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Wellness Water Filters – Clean and Enhanced Home Water

November 1, 2009 in Healthy Green Home, Water by Jennifer | 1 comment

Wellness Enterprises makes water filters for the home kitchen, bathroom, and even products for on the go. Of course we talk about water all the time here, and I usually go with drinking tap. However, since not everyone is down with tap water, and some people do actually need a filter to make their water safe to drink, a wellness filter might be a good choice.

All in all the company offers, filtered water bottles (great for plastic landfill reduction), shower heads, kitchen units, and a newly launched Wellness home device that filters and enhances water from the source (i.e. all sinks, hoses, shower heads etc).

According to the company, Wellness filters are not like regular filters. They filter 99% of all water containment, bacteria and viruses plus enhance the water by adding minerals and antioxidants that are proven to aid the skin in healing, aging, and increasing skin hydration by 115%. Additionally these cartridges last an extremely long time – about a year for a family of four (1,200 gallons).

The company tells me that they offer a recycling program for the Wellness Kitchen cartridge – although note, I looked around the site and couldn’t find info on any recycling program, so hopefully they can answer specific recycling questions if you contact them. In addition, each cartridge filters and enhances 1,200 gallons of water which is equivalent to more than 9,000 of the standard 500mL plastic bottles which of course saves landfill space (no plastic bottles) and saves you money.

The Wellness MG-III Home system does not use cartridges and provides filtering for an extended life of 7 – 10 years of life before the filtration media need to be replaced.

Visit Wellness Filter to learn more about all their home water filtering products.

Reduce the lead in your home water supply

October 31, 2009 in Healthy Green Home, Water by Jennifer | No comments

There could be lead in your water supply and that’s not a good thing. Lead can cause delays in physical and mental development plus deficits in attention span and learning abilities in children. Adults may experience increased in blood pressure and kidney problems when exposed to lead.

The stories you hear about lead in your hot water are true. If you’re used to filling up pots with hot water from the sink, make the switch to cold. Cold water, unlike hot won’t cause lead to leach from your pipes. According to the EPA houses built before 1986 are most likely to have pipes with lead. However, note that even “lead-safe” pipes can contain some lead – cool water is simply a better choice.

Cold water or not you should run water for 15 to 30 seconds before drinking it, especially if you have not used your water for a few hours, this allows any possible lead to drain out before you get to it.

Most tap water is pretty safe. However, if you’re concerned, it’s easy to find out if your water is safe or not. If not you may want to consider a water filter.

Put your water in a safe pitcher – it’s silly to get lead-free water from the sink only to put it in a pitcher that can add lead to the water.

Save and reuse your water

September 14, 2009 in Water by Jennifer | No comments

Conserving and reusing water is essential. Water is not a never ending resource, even though it may seem like it. In reality, water is not technically becoming more scarce, but we are using more and more of it than ever before. As the demand goes up, there’s always a chance supplies could dwindle. For example, now when various areas experience a drought, the effects are more easily felt than when a drought occurred in the past.

You can save water easily by…

  • Pouring your cooking water into a jar – say you steam veggies – save that water.
  • Installing a rain barrel.
  • Placing a tub into the shower with you and letting it fill as you wash. Just don’t trip on the tub!

You can reuse water for all sorts of things such as…

  • Watering the garden or houseplants or lawn.
  • Washing a car.
  • Mopping the floors.
  • Cleaning windows.
  • Filling the kiddie pool – use the shower water for this one.
  • Cleaning off tools in the garage or muddy boots in the fall.
  • And more.

Are Hairy Legs Green?

August 8, 2009 in Healthy Green Home, Water by Jennifer | No comments

Actually yeah they are. If you don’t mind going leg commando, hairy legs have smooth legs beat, at least on the eco-front. Some research notes that as many as 2 billion razors get tossed into the landfill yearly. Since, by now we all know that plastic razors won’t biodegrade, that sort of sucks a lot. Secondly, plenty of those shaving creams and gels contain icky chemicals and come in plastic bottles which some of us need to be better about recycling.

