By Sonya •
April 21, 2009
Do you have a rain barrel for your home?
More and more homeowners are using rain barrels to conserve water while collecting soft, non-chlorinated rainwater to nourish grass and plants.
This weekend, in Calgary, Canada, Clean Calgary Association, in partnership with the City of Calgary, will hold its 8th Annual Rain Barrel Sale.
With spring coming, local residents there are thinking about their lawns and gardens. Water usage in Calgary doubles in the spring and summer due largely to lawn irrigation.
By Kelly Rand •
February 9, 2009
After getting down and dirty with your craft, there’s that dreaded task of cleanup. This simple task can get a little more dicey once the paint, marker, oil pastel or glue finds itself outside of the protected craft area. So to help, here’s a list of green cleaning products that you can use to clean up after craft time using supplies that you already have in your house.
If you’re crafting with the environment in mind, more than likely your materials are water based. These spills can be quickly and easily swiped up with water and a rag.
If wondering hands happen to get crayon or pencil marks on the wall, a little baking soda and water should do the trick.
By Dave Harcourt •
February 8, 2009
The biogas process, which produces fuel from animal and human waste, is prompting many supposedly amusing posts that could have a negative effect. Googling “biogas and poop” gives 12 800 hits including The Power of Poop, California Cow Poop Power and Turning Cow Poop into Car Power. This is counter productive as it distracts from the potential that biogas holds for both developing and developed countries.
Besides the comical slant of the titles, it is surprising that biogas is often presented as something amazing & unknown although it has been around for hundreds of years, is used in tens of millions of rural household and is a significant contributor to Europe’s renewable energy production.
Biogas - Amazing Natural Technology
The fermentation of organic material such as biomass, manure, sewage, farm waste, municipal waste, green waste and energy crops in the absence of air produces biogas. The same anaerobic fermentation produces swamp, marsh and landfill methane.
By Derek Markham •
November 3, 2008
We’re rapidly approaching cold and flu season, and for families, this can mean passing it back and forth from child to parent to child.
Find the hot spots for germs in your house so you can wipe them out…
According to a new study by the University of Virginia, household surfaces can spread common cold and flu viruses from person to person, with some germs lingering for days. This can mean a world of misery for families, so start today to keep those places sanitized.
What are the most common places for harboring germs?
By Caroline Savery •
July 17, 2008
Rain, rain, go away. Come again some other day…
Mold, mold, meet your end. Never, ever come again!
A couple days ago, I recounted my story about how I was forced to abandon my abode (a small tent) due to a blight of mold. The old children’s song of the first lyric is what Pittsburgh’s been singin’ all summer. The second is a little ditty I’ve been singin’, ever since I kissed that tent goodbye.
I haven’t tossed the tent in the garbage (that wouldn’t be very sustainable!) I do plan on redeeming it: even if it ends up stained by the mold, its function shouldn’t be reduced by the event. Since my close encounter of the fungal kind, I’ve been doing research about methods for removing mold. Read on for sustainable solutions for dealing with moldy clothing.
Editor’s note: On Monday, we published the first part of Low Impact Living’s report on American water use at sustainablog. Today’s second part takes a look at how we tend to use water excessively in our own homes. Keep an eye out for part 3, which will give you tips for reducing your water consumption, or visit LIL for the original publication of the report.
Key Causes of Excessive Water Use
There are many sources of water waste across all sectors of the economy. But, as homeowners and consumers, which ones do we have the most control over? Low Impact Living suggests you consider the following ideas when thinking about lowering your water use.
Direct Household Water Use
The typical household with three members uses over 300 gallons of water per day, both inside and outside. If you live in a warm climate where lawn irrigation is needed, then typically this is your single biggest source of waste – most lawns are over-watered, irrigated with inefficient equipment, and planted with plants not suitable to the local climate.
Inside, toilets, clothes washers and showers are the largest water users, representing 19, 15 and 12 gallons per person per day respectively (see chart to the right). There are huge inefficiencies here as well, especially in older homes. New appliances and plumbing fixtures can often shave 50% off of your water use.
All told, an average water-conserving home could cut the 300 gallon average above to less than 150 gallons with no sacrifice in comfort or performance. Specific things you can do to achieve these savings are listed below.
Indirect Water Use
In addition to the water that you use directly, you also consume water via the products and services that you buy.
Do you have a rain barrel for your home?
