Press Release
19 March 2013
Survey shows Hong Kongers take 14-minute long showers
More than 20,000 students and 4,000 citizens help curb CO2 emissions via “5-minute Shower
Challenge”
For the second consecutive year, environmental group Green Power, with full support from China
CITIC Bank International (“CNCBI”), rolled out large-scale water-saving, low-carbon campaign
“5-minute Shower Challenge” earlier and today runs a “World Water Day Action” ahead of the
3.22 United Nations World Water Day, featuring an array of guests including Ms. Christine Loh,
Under Secretary for the Environment; Dr. Chan Hon-fai, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on
the Quality of Water Supplies; Ms. Zoe Lau, Head of CEO Office of China CITIC Bank
International; Dr. Man Chi-sum, Chief Executive Officer of Green Power, and Sammy from
Commercial Radio FM903.
Ms. Christine Loh, Under Secretary for the Environment, approves of the “5-minute Shower
Challenge”.
“Global warming has an impact on our daily lives. Every Hong Kong citizen must
face the fact and take action against the situation,” says Ms. Loh.
“It takes energy and gives out
carbon dioxide when treating, transporting and handling drinking water.
consumption and global warming is obvious.
water, but it also alleviates global warming.
The link between water
Shortening shower time to 5 minutes not only saves
As such, the activity is twice as meaningful.”
China CITIC Bank International is supporting the campaign for the second year.
Ms. Zoe Lau,
the Bank’s Head of CEO Office, notes, “China CITIC Bank International has always emphasised
social responsibility, and the Bank is committed to promoting environmental protection.
Last year,
we began supporting Green Power’s ‘5-minute Shower Challenge’, pitching in to promote this
large-scale water-saving and low-carbon programme, which is the first in Hong Kong.
The
response was overwhelming – more people have now become aware of the link between water
consumption and global warming, and they took 5-minute showers to save water and reduce carbon
emissions.
This year, more than 100 of the Bank’s staff participated in the challenge and used a
specially designed sandglass to keep track of their shower time.
Also, more than 20,000 students
and 4,000 members of the Hong Kong public have pledged to take 5-minute showers.
We hope
more people will join us after today’s event.”
Dr. Man Chi-sum, Chief Executive Officer, Green Power, remarks, “We call on the general public
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Press Release
to save water and practice 5-minute shower.
If all Hong Kong citizens do this, an annual 78,000
tonnes of Carbon emission will be spared.”
Results of the "Water Resources and Water Consumption Habits of Hong Kong People"
survey
Results of the "Water Resources and Water Consumption Habits of Hong Kong People" survey are
released during the event.
The survey, which was conducted by Green Power, involved about 400
people and it aimed at examining the participants’ knowledge of water resources, their water
consumption habits and awareness of the link between water consumption and global warming.
The findings include:
-
This year’s survey respondents show an increased awareness of Hong Kong’s water resources
compared to the people polled last year
-
86% of the respondents take showers instead of baths, a 16% increase on last year’s figure
-
The average person takes 14 minutes to shower
-
Around 40% of the survey respondents use high-flow showers
-
30% of the people polled keep the shower head and tap running when using water
Mr. Matthew Sin, Senior Environmental Affairs Manager of Green Power, points out, “Apparently,
the 14 minutes-per-shower average is too much.
water.
One minute in the shower consumes 10 litres of
Taking a shower instead of a bath uses half the water, but a 10-miniute shower wastes as
much water. People should finish their shower within 5 minutes.”
He reminds people not to turn up the water flow or keep the water running when washing.
He
adds, “High-flow shower is unnecessary; low-flow does not mean unclean. It is misperception.
There are times when water is not required during a wash.
two to apply shampoo, shower gel or shaving cream.
For instance, it may take a minute or
Turning off the water saves 10 to 20 litres of
water during one of these intervals.
Resutls of the survey also show that more than 70% of the general public are willing to change their
water consumption habits to ease global warming, and most of them go for shorter showers.
Mr.
Sin continues, “The entire water supply and treatment system consumes massive amounts of energy
and generates tonnes of carbon dioxide.
dioxide emissions, fuelling global warming.
Higher water consumption means increased carbon
Hong Kong people’s daily water consumption can
produce some 1,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Showers and baths use more water than most in a
household.
We can all cut water consumption and carbon emissions by restricting our shower time
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to less than 5 minutes.”
More than 20,000 primary school students pledged to support the “5-minute Shower
Challenge”
The “5-minute Shower Challenge” comprises a series of school and community activities involving
already some 20,630 primary school students.
They will take 5-minute showers for 21
consecutive days starting on the “World Water Day” on 22 March.
It is anticipated that this will
result in a reduction of 12,910kg of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the carbon dioxide
absorbed by 1,076 trees in a year.
Yaumati Catholic Primary School (Hoi Wang Road) Primary Four student Sharon says, “I timed my
showers before signing on and I realised that I usually take 15 minutes to finish my shower.
have already started to shorten my shower even before the World Water Day.
I
My mother knocked
on the bathroom door to remind me at the 4-minute mark.” Her fellow student David says,
“Shower is comfort, especially in the winter cold and I am unaware of my shower time.
I will
from now on look at the sandglass given to us by the organiser and try not to forget the time.”
Dr. Man Chi-sum, Chief Executive Officer of Green Power, asserts, “According to psychological
studies, performing an action for 21 consecutive days forms a habit.
We believe that if
participating students continue to take 5-minute showers for least 21 days, it will become a habit
and help slow down global warming.”
Commercial Radio FM903 Host Sammy, Chu Fun support the “5-minute Shower Challenge”
This year “5-minute Shower Challenge” is supported by Commercial Radio which is now the
campaign’s official radio station.
Chu Fun takes the stage as MC of today’s event and Sammy
comes on with four mini Sammys who perform a short educational drama about bathing and
showering in costumes similar to Sammy’s classic TV characters such as Police Inspector Bo Dei
from TV drama Friendly Fire and in variety show Neighbourhood Treasures. The mini Sammys
demonstrate a number of “bad” bathing habits including taking baths, using high-flow showers,
spending lengthy periods in the shower, and not turning off the shower properly.
Sammy, now in
his role as a teacher, points out the bad habits and provides guidance and advice such as taking
showers instead of baths, closing the faucet properly and most importantly, restricting the shower
time to less than 5 minutes.
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4,000 Hong Kong citizens pledge to take 5-minute showers
A series of 5-minute Shower community activities was launched across February.
Green Power
gave away free 5-minute shower sandglasses to people who made a 5-minute shower pledge online.
During this time, more than 4,000 members of the general public have pledged to complete their
daily showers within 5 minutes.
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