Water conservation seems to be all the buzz this week, from efficient appliances to showering less. But there's one factor missing.
The Responsible Bathroom Water Conservation Tour has been touring the country and claims to have surpassed its goal of two billion gallons of water saved. (The tour is sponsored by American Standard and it's essentially a showroom sales truck selling water-efficient fixtures—so not exactly altruistic, but if that's the thing that gets people to purchase even minor appliances that can save gallons a day, then fine.)
And the project offers an online calculator to help people understand their water consumption better.
There also seems to be a nascent cultural shift in at least one of the most water-intensive activities most people do everyday: the shower, with a growing sense that maybe a daily shower is over-the-top unnecessary. The Times and CBS have both reported recently on the increasing popularity of showering every other day or less.
What's on your plate?
Water conservation, however, is also about diet. You can take fewer or shorter showers, but if there's meat and dairy in your meals, it's really counteracting those savings. Consider that one pound of beef can consume up to 5,000 gallons of water to produce. (Butter is about 2,044 gallons per pound, while tofu stands at 244.)
So, while effective water conservation relies on water-efficient fixtures and simple habits like showering less—which it turns out is not only eco-friendly but apparently in style—it also relies on smart dietary choices.