Still, I know some of us like to shave (even me). I went through a eco-feminist deal where I didn’t shave for years, but when I moved to New Mexico it was so damn hot I had to shave – I mean, as in so hot you want to shave not only your legs but maybe your head too. At that point I looked for eco-shaving options like…

  • Shaving less – you can shave, but the fewer times you shave the less resources you use.
  • Shave with the water off. Soak your legs as you scrub then turn the water off and shave.
  • Use an electric razor. Eco-destruction caused by plastic is far worse than the tiny amount of energy you’ll use with an electric razor
  • For the very brave, use an old school razor – you know, the type with a longer lasting metal and replaceable blade.
  • Buy recycled razors. Sadly there aren’t so many around. I LOVE the Preserve company. However, in my smack down, Eco vs. Conventional: the Preserve Razor faces the Gillette Razor, Gillette won for function. I’m still looking and considering giving Preserve another shot though.

Shaving cream:

There are so many good good natural, organic, non-toxic, and non aerosol shaving creams on the market today that it’s silly to use anything else. My favorite hands down is vedaDUDE Glide Organic Shave Gel. But you can also try checking Skin Deep for some excellent non-toxic shaving cream and gel choices. Your local natural foods store, co-op, or organic section of the grocery store will have lots more options as well.

Do you shave your legs? What products are your faves?

Sneaky bathroom water saving tips

August 7, 2009 in Water by Jennifer | 1 comment

The saving more water issue really isn’t all that complicated. In fact, you can sum it up in three little words – use less water. Wow. Right? However, for those of you who might like more substantial tips, here ya go…

  • Don’t assume showers save water: Yeah you may have heard this in the past, but know that there are major variables. For example,  according to the Environment Agency, “A 5-minute shower uses about a third of the water of a bath. But remember that power showers can use more water than a bath in less than 5 minutes.“  Now, if my son takes a shower he messes around, takes forever and wastes a lot more water than he might in the bath. But a person who just jumps in and out may save more in the shower. It all depends. If you’re fast a shower is likely your best bet. If you lag, a bath could be more efficient.
  • Shower with a buddy: I couldn’t shower with my son when he was little because he was a hot water hog, but if you’ve got easy going kids or a willing partner, showering together may be more efficient.
  • Lower your time in the shower: You don’t need a daily shower. If you’re not working construction, how dirty are you really getting? Try taking a shower every other day or only washing your hair a couple of times a week.
  • When shaving your legs, scrubbing up, or applying hair treatments turn the water off.
  • Put all your kids in the tub at once.
  • I hate using timers for showers, but I don’t take long ones anyhow. If you do, a timer can really help you to save water.
  • Hot water is bad for your skin; it can dry your skin out. Plus cold water makes your hair shiny. With this in mind, turn the water temp down, which one, saves energy, and two, being that it’s cold you may get out sooner.
  • Place a reusable bin in the tub with you as you shower – be careful not to trip over it!). Collect shower water and use it to water house plants or outside plants or wash the car or mop the floor.

7 Ways To Conserve Water and Energy in the Bathroom

August 4, 2009 in Save Energy, Save Money, Water by Jennifer | 1 comment

Keep it green from the get-go. If you’re building or remodeling, invest in an earth-friendly tub. Diamond Spas and Durat both have eco-friendly options. Durat is especially cool making tubs of solid material with recycled plastics (see Durat tub example above). Check for water leaks: You can do this by checking your water meter say, at 8am. Wait two or three hours but run no water during that time. Re-check your meter and if it’s changed, there’s a leak.

Insulate hot water pipes for hotter water even after changing your heat to a lower setting.

Insulate the water heater tank: It only takes about a year to get back the money you save on this investment and you’ll conserve energy.

Water softeners may cost you: Only use if seriously necessary. According to American Water & Energy Savers, you can “Save water and salt by running the minimum amount of regenerations necessary to maintain water softness. Turn softeners off while on vacation.”

