To shower or to bath, that is the question?

[Wendles]

I accept that it is probably greener to shower rather than to take a bath but I'd like to explore some alternatives:
1. What if, like me, you shower very quickly - could that be less water than a bath ?
2. What if you share a bath with a friend, ie share the bath - or the bathwater (obviously not after a midwinter, army area orienteering event!)? If you share the bath there is less room for water, and two people, so surely that must be less water than two people taking a shower (together or separately)? So what about if you jump in the bath after your very clean, closest friend, without changing the bathwater - is that, per person, less water than two showers?
This is beginning to sound like the 'you know it's not butter' episode of Vicar of Dibley but I would like to know the answers or should I just get a Saturday night life?
ps I'm raring to go for the Peter Palmer results later on in the night - go AIRE!

[Asian]

This is totally dependant on whether you have a power shower or a noraml shower, how long you spend in the shower (or combined time in the shower), the means in which the water is heated (district heating (unlikely in the Uk more likely in continental Europe) etc) and hwo many people use the bath water and how it is treated afterwards). There is no easy or one answer to this question. It is very much dependent on the individual surcumstansise. (spelling not too good tonight as I'm a little drunk!). But once in a while a bath is cracking and more relaxing so in economic terms a bath once in a while is probably more economically viable as it is more relaxing and thus the environmental externalities associated with having a beth are discounted by the max relax feeling and the resulting increased prductivity therafter. Have a bath, have a shower, share each with someone you love and it doubles the benefit. Love it all!
have it

[Shea]

Personally i find that no matter how long im in the shower, which can be a good while sometimes, that the water level never makes it even halfway to the bath level mark. Put a plug in and try it. You'll be amazed!

[rosalind]

Be prepared for wrinkly feet.

[bendover]

don't you just hate those showers that are so feeble that you have to run around to get wet?

[plain lazy]

Aviemore Youth Hostel's showers were so hot on Saturday night you had to keep running in and out to stop you scolding yourself...

[Kitch]

why would you give yourself a severe telling off for having a hot shower ??

[the duncan]

i hope the perpatator of this thread has since showered/bathed, other wise you'll be reeking by now

[Kitch]

not unlike the thread itself

[pyrat]

A golden shower at 100% concentration or a golden bath at 30% concentration?

[Harley]

A good soak in a hot bath will get you so warm that you can turn the central heating off for the next few hours, even on the coldest day, thus saving masses of energy and associated greenhouse gasses.
Baths win hands down.

[bendover]

yeah watersports!!

[Andy.T]

Either way showers win, hands down. Where is the hygiene in bathing in your own filth (assuming a filthy day in the forest...and not the kind of filthy that others may be thinking about!)? You'd need a shower afterwards!

[Wendles]

Thankyou everyone for your arguments for and against! the duncan will be pleased to know that I have showered and bathed several times since posting this thread, with varying degrees of enjoyment. I haven't managed to try out Shea's experiment as yet but am planning to do on a night when the family are not hammering on the bathroom door to have their turn to 'go first'. Bottom line is you can't beat lights out, flickering candles, soft music and a good novel in the bath - doesn't quite work in the shower.

[bendover]

and remember kids, don't use your hairdryer in the bath!