from your showerhead each minute, how big your bathtub is, and how high you fill it when you soak. But tuck this into your robe pocket: a five-minute shower uses about a third as much water as a full bath. Whichever route you choose, there are simple things you can do to ensure your bathing experience is as water-friendly as a sea turtle:

• Fix any leaks around the faucet or showerhead (even small trickles add up to gallons of water wasted per week)
• Buy aerators for all of your faucets. these are mesh faucet ends that can cut the gallons-per-minute water usage by up to 40%. (They are easy to attach, but they may need occasional rising when clogged.)
• Get a low-flow showerhead, easily installable by even a tepidly intrepid person. You'll cut your water usage from about 5 gallons a minute to 2.5 gallons a minute."