It's wonderful to have a garden and add a splash of green in an urban environment; but our gardens tend to consume massive amounts of water; something that's becoming an increasingly scarce resource in many parts of the world.
Irrigation accounts for the bulk of water use in homes, particularly in drier areas over the summer months. A few of the biggest mistakes made are:
a) Plant selection; usually by using plants that aren't native to the area
b) Sprinklers that throw water up into the air, which is then windblown or evaporates
c) Watering during the hottest part of the day
d) Over-watering
Here's some tips for reducing your garden watering footprint - and to save some money on water rates at the same time.
Plant selection
When you're next shopping for plants for your garden, consider not only your area's current rainfall, but what's projected for the future. In many regions of the world, rainfall is dropping; so a plant that might get by fine now without additional watering may not do so in the future.
Sprinklers
Many sprinklers throw out fine droplets and on a hot day, these droplets simply evaporate. While your garden gets some water, much is lost. Look to buy a sprinkler that throws water closer to the ground in large drops
Drip irrigation
This can save you a ton of water. Drip irrigation (aka trickle irrigation or microirrigation) consists of a series of pipes with drippers hanging off them that deliver water directly to where it's needed. Given the targeted nature of the delivery, far less water has to be used. Using a special piercing device on the main pipe, you can attach drippers exactly where you need them and you can plug the hole at a later date if need be. The equipment is simple, easily scalable, pretty cheap and durable and can be purchased at most hardware stores and nurseries.
Tip: when using drip irrigation, you'll need to check the drippers regularly as they can get clogged with water-borne particles, particularly when used with a greywater or blackwater recycling system. Birds also have a tendency to move the dripper hoses as they forage.
Watering time
The best time of the day to water is either just on sunrise or just on sunset, as this minimizes water evaporation
Make use of old soda bottles
Richelle D. contributed this tip: "I have several 3 liter bottles, filled with water and pushed upside down into the ground to water my outdoor trees. The soil draws the water from the 2 liter bottle or even gallon jugs when dry."
Mulch, mulch, mulch
Mulching is adding layers of plant material such peastraw or bark to keep the sun off the soil and therefore retain water. Mulching is one of the most effective ways to reduce water needed in a garden - up to 50%. Mulch has the added benefit of preventing weed growth, deters pests, helps to stabilize soil temperature and provide nutrients to the soil as the mulch decomposes.
Consider a rainwater tank
Given the amount of water gardens require; consider adding a rainwater catchment system to your property - it can help act as added insurance for a reasonable supply of water during the dry months or when your local authorities introduce restrictions.
There's all sorts of rain water tanks and barrels available to suit your premises, ranging from holding a few dozen gallons, to thousands.
Rainwater catchment formula
So much water is wasted through not harvesting rainfall. To get an idea of how much water you're missing out on, use these simple rain water catchment formulas:
Metric:
1mm of rain on 1 square meter of roof equals 1 litre of water
Imperial:
Roof square feet multiplied .6 for every inch of rain = gallons
By the way, many local governments now offer incentives and rebates if you install a water tank, so check with your local council for any programs they may have in place.
Recycling household water
Just as water is wasted outside the house, so it is inside. Thousands upon thousands of gallons go down our drains each year from the the washing machine, shower, sink and toilet. You can do simple things like:
- putting a bucket in the shower
- run a hose from your washing machine outlet to the garden (if it's not uphill)
.. or you can opt to spend a bit of money and get a greywater or blackwater recycling system installed. We had a blackwater recycling system in our last house and it was fantastic - I greatly miss having it.
Dishwashers vs Hand Washing
http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/211/1/Dishwashers-vs-hand-washing.html
By Green Living Tips
Published on 04/2/2008
You'd probably not think of an automatic dishwasher as an environmentally friendly choice - but perhaps it is a greener way to tackle the onerous task of washing dishes by hand?
Dishwashers - a greener choice?
I still remember our first dishwasher back in the late 70's - it was an electricity and water sucking noisy monstrosity taking up a good chunk of the kitchen - and it didn't even really do a very good job.
Much has changed in dishwashers in recent years - they use less water, less juice; are lighter, whisper quiet and far less obtrusive.. and they actually clean the dishes.
We recently purchased a new dishwasher after a lengthy interlude between machines. Needless to say, the family were keen on getting another dishwasher after 2 years without one. I managed to avoid the chore by washing dishes by hand badly. Did I do it on purpose? I'll never tell :).
I've been really impressed with the model that was chosen by the family. It has a 3.5 Star energy rating (266 kWh per year) and a 4 Star water rating (13.6 Litres per wash - about 3.6 gallons). It takes care of the dishes for a day for a family of four in a single cycle.
We'd likely use more water than that when hand washing. It was a little difficult to figure out if there's any electricity or gas saving when it comes to heating the water and general operation, but to heat water and then store it takes quite a bit of energy if you have a standard hot water system. Even a tankless water system is the same sort of principle as what a dishwasher uses anyway - our model doesn't use hot water from our system; it does the heating itself, so I suspect it would be highly efficient.
The topic has intrigued me, so I went hunting around for studies.
