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Water Water Everywhere
Do you ever think about how much water you use every day? Many folks don't think much about water; at least here in the U.S. where water seems cheap and plentiful. The municipal water in my area is about $0.02 per gallon. I get charged for a minimum of 1,000 gallons every month even though I don't use that much. It sort of feels like I am subsidizing someone else's use and it provides no real incentive for me to reduce my usage. Fortunately I am self-motivating and I really dislike wasting water. I work diligently most every day to try to reduce my usage as much as possible or at least do my best to not waste what I use.
The most obvious water use reduction targets at home are: the shower or bath, teeth brushing, toilet flushing, dish rinsing and washing, landscaping and laundry. You can replace an old shower head with a low flow and reduce showering time. Stop wasting water while brushing your teeth or rinsing dishes. Replace old dishwashers and toilets with low water usage models. Use native plants that don't require much water for your landscape.
Some of the less obvious ways to reuse water and keep it of the sewer system include: using water or melted ice from your own water glass, water from your pet's bowl, water from steamed veggies or ice cubes from a cooler to water garden flowers or house plants.
Maybe if we had to pump our own water we would all be more water wise.
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Quality is important, especially where water is concerned
Do you know what is in your water besides hydrogen and oxygen? The only reason I know is that I actually read the "Water Report" that I get in the mail which provides information on the chemicals in my water. I don't really want to read it because is it sort of scary. It contains the names of chemicals that I don't know and makes me question why there are so many chemicals in my water. But the report also contains the names of chemicals that I know and that scares me too.
As a precautionary measure, I filter my drinking water. When my cat wouldn't drink the tap water, I figured I probably shouldn't either. I also filter my shower water. Currently I don't have a whole house water filter partly because of the cost but that could change soon.
I ponder whether I should get my water independently tested mostly because I drink a lot of water, shower daily, and worry about what residue might be left in my clothing. I am starting off with a simple home test kit - the Culligan test kit available at my local Ace hardware. The next phase will likely include a more comprehensive test by a professional lab for a variety of compounds and chemicals. Understanding the chemicals in your water will aid in the selection of the most appropriate home filtration system.
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The quest for the perfect toilet (Is there really such a thing?)
I have lived in my home for a little over 5 years. It was new construction and full of bright and shiny things. Unfortunately, some of those bright and shiny things are fading. I recently discovered that the toilet in my powder room continued to drip water into the bowl well after it was filled.
Since I really dislike wasting water (see above) I called the local plumbing company. The plumber tried some simple solutions (vinegar) to see if it would stop. It didn't. He was also very candid - very cheap toilet and should probably be replaced. He gave me a price quote on the brand that they install (Gerber). I told him that I needed a bit of time to research and would call when ready.
As a designer, I have access to sites that "ordinary humans" do not. You would think that access to this wonderland of products would make selecting a new toilet (lavatory) easy. It didn't. After several hours of research and a few store visits I came to the conclusion that I am my own worst client. I needed to pretend that I was recommending this to a client that had a home similar to mine. Boom - made the decision in about thirty minutes. I selected the American Standard Champion 4. Here are some of the reasons I chose this product: price, stay clean feature, great warranty (10 years), single unit (less risk of leaks and sleeker look), same size as existing unit (no tile replacement), and readily available replacement parts.
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Detox Your Life - The Year of Living Less Dangerously (Part 1 & 2)
Part 1
Follow me along my journey as I attempt to learn about and reduce exposure to toxins in my home, car, outdoor space etc. I can't promise that it will be organized along topics mostly because I will write about whatever interests me at the time.
A few months ago I was searching for a non-toxic, non-synthetic bed for my cat. Needless to say, none of the big box pet stores had anything like that. Since I don't sew I couldn't make one myself. Enter the internet. I started searching and found the cutest darn cat pod on Etsy. It was made of organic wool and it was grey (one of my fave colors and the color of my cat). I snapped it right up. I forgot to pay attention to where the provider was located (somewhere in Europe) so it took about 5 weeks for it to arrive. Abby didn't take to it right away but now she loves it and I feel good about not exposing her to unnecessary chemicals. If I could only get her to give up her synthetic baby blankie. Maybe next month - because you know, cats hate change.
Part 2
These posts are supposed to be about "living" less dangerously but I could not pass this one up. This one is about creating a legacy for you, your family or your pets as you move on, change forms, become energy or whatever you believe happens. The Spirit Tree seems like a perfect solution for a tree hugger like me. It would use my ashes to grow a tree and truly return me to the earth.
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Would Love to Hear From You
I hope that the Spring brings you wonderful new beginnings.
Eco-Chic Design would like your feedback. Please email marie@eco-chicdesign.com and tell us what topics you would like to see in your monthly newsletter. Sincerely,
Eco-Chic Design 
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