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Do You Have a Lake or Pond on Your Property?
At my vacation house growing up, we had two ponds on our property. In the Summer, we'd row our old rowboat around them, play with the frogs and salamanders that lived there, and practice our fishing skills. In the Winter, the ponds were prime spots for ice skating.
Open House: Do You Think About Your Water Footprint?
I learned in a recent post in The New York Times' environmental blog, Green Inc., that a Finnish food company is the first to begin reporting how much water was used to make its product on a label of the package. We've seen carbon footprints reported for sometime now, but this is just the beginning of reporting water-use footprints. Consumers are becoming discriminating in new ways about the environmental impact of the things they buy.
How-To: Curb Water Use When It Counts
An article in the San Francisco Chronicle highlighted the alarming imminence of drastic water cuts for the Bay Area, due to record drought we've had this Winter. Low levels of rainfall and snowpack could impose mandatory cutbacks for many homeowners in the area and could cause many small farms to go out of business. So, if you live in the area, it's certainly in your best interest to cut back on water use.
Casa Verde: Don't Flush It Away
If you haven't been able to invest in a low-flow toilet, try this easy tip for saving water in your existing toilet. Simply fill a two-liter soda bottle with water, screw the lid on, and place it in your toilet tank. Keep it away from the flapper valve.
How-To: Insulate Your Water Heater
Even though we've already wrapped up (har har) House Warming month, I thought I'd show you how to insulate your water heater. After all, Winter's still ahead of us, as are those expensive heating bills. This project improves your hot water efficiency by keeping water in the pipes warmer, delivering hotter water when you run the hot faucet.
Casa Quickie: Keeping Bees Away From Your Pool
It's hard to enjoy your endless Summer if bee stings come hand in hand with taking a dip in your pool. But bees have many uses for water, including drinking and using as material to build hives. So, unless there's another source of water nearby, you can bet your bottom dollar that they'll be making a poolside visit.
Before and After: A Floating Home
Architect Vladimir Plotkin recently showcased his design for a floating residence at Archstoyanie, an architecture festival in the small village of Nicola-Lenivets, located in Kaluga, Russia. Plotkin explained that the raft and house portions are meant to be separate, with the raft platform used for sunbathing, barbecuing, and socializing during the day. After the resident has had her fill of fun, she can then retreat to the elevated house portion of the structure to rest and sleep off the fun and sun.
How-To: Save Water in Your Garden and Yard
Did you know that in the Summer, outdoor water use at homes increases from 10-50 percent? This can lead to water shortages in some areas of the United States, as well as a big increase in your monthly water bill. Don't despair though, there are many easy ways to cut your water use.
Casa Verde: Bring Back the Drinking Fountain
Have you noticed that water fountains are few and far between, at least in the United States? I feel as if when I was a little kid, they were a lot more accessible in public places. My library even had one, which is more than I can say for my neighborhood library now.
How-To: 10 Easy Ways to Save Water at Home
While I love to keep Summer style chic and easy, I also like to try to keep it eco-minded as well. The water rationing in the San Francisco Bay Area has encouraged me to redouble my water conservation efforts, and I've been striving to find ways to further cut down on my water use. I have a suspicion that many of you are also trying to minimize your water use as well — after all, it's both an economically and environmentally smart idea.
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