I Saved 11,000 Gallons of Water in Two Minutes

On a recent trip to Lowes, I purchased a low-flow aerator for my bathroom faucet. The item cost $3.15 with tax, so it didn’t break the bank. I installed the new aerator in my faucet in less than two minutes - seriously. And depending on whose numbers/equations you use, this single purchase can save around 10,000 to 13,000 gallons of water each year. Or, about $10 to $15 on your water bill each year – not to mention you’ll be heating less water too! That’s a lot of savings for very little investment.

So, how do you know whether or not you need to replace your aerator? Unless your house or faucet is literally brand new, chances are you’re using 2.2 gallons per minute. That’s just too much for brushing your teeth or washing your hands. The aerator I purchased uses a mere 1.5 gpm.

How To
Simply unscrew the end housing on your existing faucet. Grab a rag if you need a bit more grip. Or, you can use pliers. Next, head to the store, and determine what size aerator you need. Bring the old one in…there were lots to choose from!

Use the new housing and aerator, and screw it in tightly. Use the rag to cover the drain in case anything drops. If your new housing won’t fit properly, like mine because my house is way old, just pop out the new aerator and place it in the old housing. Done.

I couldn’t find one at my store, but look for an aerator with the WaterSense label - it will ensure you’re getting a reliable product that saves water.

What are you waiting for???

Better Pizza Delivery Method

Got a pizza last night - which I believe to be a habit for many Americans. Why cook when someone is willing to come right to my door with a hot, tasty pizza pie!

Of course, I buy local. Lalli's is one of my favorite joints in my neighborhood. They use paper to cover the pie while en route. But think of all the cardboard boxes that go to waste?

Estimates put the pizza delivery biz around $5 billion. That could represent about 33 million pizza boxes in landfills.

There has to be a better way...

Be aware of your habits in the gym

Okay, so I workout...I'm no Governator, but I try to take care of myself. However, there are many things that bother me in the gym. For starters, to all those who walk into the locker room and "claim" a shower by turning the water on...and then going to your locker to derobe: STOP IT! You are wasting gallons of precious water, and believe me, it doesn't take that long to get the water warm. You only need to spend a few minutes in the shower to get clean. Really.

But for now, let's focus on some other things you can do to help out your health and well-being, and our Mother Earth...

1. For goodness sake, don't buy the bottled water at the gym. It's a waste. Invest in a good, and I mean good since you'll be using this thing nearly every day, reusable bottle. Try stainless steel, I think they work best, and stay clean with little maintenance. Check out the Klean Kanteen or the multitude of others available.

2. Lots of harsh checmicals from soaps rush down the drain and wreak havoc on the water system. Not to mention your hair and skin. It's a bit more than regular soap, but your skin will thank you - get something organic or natural like John Masters Organics. It's way worth it.

3. Wipe yourself down - in the gym and after your shower - with something free of dyes and chemicals. Your skin is vulnerable during and post workout, so treat it nice. Your tush deserves a soft, clean towel each time...try something like this, which I'm sure you could find in most stores these days.

That's it for now...happy lifting!

A pretty cool Web site - save water

Kohler Co. just launched a site, www.SaveWaterAmerica.com, which helps homeowners discern how much water they can save by installing a few newer plumbing products. And the company is going about it the right way...by donating $1 worth of product to Habitat for Humanity with every login...up to $1 million in products.

It's a simple, easy site to navigate, and gets the message across about the world's looming freshwater crisis. Check it out, let me know what you think.

My first blog

Not much to say here...but stay tuned. I plan to provide my readers with relevant, fun and real information about the world of sustainability. This blog will help those who want to help the environment. Am I an expert on sustainability? No. How am I qualified to tell you what's right and wrong? Maybe I'm not. But I do believe my past experiences and current work have brought me to better understand the world we live in.
I intend to help you better understand the world - and how we can all make simple changes to help make the world, and our lives, a little bit better than they are now.
Until next time,