You’ve done your part. You donate to local energy co-ops and you went to www.energysavings.com to see how green your energy provider is but what about water? Wasting water is a sin even the most energy-conscious people don’t realizehere are a few thoughts for saving more water at your house:
In the Bathroom: The bathroom is where we waste most of our water, believe it or not. Of course do the obvious like taking short showers and cutting off the sink while you brush but also know that baths use the most water of anything in the bathroom!
In the Kitchen: Cut your dishwasher usage in half by soaking rather than rinsing. Also, turn your icemaker off in the winter as you don’t need it to make as much – use trays instead.
In the Yard: Buy a rainwater collector to use for watering the yard to save on your water costs as well as recycle. Plant a garden and some spread trees – they’ll shar e the water they use with the other plants in your yard. Way to be green!
Water Usage in Your Home
Post-Consumer Waste Remodeling And Building Materials
Today there are a wide range of recycled building materials available. These materials reduce landfills, are affordable, can be found locally, and will spark artistic creativity in building projects.
Items as simple as empty glass bottles, metal cans, wooden pallets, cardboard, and dirt filled tires have been used to create livable buildings. Reclaimed hardwood can be turned into tabletops, desks, or headboards. A simple outdoor deck can be built from reused wooden pallets and plywood. Old license plates can serve as roofing (more…)
Understanding “R” Factor Ratings In Attic Insulation
Attics contain cold air in the winter and hot air in the summer. Insulation in the attic is what keeps the hot or cold air contained. Insulation is rated by its R-value or thermal resistance. The thickness of the insulation does not affect its R-value. The value is determined on how well it contains thermal air. Proper R-value insulation will prevent hot air from entering the home in the summer and escaping in the winter. Thermal resistant (more…)
Installing A Whole House Water Restrictor
Water has been in the news a lot lately, and not always in a good way. Water restrictions are common and drought in Texas has led to disastrous wildfires. On top of that, sometimes municipal water systems have extremely high or uneven pressure. This can result in unpleasant noises in your pipes and even damage your plumbing.
The solution is a whole house water restrictor that controls the flow of water. Although these restrictors can lower water pressure, they will make sure any whole house water filter you are (more…)
Establishing A Community Based Recycling Program
Dramatic improvements in recycling technology and collection systems over the years have made recycling easier than ever, and community-based recycling programs are sprouting up everywhere. Establishing one near you can be a fun, rewarding process.
First, check the availability of recycling services in your area. Cities with populations greater than 20,000 usually either have their own recycling centers or share such resources with nearby towns, meaning a processing center should never be too far. Pickup services vary from city to city, but most are free of charge and happen at regularly scheduled intervals, usually once a week. Pickups have (more…)