Now that we have been introduced to energy, how we measure energy, and the impact of energy consumption on standard of living, let’s take a new approach to gain perspective on energy and power. How do we use energy on demand? Two examples could be taking a hot shower or drying your hair. For this exercise we will be using the example of taking a hot shower.
The energy consumed for a shower depends on several factors – here we will discuss the impact of the heat you want for your shower and the length of time you want to shower! Let’s see just how energy intensive something as luxurious as a hot shower can be.
For this particular shower we are going to want a nice hot shower: one where the water is 110℉. Between the steam, streaming water, and warmth, it’s tempting to spend way more than the average time of about 8 min* in the shower. Let’s go to the extreme with a luxury shower of 20 minutes. The reason you can go to your shower, at home or at the gym, and experience such luxury is because the United States is a privileged country to have energy on demand for most, if not all, of its citizens.
*average time for a shower in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1Lindberg, S. (2020, May 20). Shower time: How long to take and are longer showers better? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/shower-time#how-to-shower.
Now, let’s take a look at what energy on demand looks like for our twenty-minute, hot shower.