i grew up in southern california during a drought. "if it's yellow let it mellow" was the key phrase and my 3rd grade teacher taught us songs about being "drop-busting" superheros. but as soon as the rains came the push for conservation ended. despite the variable levels of local water tables, we are currently in the midst of a worldwide water crisis. (a crises that has become even more critical due to corporate water privatization.) by becoming more water-efficient in our daily lives we can prevent the construction of new dams, desalinization plants, and other environmentally destructive projects. here are a few water saving ideas.
-toilets compose 40% of residential water use. using water displacement devices in your toilet can save up to a gallon a flush. put bricks or similarly large and dense objects in your tank. (jugs filled with beans, sand or pebbles also work.) and maybe don't flush so often.
-prevent leaks. a helpful guide for detecting and stopping leaks can be found here.
-use greywater for plants. the greywater guerrillas explain how to use waste water from sinks and showers for garden irrigation.
-wash dishes by hand instead of using a dishwasher (the average dishwasher consumes 15 gallons of water per load.) to conserve water soap up all dishes first with a wet sponge and then rinse.
-doing laundry by hand also saves on both water and energy (the average washing machine uses 55 gallons of water per load.) if you are using a machine, using the cold setting and drying clothes on the line can still save energy.
-if you live where water is potable, don't buy bottled water. despite public misconception, tap water in the US is generally healthier for you because its contents are regulated and monitored. if you think your water might be sketchy, contact your local water board. they are required to test your tap and confirm its safety.
i know that some of these ideas require time and labor. they also connects us to our own cycles of use and maintenance. and the time spent washing dishes or wringing clothes can provide a space for thought and simplicity within this highly mechanized society.
more info and articles:
bottled water faq's and resources
water privatization
writings on dams and their effects
not just a market niche.
sustainability is mindfulness. to live with an understanding of relationships. cause and effect. a knowledge of history and the power of possibility. sustainability is not a question of sacrifices. it is a matter of connections.
this site is a place for resources, essays and ideas. an intersection of the practical and political. it is a record of my trying. i hope it can also be a source of exchange.
this site is a place for resources, essays and ideas. an intersection of the practical and political. it is a record of my trying. i hope it can also be a source of exchange.
other projects.
links.
books.
- A Language Older than Words by Derrick Jensen
- Dam Nation: Dispatches from the Water Underground. Edited by Cleo Woelfle-Erskine
- Earth Democracy: Justice, Sustainability and Peace by Vandana Shiva
- Food Not Lawns by Heather C Flores
- From Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the way we make things by William McDonough & Michael Braungart
- Listening to the Land: Conversations about nature, culture and eros. Edited by Derrick Jensen
- Urban Wilds: Gardeners' Stories of the Struggle for Land and Justice. Edited by Cleo Woelfle-Erskine
contact.
aswecanblog@gmail.com
2 comments:
We didn't have a dryer for a very long time growing up. When it rained, which wasn't very often in southern California, we'd have to go to the laundromat (sometimes on the bus), to dry our clothes. I really liked those trips and still have a soft spot for laundromats in my heart today (another dying institution?).
When it was sunny, which was almost every day, my mom hung our wash out on clotheslines. Today I wonder how many kids even know what a clothespin is!
There was a recent small controversy here in Portland about clotheslines. Homeowners say they're an eyesore and have tried to ban their neighbors from using them. What the fuck. We don't get many days of sun here, but when we do, I think drying your clothes outside is a great idea. Someday when I have a backyard, I will also have a clothesline.
I, too, live in PDX. It's really messed up to learn that a vocal minority (I hope!) is grousing about the aesthetic of clotheslines. Who doesn't line line fresh linens? C'mon! :P I wish that peeps would make the CO2 connection between the convenience of dryers and GLOBAL WARMING. Everything demanding electricity output has some effect and imprint.
Anyhoo, I wanted to chime in and add that wooden clothes racks are fab and a nice compromise/assistance to dryers. I grew up in New England and these were fairly common. In winter (when hanging outside was not possible), we'd drag out the wooden dryers. They're great. I use one today, even. They don't take up much room and I'm saving money by not using the electric dryer (as much). That feels good.
Thanks for this blog! It's great! :D
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