Today is Blog Action Day, an event when more than 5,000 bloggers from 130 countries come together for a day of blogging about a single topic: water. There are some truly amazing posts about water published by our fellow green bloggers. Once you're done reading here, head over to the main Blog Action Day site to check them out!
Water is necessary for human survival, but overuse and misuse have caused water supplies to dwindle all over the world. Green technology and design can be used to reduce the amount of water we need on a daily basis. Here are some of our favorite water-saving gadgets:
1. The Save Water Brick
Using fallen leaves and discarded plastic bottles, designers Jin-young Yoon and Jeongwoong Kwon created a recycled material that could turn buildings into automatic rainwater collection systems. The biodegradable bricks are intended to be used in the outermost wall of a structure, and feature funnels that help to direct the rain water into a desired area instead of merely absorbing or shedding the water, like most traditional bricks. Learn more...
2. The Reverse ‘Tea Bag’
Working in a way that's exactly opposite to that of a normal tea bag, the nano filter created by scientists at Stellenbosch University, in Cape Town, South Africa is able to suck toxic contamination right out of the water. Small enough to fit into the neck of a water bottle, these tiny sachets are made from the same inexpensive raw materials used to produce the rooibos tea bags that are popular in South Africa. Instead of filling the bags with tea, however, the scientists have implemented ultra-thin nanoscale fibres, which filter out contaminants, plus active carbon granules, which kill bacteria. Learn more...
3. ShowerTek Green Choice Showerhead
The average American spends about eight minutes in the shower and with Federal regulations now limiting shower heads to a maximum flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute, that means people consume roughly 20 gallons of water every time they hop in the shower. The Green Choice from ShowerTek may be great for people who want to conserve water, and even better for people who need to save water: large families, vacation houses, college roommates, or really anyone who might be constricted by the size of their hot water heater. Check out a review of the ShowerTek Green Choice here...
4. Osmos Eco-Grower
The Osmos, as named by its designer, captures the heat and water wastefully escaping your cooking pot and puts it back to use to grow herbs, grass, etc. After cooking, Osmos can be placed on a dining table as a thought provoking tableware piece, whilst providing fresh healthy nibbles. Learn more...
5. Toilet Lid Sink
A low-flow toilet kit, or a dual flush toilet are great ways to reduce your water consumption, but here's another toilet mod that will help you save some water, and give your guests something to talk about. The Toilet Lid Sink takes water that would normally go straight down into your toilet and first routes it through the sink spout at the top so you can wash your hands after you flush. Learn more...
Have you seen more water-saving (or cleaning, or re-purposing) gadgets that should be on this list? Share them in a comment!
Main Image: Flickr - darkpatater