Can you take a five minute shower? Pilot expands to Murphree and Graham Areas

January 12, 2010

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The highly successful “Can You Take a Five Minute Shower?” water conservation campaign in Yulee Area has expanded to the Murphree and Graham Areas.

Water conservation messages including reminders about taking shorter, cooler showers, turning off water while brushing teeth or shaving, as well as reminders to report leaking faucets and shower heads and “running” toilets through iService, an online maintenance request procedure, are posted throughout the areas. The most challenging water conservation effort for residents is to take shorter, cooler showers using the Shower Coach timers.

Shower Coach timers are five-minute shower timers on suction cups that have been placed in showers in these residence areas. A five-minute shower uses 12.5 gallons of water. Each additional minute uses 2.5 gallons of water. Residents are being asked to take shorter, cooler showers to support both water conservation and energy conservation efforts campus wide.

“The Shower Coach timers are a fun way to remind residents about water and energy conservation while they are actively using resources,” said Sharon Blansett, assistant director of housing and chair of the Housing Green Team/Recycling/Sustainability Committee. “This water-conservation effort is one of many resource-conservation efforts supported by the committee in residence facilities.”

One month after the launch of the campaign in Yulee Area, residents were surveyed concerning their awareness and participation in the campaign. Ninety-four percent of those taking the survey reported awareness of the campaign. Eighty percent reported participating in the campaign. Forty-three percent reported using the shower timers every time they showered. Residents are responding positively to the Shower Coach timers. They report that it is difficult to take a five-minute shower, but the timers help them gauge their time in the shower. Some report the timers help them when they are running late for class.