For most of us, a day without bathing is simply unimaginable – especially in summer when we refresh ourselves several times a day. Now, imagine suddenly losing that luxury in our own homes and having to maintain hygiene in some kind of public bathhouses instead.
I must admit that the very thought sends shivers down my spine. I think I would constantly feel uncomfortable due to the lack of privacy, concerns about hygiene conditions, or doubts about whether I would feel clean enough after bathing alongside fellow citizens. It sounds like something from the past, not a part of modern life, doesn’t it?
However, maybe we should give this idea another chance – not as a necessary solution but as an interesting option for sustainable cities of the future. The inspiration for this blog came from an article published in Low-tech Magazine, where author Kris De Decker presents a series of intriguing arguments in favor of bringing public baths back.
The article highlights that heating water for bathing is one of the largest energy expenditures in households. Adding to that the heating of living spaces, wastewater treatment, and the construction resources required for bathroom renovations, we end up with a true energy “monster” in every home. Modern bathing is essentially characterized as an unsustainable luxury that consumes large amounts of electricity, mostly derived from fossil fuels.
Sustainability advocates usually propose two solutions: technological innovations and behavioral changes. The first involves low-flow showers, solar water heaters, water recycling, and other advanced systems, while the second is a bit more radical, suggesting shorter showers, using cold water, or washing in a sink.
While these solutions may be suitable for some households, they are definitely not intended for the general population. Technological innovations are expensive and difficult to implement in older buildings, while promoting discomfort as a sacrifice for the planet is something few people will accept. So, what options do we have left?
Public bathing may sound like a relic of the past, but in terms of resource efficiency, nothing compares! Instead of 1,000 individual bathrooms consuming vast amounts of energy and materials, we could have one that is more economical, efficient, and sustainable.
Moreover, public bathhouses make the implementation of sustainable technologies significantly easier: solar collectors can cover a larger surface area, wastewater treatment systems become more cost-effective, and heat loss is reduced.
Interestingly, ancient Roman baths were more energy-efficient than our modern ones. Their hypocaust system, which distributed warm air through floors and walls using underground furnaces, maintained temperature with minimal fuel consumption. Studies show that a single public bathhouse burned around 60 trees per year – a negligible amount compared to today’s household energy consumption.
In addition to being energy-efficient, Roman bathhouses had another advantage – they were social hubs. People spent hours in them, socializing, relaxing, and enjoying luxury, and perhaps that’s exactly what we need in an era of increasing social disconnection.
Modern public bathhouses can be fully energy self-sufficient. A mountainous village in China already has a communal bathhouse for 5,000 people that uses solar energy, draws water from wells, and filters wastewater using plants. Europe could follow this example, utilizing surplus energy from solar and wind power to heat water and indoor spaces.
Perhaps it’s time to rethink our habits and return to old but better solutions. Shared bathing doesn’t have to mean a loss of privacy – we can design it in a modern and comfortable way. And when we consider the benefits – energy savings, cost reduction, and social connectedness – maybe reintroducing public bathhouses into our cities isn’t such a bad idea after all.