Install water-saving low-flow shower heads.

Take shorter showers – technically you should wash up and get out not linger.

Buy an inexpensive tank bank or float booster for your toilet. This alone could save you ten or more gallons of water per day.

Water Saving Laundry Tips

July 24, 2009 in Water by Jennifer | No comments

Laundry with kids is a pain – it’s never ending! Am I wrong? And I just have the one child; all you parents with 2, 3, and 4 + kiddos amaze me. Do you ever stop washing clothes? There are still ways to conserve water though, i.e. lessen the loads besides simply buying a more efficient washer…

Separating laundry is overrated: I’m not saying toss a red shirt into a load of white towels, but everyone is so darn picky about separating clothing, from bedding, from baby items, and so fourth. MOST of your stuff can be washed together with fine results. I know plenty of folks who will wash a half load or a not quite full load because they don’t have enough of one sort of item to fill the load. When you don’t fill the washer it wastes water and energy. Around here we have two sorts of loads – delicate and not delicate. That’s it. Mix it up – I swear the world won’t end. NOTE: on the rare occasions that I do have a red item, or some other maybe leaky color item, I wash it with the old cleaning rags – who cares what color they are.

Buy washable stuff: This sort of goes along with the above tip. If you buy hard to wash items, or items that do absolutely need to be washed alone, it’s going to waste water. When purchasing clothing, bedding, and other textiles, base part of your decision on ease o’ care.

Babies aren’t that sensitive: When Cedar was a babe, his pediatrician said we could wash his baby stuff with our adult stuff no problem. We used an eco-friendly, dye-free, fragrance-free detergent, but we used it for everything. The only time you actually need to wash your baby’s clothing in a separate load is if he happens to have seriously sensitive skin and you need to use more expensive baby wash, or if he’s a preemie, which may make him more sensitive (ask your pediatrician).

Hand washing can save water on super dedicates… but: Only if you fill a basin, or the sink, then turn the water off. Lots of folks tend to wash as the water runs, but it’s unnecessary.

Don’t be so fresh: Towels can be used a lot. Most clothing can be worn more than once. Cloth napkins in a fairly tidy meal environment can be used for the next meal too.

What else can you think of?

NEW Eco-Performance Kitchen Faucets from Moen

July 21, 2009 in Save Energy, Save Money, Water by Jennifer | No comments

Moen has just introduced a new line of green kitchen faucets. They’ve already been carrying other green faucets for a while but their new eco-performance line of kitchen faucets is being touted as the first real green water saving faucets for the kitchen. The new Lindley Eco-Performance kitchen faucet offers beautiful, traditional styling, consumer-preferred high-arc pulldown spout – and a multi-function spray wand featuring water-saving settings.

Kevin Campbell, director of retail marketing for Moen notes, “While homeowners are concerned about saving water, the thought of waiting at the kitchen sink to fill a pot or pitcher is not very appealing… We are so excited to be the first in the kitchen category to offer homeowners a water-saving kitchen faucet that still provides the exceptional performance they have come to expect from Moen.”

What makes these faucets eco-friendly?

Faucets offer three unique water-flow settings. For everyday tasks that require constant, yet low-water flow, such as washing dishes or preparing foods, homeowners can choose new eco-performance standard stream or aerated spray modes. These special setting help you save water and money by providing a reduced flow rate of 1.75 gallons per minute (gpm), which translates to a 32 percent water savings. For tasks that require a set amount of water, such as filling a pot or pitcher – you can switch your faucet to the fast-fill mode, which flows at the standard 2.2 gpm rate.

Other perks:

  • The pulldown wand offers an ergonomic design with a fiber hose and a ball joint at the end of the wand.
  • Lindley faucets offer Moen’s patented Hydrolock installation system which connects the faucet and supply lines together with a telltale “click” for a quick, easy and secure connection.
  • Lindley faucets are available in LifeShine Classic Stainless or in Moen’s new Mediterranean Bronze finish.

