Water Chart from Good Magazine

Don't you wish there was an easy way to make difficult decisions about environmental issues? It seems like nothing is ever that simple, but this chart from Good Magazine ("a collaboration of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits pushing the world forward") is certainly a good start when it comes to the issue of water conservation. The chart visually compares the water that goes into common products and activities, from food to electricity. Some of this isn't too surprising, but some of it was new to me - for example, did you know that producing a pound of beef requires as much water as running a standard shower for over ten hours? Of course, these comparisons are a bit simplistic, since there are other issues at play. As one commenter points out, water doesn't get used up forever, it's constantly being refreshed. So, the question of how water is treated and how quickly it is used is more relevant than the question of how much water, total, is being used. Still, it's an interesting way to look at a complicated subject. Now, if we could just get someone to make charts like this on power usage, carbon production, toxic chemicals, and other major environmental concerns, it would be so much easier to make the right environmental decisions. In the meantime, we'll do our best to keep you posted with the latest information and tips.