Don’t be a water hog January 26, 2007

We, as Americans, use a lot of water in our daily activities, as much as 80 to 100 gallons per day. You’re going to tell me that you don’t even drink the requisite 8 glasses per day. Aha, but how many times do you use a sink? Toilet? Shower? I’m not suggesting that you don’t shower, mind you, but that there are certain steps we can all take to make our use of water more efficient.

• Showering: Get a low-flow showerhead. Older showerheads use from 3 to 10 gallons of water per minute while a low-flow one can use between 1.5 to 2.5 gallons per minute. You can also get a shower flow control for your existing showerhead. And for an added health benefit, get a shower filter that takes out the chlorine and other compounds. Those that are third-party tested by the Water Quality Association and NSF International are good bets. One more thing — when shampooing or soaping, consider shutting off the water, or just take a shorter shower. You can continue singing even while out of the shower.

• Toilet: New toilets are required to limit water consumption to 1.6 gallons per flush. Older toilets use from 3 to 7 gallons a flush. Installing a low-flow, or dual-flush toilet can decrease your water consumption. However, be sure to clean your sewer drain system if it blocks often, prior to installing the low-flow toilet, and buy a quality toilet to avoid plumbing problems. Caroma and Mansfield seem to be good choices, as are Toto and Kohler. If you can’t afford to make the switch right now, you can try adjusting the flow to shut off the fill at a lower tank level by using a toilet flapper or fill cycle diverter . It’s easy, I promise!

• Sink: Turn off the tap when you’re brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing the dishes (fill the sink with water for dishes). Brushing your teeth can use up to 2 gallons of water if you leave the tap running, and shaving can take up to 5 gallons with the tap running versus 1 gallon to fill the sink. Consider installing a faucet aerator to decrease water consumption from the faucet by up to 50%, in the bathroom and kitchen.

• Clothes Washer: Another biggie. One load can use between 20 to 57 gallons of water. Front-loading machines use less water to wash the same load than top-loading machines. They also use less detergent, electricity and water (20 to 28 gallons vs. 45 gallons for a top-loader). New high efficiency machines use 50–60% less electricity and 40–50 % less water, so take a look at the Energy Star ones.

• Others: Plug up leaks. Leaking faucets can lose up to 20 gallons or more of water per day. And if you use a dishwasher, use the energy saver setting and make sure it’s full before running it.

Now, back to that rubber ducky.

Going green, literally, to combat indoor air pollution! January 13, 2007

Going green, literally, to combat indoor air pollution!

This entry was posted on January 13, 2007 and is filed under Green Home,Air Quality.

I was amazed to discover the wealth of information on the effects of houseplants on indoor living. Apart from the proven psychological benefits of having green plants and colorful flowers around us, especially while we work, the benefits of having extra oxygen is hard to deny. But even more than this, some species of plant have been shown to be adept at filtering our air as efficiently as any commericial air filter system!

The number of gases that have been tested with various houseplants is large and varied, but nevertheless includes some top criminals in the indoor pollution case, such as benzene and formaldehyde. It turns out that although toxic to us, species of plant such as the peace lily, bamboo palm, English ivy, Boston fern and even various orchids can efficiently remove these potentially carcinogenic chemicals from the air, thus reducing our levels of air pollution within the home. These species have the added advantage of being natural shade-tolerant and easily procured at garden centres and nurseries around the country.

Or, instead of buying, why not try taking a cutting from a friend or neighbour and potting it yourself? With gentle watering, a decent sized pot (over 6 inches in diameter is recommended) and moderate levels of indirect sunlight, the value of a collection of houseplants can be more than decorative; it can be an integral tool in battling indoor air pollution. For a more complete list of plants to choose from, click here.

This Old EcoHouse January 9, 2007

Many of you reading this blog are probably taking steps to green your home in some ways. Did you ever wonder what it would be like to live in a completely carbon neutral, ‘green’ home? Here is one woman’s experiences in one such home in the UK as reported by the BBC. And no, apparently the compost toilets didn’t smell!

If you’re curious about other showcases and are in DC between now and June 2007, check out the Green House exhibit at the National Building Museum. After that, the exhibit will be going on tour, so if you can’t make it, keep an eye out in case it comes by your town.

Energy-efficient laptop? January 9, 2007

Here’s another way to make your home or office space a little greener and more energy efficient: Samsung has come out with a laptop battery that lasts a month, assuming it is used 8 hours a day.

It uses fuel cell technology, and is great news for those of us who travel a lot or like to work from unconventional places. Not that I am advocating you call in sick and work from the beach! You don’t want to ruin your laptop! Check out the article for more info.

Ventilate, ventilate, ventilate! January 2, 2007

You may have heard it before, but it is worth repeating, especially if you’re not doing it! One of the easiest ways to reduce pollution in indoor spaces is to ventilate. Yes, open those windows, even if it’s chilly outside! It’s a great and easy way of bringing in fresh air. Even though we all hear about the high levels of outdoor air pollution, the air outside is three to five times cleaner than the air you’re breathing right now (assuming you’re sitting somewhere indoors).

Use exhaust fans in places such as kitchens and bathrooms where the air may not circulate as much even with an open window. If the space is hermetically sealed, like many office spaces, be sure that there is a mechanical ventilation system in place with a high exchange rate (i.e. high percentage of the air is from the outdoors). For more information, check out the Home Ventilation Institute’s site.

Another option to consider if additional ventilation is not possible is installing an air filter. There are many out there, so you will need to do your homework. However, I’ve found many HEPA(high efficiency particulate air) filters to be effective. These are said to remove at least 99.97% of allergens and contaminants like dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and airborne particles larger or equal to 0.3 microns. These filters can be costly and energy-intensive, therefore they may not be for everyone. Be weary, too, of filters that produce ozone; these are bad for the lungs as well as for the environment — look for filters that has minimal to no ozone emission. Review sites such as Consumer Search to determine which filter is right for you.