The faucets are available at Home Depot or through the Moen website.

Eco-friendly car wash options and waterless car washing

June 14, 2009 in Water by Jennifer | 2 comments

While your car is not technically residing in your home, how you wash your car does affect your home costs related to water. Plus, if you use toxic chemicals to wash your car, those chemicals can run off into your yard.

How to wash your car at home:

If you wash at home, the biggest issue is water. According to the Washington Post, if you spend just 10 minutes spraying down your car with a typical five-eighths-inch garden hose you can easily use as much water as you would running seven loads in a dishwasher. Yikes. A better option is to do the following:

  1. Spray your car once (fast).
  2. Use a bucket and some soap plus elbow grease and soap up the car completely.
  3. Rinse fast.

It’s that continuous spraying that will drive up your water bill.

Take your car to a car wash:

Another option is to locate an eco-friendly car wash in your neighborhood. Not all areas have them, but they are popping up more and more. Look for a car wash place that uses non-toxic soaps and phosphate-free, biodegradable detergents cleaners plus one that recycles its wash water.

Go waterless:

Some companies have come out with waterless car wash cleaners. The biggest issue with these is the time involved. You’ll spend more time going over your car with a cloth and a waterless cleaner, but you will save water, and these cleaners are typically earth-friendly, although not all, so read the fine print. Some waterless car wash products include:

Green Lawn Watering for Summer

June 5, 2009 in Organic Gardening, Water by Jennifer | 2 comments

The other day I was at a friend’s apartment and all the ground sprinklers were running. It was bad news city. For one thing it was midday and secondly, almost all the sprinklers were running water not only in the grass but all over the sidewalks and street. Wow, what a good use of water! Not.

In any case, if you live in an apartment complex, let your manager know if this is an issue. There’s no reason to water the street – trust me, it’s not growing any faster. If you live in a house, make sure you follow these rules for eco-minded summer lawn watering:

  • Many lawns only need about one inch of water per week to thrive and in areas that see more rain (i.e. the Pacific NW) your lawn may need even less. Check with your local nursery or your local Cooperative Extension Office to learn about lawn water requirements in your area.
  • To make sure you are only watering your lawns as much as they need and not more, place a can or bowl in your yard, with an inch (or other level) marked off with a waterproof pen. Turn the sprinklers on, and see how long it takes to fill the can or bowl to the line. Now you know how long to water per session.
  • Timed sprinklers can help you water less and more efficiently.
  • Water in the morning, late afternoon, or in the evening. If you water midday, most of the water is evaporated by the hot sun, and can’t actually do its job. You’ll need more water for a healthy lawn.
  • Don’t water the streets and sidewalks. Set your sprinklers up to cover actual vegetation areas.
  • Use recycled water – easy if you have a rain barrel.
  • Use a hose or watering can for smaller areas vs. a sprinkler. When doing this water slowly which helps the roots to get the water they need.
  • Create an earth-friendly rain garden.
  • Water less by planting native plants and by eliminating lawn areas where possible.

And the greenest filter award goes to… Brita

April 28, 2009 in Water by Jennifer | 2 comments

I’m of the notion that you should drink tap water first (whenever possible) and use delivery water second because these options have the lowest eco-impact. However, plenty of people want filters, which I’ve never liked because there haven’t been any decent recycling programs in place. That is, until recently. With the pressure on filter companies last year to create a recycling process for filters, one company seems to have listened – Brita.

Your next best choice, in my opinion was an under-the-sink filter, but now I’m rethinking that. If you have to buy one of the major filter brands, Brita is a clear winner. Early this year they teamed up with Preserve to create a recycling program for their filters. I’m already a huge Preserve fan, in fact, we’ve seen their 100% recycled products here before, so them teaming up with Brita rocks.

