The energy needed to move, treat, and use water in the US for both residential and commercial purposes produces nearly 290 million metric tonnes of CO2 annually – the equivalent of 5% of the nation’s overall carbon emissions.įor a standard new-build home in the UK, the energy used by utility companies to treat and pump water to domestic property is responsible for only about 10% of water-related CO2 emissions. It accounts for 6% of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the UK, while laundry alone accounts for 8% of all residential-sector CO2 emissions in the US.
The power needed to run household appliances, and especially the energy required to heat up water, has a carbon footprint that’s largely invisible to householders. But domestic laundry has a surprisingly large carbon footprint. This kind of machine may be impractical for most homes. Though small, the gizmo can even accommodate duvet covers. “We re-use rinse water for the next wash if it is clean enough to do so,” explains Lambert. They then move the clothes to the right-hand tub – a spin dryer. First, they pour warm water into the left side, which runs up to 12 minutes on an agitating cycle.
THE HIDDEN WATER IN EVERYDAY PRODUCTS MANUAL
The couple use a portable twin tub washing machine, an electricity-powered device with two compartments that requires a bit more manual input than a typical modern washing machine. “So, certainly, the lifestyle does make you very conscious of how much water you use.”Ī good example is laundry. “It’s surprising how quickly you get through that,” says Lambert. The couple typically fill 40-litre water carriers at caravan sites, and roll them along the ground to their caravan. “You have to collect all the water yourself.” “The limit when you’re caravanning is the fact that you very rarely have water hooked up to the caravan,” explains Lambert, who worked in sales before she retired. At the moment, they’re in a village in the Italian Alps. After she and her husband were made redundant in their early 50s, they decided to rent out their house in the coastal town of Bournemouth, UK, and move into a caravan with their four dogs for much of the year.
To be fair, Lambert’s whole lifestyle is on the unusual side. After all, a daily shower is more about cultural expectations than hygiene. “But I’m unapologetic for it because I think it’s fine,” she laughs. Jackie Lambert suspects that her habit of showering only every three days is unusual.
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