According to a 2004 study from the University of Bonn in Germany (Household Technology department):
"If you can afford an automatic dishwasher, use one - preferably a new one. A full, energy efficient dishwasher cleans best and has the lowest environmental impact of any method".
The Bonn research determined that an automatic dishwasher only uses 50% of the energy and a small fraction of the water, along with less soap.
However, on pondering all this a few "gotchas" came to mind that also need to be considered:
- A minor gotcha - dishwashing machine detergent tends to be more harsh on the environment and earth friendly options are fewer in some places - we're still looking around for a suitable product readily available - they seem to be more easily obtained in the USA from companies such as Ecover, Seventh Generation, Earth Friendly and Trader Joe's.
- It would take a lot of energy and resources to make a dishwasher - steel, plastic, packaging, freight etc; whereas the tools for hand washing are simple and ready made - your hands :).
- The Bonn study project partners were dishwasher manufacturers. That doesn't mean to say it was overly biased, but it's always something to consider when reading studies - the level of partner involvement and what their vested interest was.
So, I'm still in two minds about the long term environmental impact of our purchase. If the dishwasher lasts for many years, perhaps it was a "greener" choice for the task when the water and energy savings are taken into consideration. Here's hoping it does because it was certainly a lot more expensive than my family washing by hand :).
I guess another way to look at it was if the time you save in washing dishes you put towards environment oriented activities, or it meant that it gave you the extra time so that you could minimize the environmental footprint in other areas of your life; that might provide some (shakey) justification :).
One thing I do certainly advise - don't cut corners when selecting a dishwasher; spend the cash on a good one - shop around and read reviews from consumer organizations and take special note of energy star and water ratings - you'll certainly notice the difference in quality, energy and water consumption in most cases by spending a bit extra. A cheap dishwasher may also wind up in landfill a lot quicker - and that's certainly not good for your wallet; or the environment.
Green Washing Machines
http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/163/1/Green-washing-machines.html
By Green Living Tips
Published on 10/18/2007
Front loading vs. top loading - which washing machine should you choose to help minimize the environmental impact of your clothes washing activities?
Front vs. top loading washing machines
Wringers, twin tubs, front loader, top loading - even coppers and scrubbing boards and of course the old bucket; there's not many washing devices I haven't had the opportunity to try. While a scrubbing board is probably the most earth friendly option; it's not one that is really suited to modern life and I've never had to wash more than a couple of items with one. I also have memories of nearly being pulled through a wringer :).
So which type of washing machine is the most "green"? The wringer system was pretty inefficient and is long gone and twin tub machines have very limited application (and tend to tied your clothes in knots); so it's really between the top loading and front loading systems.
Assuming the quality of two brands/models of washers is equal; it really comes down to a couple of important factors:
a) The amount of energy consumed
b) The amount of water consumed
This is certainly where front loading washing machines win out on both counts.
1. Water Consumption
A good quality front loader will use around 10 gallons of water per full load vs a massive 40 gallons per full load for top loading washer
2. Electricity consumption
Approximately 85-90% of the energy used by a washing machine is consumed through heating the water. This is where water consumption comes in again; the more water needed, the more that needs to be heated. As mentioned in my article on earth friendly clothes washing, unless you are washing particularly greasy and filthy clothes, hot water is not needed; cold water works just fine. Even based on cold water alone, a front loading washing machine still consumes less energy.
A few other advantages of front loading machines include:
1. Less wear and tear on clothes
Front loading washing machines tumble clothing through the water wheras top loaders pull clothes through the wash; so you're likely to get longer life out of clothes you wear often using a front loader. This is another money and resource saver.
2. Faster drying times
Because of the horizontal axis and faster spin speeds, more water is removed and your clothes will dry faster. Another energy saver if you use a dryer.
3. Quieter operation
Assuming you have the washing machine totally level (and that is really important), you'll find front loaders to be quieter in operation.
4. Larger loads
Generally front loaders allow for bigger loads, so getting back to the points about water consumption and electricity; there's savings for the environment and your wallet there too.
5. Less detergent
While front loaders require a special low-sudsing detergent, far less is required and the price is comparable with standard detergents. Less chemicals going into our waterways is always a good thing.
6. Rebates and tax breaks
Some states/countries offer rebates or tax credits on the purchase of front loading machines and we'll likely see more governments providing these initiatives in the future.
A few disadvantages of front loaders
- Heavier
- More bending in loading and unloading
- No soaking capabilities
- Initial purchase price is higher
- Can wind up with a mildewy smell, but this can be rectified by leaving the washer door open
- Longer wash times
If you visit various forums and reviews sites, you'll read opinions from fanatical front loader fans and die-hard top loader proponents. Because there are so many brands and models of washing machines around it can be hard to compare apples to apples - but if it's the environment you have close to mind in your next purchase; then a front loading washing machine is probably the best way to go.
Regardless of whether you choose to go with a front loader or top loading machine for your next purchase, don't skimp and buy the best quality that you can afford. It's a big purchase so research thoroughly as there's good and bad brands and models in both types. Focus on the core features and specifications rather than novelty-type options and additional gadgets. A washing machine is a workhorse, not a show pony.
A good machine will last you many years - and that's another great way to lessen environmental impact as the fewer machines you buy over your life, the less you'll need to dump once they've finally given up the ghost.