How this works:

You dry the filter by shaking off excess water and setting it in a dry place for at least three days. Then Brita asks you to wrap the filter in a plastic grocery bag (BAD). I don’t even own any plastic grocery bags, because I only use cloth bags, BUT I suppose you could find one from a friend and recycle it for this. Anyhow, you wrap it in a bag, and then either drop it off at a Preserve Gimme 5 destination or mail filters via ground shipping to: Preserve Gimme 5, 823 NYS Rte 13, Cortland, NY 13045.

Now, this is not a be-all-end-all solution. If you’re buying filters, you’re still dealing with manufacturing energy and resources being used, shipping energy, and packaging. However, if you’re currently trying to choose a filter, Brita is a better mainstream choice, then say, PUR who has no recycling program in place currently. At least, PUR has none that I personally can find – and I looked.

What do you think? Does the fact that Brita introduced this recycling program make them a more attractive company to you? Brita is part of the Clorox family (and I’m not a Clorox fan – I don’t love wanna-be green companies who still produce toxic chemicals). Still, I’m happy that Brita started this, and would likely buy this filter over another. Plus they’re trying; they also recently introduced the Filter for Good program/website.

In even better news, when one company jumps on the bandwagon, more tend to follow suit. I’m betting we see more greener filters and filter recycling programs soon.

Should You Get A Solar Water Heater?

April 8, 2009 in Green Building, Water by Jennifer | 2 comments

WHAT IS A SOLAR WATER HEATER?

A solar water heating system uses the sun’s energy to heat water for basic daily use or for space heating. There are solar collectors that gather sunlight (which is how the heater works). These collectors are mounted in a sunny space like on your roof or in your yard. There are pipes which connect to a storage tank and a pump circulates water through the collectors when the sun shines. Then a heat exchanger preheats the water and it’s stored in the tank for use. Of course this is just a simple run through and there is more than one type of solar water heater. To see a full on description of how this works read the in-depth solar water heater piece at the Department of Energy (DOE).

ARE SOLAR WATER HEATERS COST-EFFECTIVE?

Yes. Start up will cost you; typically $4,000+ for a smaller system all the way up to $20,000+ for larger systems. That said, solar water heaters are one of the most cost-effective investments a home owner can make because solar, after initial costs, is free energy. When you figure that the typical household uses 20%+ of it’s energy just for water, you can see how the savings will add up over time.

According to the DOE, a typical existing home will see water heating bills drop 50%–80% if a solar water heater is installed. Also, because the sun remains free, you won’t be subjected to later energy cost hikes. If you build a new home, you’ll save more than if you install one in an existing home. According to the DOE…

“Including the price of a solar water heater in a new 30-year mortgage usually amounts to between $13 and $20 per month. The federal income tax deduction for mortgage interest attributable to the solar system reduces that by about $3–$5 per month. So if your fuel savings are more than $15 per month, the solar investment is profitable immediately. On a monthly basis, you’re saving more than you’re paying.”

PLUS don’t forget, many states offer tax incentives and rebates for making an eco-home change like this, so you’ll save money this way too.

CAN ANYONE GET A SOLAR WATER HEATER?

Yes and no. Start up costs are large, so you’ve gotta have the budget. Secondly the type of system you’ll need can be dependent on various factors so you may not get the exact kind you thought you might. Where you live is the biggest issue. Obviously your solar ability is very different if you live in an area that’s warmer and sunnier year round vs. an area that has cooler, cloudy seasons. Also, if you live in a cooler area, your heater will need more upkeep. You have to drain your system in cold month or use a special antifreeze mix.

To learn more look at these links…

Do you live in one of the most polluted U.S. states or cities?

March 3, 2009 in Air Quality, Community, Water by Jennifer | No comments

Where you live is as important as your green home. Obviously a green home is important, but it can only go so far; there are better and worse places to set up camp.

First the states… How can you find out how polluted your state is? Many places compile info like this, but if you want to get picky, it’ll take a little searching.

