Happy-Go-Local by Linsly Donnelly

Author:Linsly Donnelly [Donnelly, Linsly;]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: recycling, sustainability
Publisher: F+W Media
Published: 2010-04-10T04:00:00+00:00

The Bathroom

Welcome to the water capital of your world: the bathroom. Do a 360-degree turn in that tiny space to see the biggest water hogs in the house. Multiply that 360-degree turn by the number of bathrooms you have and bask in all the green savings you’re about to realize.

Start simple: Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth and washing your face. You’ll save three to five gallons of water each time you remember to do so. To save water and power, consider an at-the-sink tankless heater to heat up your water real-time so you don’t run it to do so. Find one on www.gothotwater.com or try what we use at home, the Ariston electric water heater, found at www.tanklesswaterheatersdirect.com or Home Depot.

If you don’t want to spend for an at-the-source water heater or you don’t have an obvious space for one near the shower, try a device like the Shower Start Lady Bug. For about $30, this gadget helps you stop wasting water from morning hiccups such as running the shower at full blast to heat and then letting it go a bit too long as you were sucked into a child’s outfit debate. The Lady Bug shuts water flow down to a trickle once the water heats up. Not completely guilt-free, but at least it saves a bit of water if you get tangled in morning negotiations.

Prevent drain clogging by installing shower and bath drain strainers. To safely unclog an already sluggish drain, mix equal parts baking soda and water (one-half to one cup each). Pour the mixture down the drain, and let it sit for twenty to twenty-five minutes. Then pour in one and a half quarts of boiling water to open the blockage. Piping fewer drain-cleaner toxins into our waterways means fewer toxins in our soil, fish, air, and — eventually — our bodies.

Install low-flow toilets or place a brick or a gallon-size plastic milk jug filled with water in the toilet tank to reduce water usage. Want to go more high-tech in the twa-lay? Four groovy options:

AQUS: a high-tech design that takes used sink water, stores it, and pumps it to the toilet as needed.

Caroma dual flush toilets: that’s right, designed to flush #1 one way and #2 another.

Clivus Multrum: for the brave, composting toilets now suitable for in-home use.

Totowashlet: from our friends in Japan; water spritz and bum heat leave you clean and shiny sans paper.

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