It’s Raining, It’s Pouring...

Being luxurious can sometimes mean that you are able to take that extra step towards sustainability and green living. While water has long been on the radar as an environmental concern, for most Americans, rain has barely been considered a solution. While we, the eco-conscious, will turn off the water while brushing our teeth, take shorter showers, and conserve water in the laundry process, we allow the rain that covers our homes and communities to go down the drain, serving little purpose other than perhaps a gentle car-wash. Attitudes towards rain water are changing, however, and an Australian company has created a chic product that makes rain harvesting easy. Inspiration Australia, as an island nation, is well aware of the threat of global warming. Australia recently suffered from 5 years of drought, which started the wheels turning for how to interact more sustainably with water. An average suburban home with a roof area of 1,000 square feet can capture about 600 gallons of water from only 1 inch of rain. Using tested methods, the company Aussie Rain Tanks figured out that you can divert the first batch of “dirty” rain, which collects the dirt and dust that inevitably settles on the roof. The rain after that point is clean and is filtered before being stored in a tank. Uses and Models The rain stored in the Aussie Rain Tanks is used exclusively to flush toilets through additionally plumbing to the house. Should the tank become empty, there is a back-up connection to the municipal water supply so no problems should arise. The Aussie Rain Tanks website concentrates mostly on water conservation in California, as it is the most populous state and has an unstable water supply. These tanks, however, can be used all throughout the United States. Their models range from the “tower” which can become a feature piece in your yard or garden, to the “under deck” which is completely hidden from sight. So, if you’re looking for a way to make a sizable environmental impact without a much of a hassle, consider getting a rain tank. You could become the trendsetter for your eco-chic neighborhood in water conservation and re-use! Image Credit: SoilErosion.net, Aussie Rain Tanks

Greywater and Other Ways to Bathe Green

You've probably heard of "greywater", the idea that lightly used household water such as bathwater can be reused for purposes like flushing the toilet and watering plants. There are many different ways to use your greywater, from the quickest DIY approach to complex filtering systems you can install yourself and simple but ingenious commercial products like the Sinkpositive water saving sink. Recycled greywater is often filtered and always used in appropriately hygienic situations, but if you just can't get excited about the concept - and if you can't, I'd like to suggest rethinking the word "greywater", which certainly doesn't sound very appealing - why not consider the EcoDrain shower heat exchanger? While this device doesn't actually save water, it does recapture the heat of water going down the drain and transfer the heat to clean water coming into your shower, saving up to 40% of the power that would usually go towards heating your shower.

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.