Overall pollution: For a broad look at pollution in your area, check out the following sites…

Air quality: You can check The AirData Web site for access to air pollution data for the entire United States. You can learn about the highest ozone level measured in your state last year, where air pollution monitoring sites are located, sources of air pollution in your town, and more. If you’re looking for indoor air quality check out this EPA site.

Water quality: The USDA has a massive water quality page; good for an overall view of water where you live. If you want fast specifics on water safety in your local area read this post; Earth Friendly Beverages for more info.

If you’re moving at some point, and where is somewhat up to you, AND you’d like to make a smarter, greener choice about where you live read Choose A Green Community.

How much do you know about pollution in your local area?

Learn How to Save Water at Home and Earn Money for Habitat for Humanity

January 26, 2009 in Water by Jennifer | No comments

Kohler just launched a new campaign and website, Save Water America.

The goal is double edged, to teach consumers about water use and savings and to donate to Habitat for Humanity.

“Web visitors to Save Water America are asked to participate in a three-question quiz, and for every completed quiz, Kohler will donate $1 worth of product to Habitat for Humanity, which will be tracked in real time on the Web site. The short quiz calculates how much water and money the visitor’s family could save if they replaced their old toilets.”

Not a bad deal. The only downside was that Kohler won’t donate unless you offer up your email after taking the quiz. A potential junk mail situation easily remedied if you use your junk email account. The quiz was a snap, and the tips offered on water saving were good (toilet related). Plus Habitat is an awesome program. If you’re not familiar with Habitat for Humanity you can learn more at their website. I’ve discussed their Habitat Re-Stores here before.

Visit Save Water America and take the quiz.

Does Your Water Cost More Than Gasoline?!

January 19, 2009 in Water by Jennifer | No comments

I recently saw a study that looked at how many people buy bottled water for drinking at home, and what it costs them. The results were insane. There are folks paying up to $8 per gallon for water!

Are you guilty? If you’re only buying bottled, you just might be, even if you’re getting your H2O on sale. Not to mention all those bottles. Even if you recycle, it takes lots of energy to make plastic water bottles, and research shows that many people are tossing their bottles, not recycling. That’s a huge drain on the earth.

Top that off with the gas it takes to transport water to stores from the factories, and you’re looking at scads of gasoline waste; it’s crazy.

Better green choices: Read the rest of this entry »

What Uses Up the Most Water in Your House?

October 19, 2008 in Furniture & Appliances, Water by Jennifer | No comments

In most older houses the answer to this question is… The toilet.

Regular old toilets used to use a ton of water – up to seven gallons per flush. If you’ve remodeled your old house bathroom, or bought a brand new house it’s likely you have a new toilet, and that’s good news because newer toilets use far less water per flush (usually less than 2 gallons).

Options for older toilets… And by old, I do mean old. Models since the mid 90s have used less water. If you have a toilet older than say 1995 or so, that’s when you need to be concerned.

Replace it: Your best option, hands down is to replace your older toilet for a nice new model. You can upwards of 2000 gallons of water per year by changing out your toilet. Preferably you want to get a dual-flush model (available in the U.S. from Kohler and Caroma U.S.A), a water sense approved model, or an ultra low-flush. There are also some nice composting and waterless toilets available, which will save you even more money and water.

Besides water, there’s that additionally bonus that a water efficient toilet will save you lots of cash over the years. Costs to buy and install a new toilet (or 2 or 3) can seem high, but you’ll get back that money quickly. Visit Conserve Water Utah, to see a list of water efficient toilets.
Read the rest of this entry »

Build a rain barrel for your home

September 10, 2008 in Water by Jennifer | 4 comments

Rain barrels are very cool green home accessories. One simple rain barrel can save around 1,300 gallons of water in the summer months – so once you consider the year round savings, it’s pretty outstanding.

Other reasons to use a rain barrel?

  • Reduced water pollution because a rain barrel reduces stormwater runoff.
  • The water saved in a rain barrel can be used for a multitude of tasks.
  • Rain barrels are low cost to build and use.
  • Rainwater used for lawn and garden help to replenish groundwater – but naturally.

Once you build your rain barrel you can paint and decorate it anyway you choose, and children can be taught how to gather water for the garden from a rain barrel (a good lesson in early water conservation).

To see a video and a link to written instructions about how to make your own rain barrel read: Building & Installing a Rain Barrel.

[image and more information available from Pathway to Water Quality]

Is Hand Washing Your Dishes A Good Green Choice?

August 29, 2008 in Green Cleaning, Save Energy, Water by Jennifer | 1 comment

There’s usually a pretty large debate about hand washing vs. dish washing between green living folks. Each side has pros and cons that they feel strongly about.

save water at home

I’m on the side of dish washing being the best green choice. Dishwashers approved as energy efficient by the EPA can use a lot less water then conventional hand washing – in some cases, depending on how you wash, hand washing can waste up to 20 gallons more water than a dishwasher.

There are some other points to consider though.

Are you scrapping or rinsing your dishes? If you scrap then place your dishes in the dishwasher, it clears some food. A new dishwasher is powerful enough to get the rest of the food off. An older model dishwasher may require that you rinse dishes first, which of course wastes water.

If you use a soap that sucks (different dish washing soaps do work differently in different dishwashers) you may need to run your dishes twice – another water waste.

If you have hard water, you’ll need to use a rinse agent (vinegar can be substituted), or you’ll have to possibly run an extra rinse cycle to clear off soap residue.

If you live alone, and use maybe three dishes a day, hand washing responsibly is a better choice, because your dishwasher really should be full to be an efficient use of water.

For people on the side of hand washing is better, it can be, if you wash smart. Many people run water the entire time they wash, and that’s what wastes those 20 gallons. If you hand wash, use an easy rinse soap, run one sink full (or bin-full) of hot soapy water, and one sink (or bin-full) of warm or cool rinse water. Don’t just run the water like crazy.

What do you think – is hand washing or machine washing a better use of energy?

Quick Tip for Water Savings

August 16, 2008 in Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle, Save Energy, Water by Jennifer | No comments

Showers and baths use an insane amount of water. To conserve more water, cut five minutes off your daily shower. To double your efforts, try placing a small plastic bin in the tub as you shower. Use that water to water plants, wash the car, or mop the floors. The two easy steps above can save upwards of 375 gallons of water a month!

Earth Friendly Beverages

July 31, 2008 in Food & Drink, Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle, Water by Jennifer | No comments

It’s summer, it’s hot, and I bet your household is going through water like crazy. Here are some tips to make sure that you stay hydrated and green at the same time.

green drinks

The best thing to drink is tap water – so far as greenness goes. Now, this assumes your tap water is safe. Many people have perfectly fine tap water; but the bottled water and water filter folks want you to think otherwise. You can check the quality of your drinking water by checking with your local water authority. Visit this link to start learning more about how to find out if your water is safe.

Don’t forget to use refillable and recyclable water bottles for your water. See reviews on some typical bottle choices:

If your tap water is no good, tastes funny, or you’re paranoid, your next best bet is to get a company to bring you water in reusable jugs. You do need to make sure the company you choose is close by, or all that gas wasted creates another issue. After water delivery, water filters are an ok choice. There are some major problems with water filters. I’ve never found any that are recyclable, and they come with some major packaging flaws. Still almost anything is preferable to bottled water. Studies show that most people don’t recycle their bottles, even if they have the means.

Other tips:

  • Choose beverages bottled by local companies.
  • Buy clear plastic bottles as opposed to colored (not all cities recycle colored).
  • When recycling your bottles, remove the lids. Those hard plastic lids cannot be recycled, and some recycling centers will toss whole bottles rather than remove a lid. Sad but true.
  • Buy the biggest beverages you can and use cups. Smaller jars, bottles, juice boxes, and so on, only create more trash and take more energy to produce.
  • Lose the straws. Do you really need that extra plastic? Most likely not.