Posts tagged: water
How To: Use Air Conditioner Condensation to Water Plants.
By ChrisjobCondensation...it's everyone's first science experiment. Place a cold thing in a warm environment, and water vapor gets cooled to its dew point.
So, what's a big cold thing in an even bigger warm environment? Well, your air conditioner, for one, and it condensates with the best of them. Translation: free water, perfect for giving your garden a drink.
From DIYNetwork: "No matter what kind of air conditioner you have, whole house or window box, it » READ MORE
How To: Water Conservation Techniques that Make Every Drop Count.
By ChrisjobThis June, Treehugger has been devoting a great deal of research and articles to issues of fresh water. To kick off the feature, they've collected some tremendous resources to conserve, cut back, and reuse on a daily basis. Check out a few links below, and click here for the full article.
Water Basics
How to Go Green: Water
Conserve Water Outside
a few easy ways to conserve.
Cutting down water use in the garden
Conserve Water Inside
7 important qu » READ MORE
The Fluid Faucet by Kohler, Doubles as a Drinking Fountain.
By Chrisjob
Nope, the Fluid Faucet by Kohler is not the first take on the turn-your-faucet-into-a-drinking-fountain option (see here and here), but it's likely the first modern, integrated approach. It maintains a fully positional "nose" to aim the water exactly where you need: towards the sink for washing, around 75-degrees for drinking, and parallel to the sink for squirting water all over your roommates.
Water Gets Dressed
By lilybeeFancy, shipped-around-the-world, bottled water doesn't exactly love
the environment, so normally we're fans of Britta round here. But there
are exceptions... Behold the utter gorgeousness that is Christian
Lacroix's limited edition bottle for Evian. 
The lacy 'pret-a-porter' bottle looks even lovelier in person, and according to the man himself the delicate floral pattern depicts " The flowers of success... like snowy crystal garlands or frost frozen alpine flowers" (oooooh-kay). Blurb aside, they really are very pretty and when the water is gulched down I'll be » READ MORE
How to Extend the Life of Fresh Cut Flowers.
By Chrisjob
Know that little packet of additives that come with arranged flower bouquets? Apparently, it's just a little sugar, 
chlorine, and some citric acid. So, create your own DIY solution that you can continue to use throughout multiple water changes. "Mix 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon bleach, and 2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice in a quart of warm water."
That's it. The bleach sounds scary to me too, but I'm imagining the chlorine keeps out the gunk » READ MORE
How To Save Water in Your Garden and Yard.
By ChrisjobSummer water needs lead to shortages in some places, and increased water bills everywhere. Beyond bigger investments like rain barrels (which really aren't that expensive or inconvenient) and gray water systems, here's few tips from CasaSugar to better use water in your lawn and garden.
- Raise your mower's blade. Apparently, longer grass needs less water.
- Don't water unless the soil is dry 1 1/2 inches down
- Water your garden early
- Clump plan » READ MORE
Automated Sprinkler Systems: Responsible or Wasteful?
By ChrisjobThis Instructable got me thinking: in the era of resource-watching and water rationing, are automated sprinkler systems more responsible, as its organized and at the right time, or wasteful, as they can water when not necessary, etc? Are lawn sprinklers EVER okay anymore? Is is different for produce gardens?
Quick and Easy Self-Watering Gardening Planters.
By ChrisjobEasy, convenient, and recycled. Why not make 'em by the dozens?
Materials
- One or two quart milk jug
- Scissors
- Planting foam
- Potting soil
1) Cut the milk jug in half, below the handle.
2) Press the top half of the jug into the foam, and then bend to break it off.
3)Place the top half in the bottom half, fill with soil, and polish up your green thumb.
For full instructions, visit Instructables.
100 Ways to Save Water
By DIY Maven
Not surprisingly, the website Water Use it Wisely is all about water conservation. What is surprising is that it makes adopting a water management plan fun. You can simply click on the 100 water-saving tips page, or you might want to take a home water audit, then click on the monthly planner which offers a year full of conservation tips. Follow them all and by the end of 12 months, you'll be a water conservation expert. And just for the kids--o » READ MORE
Kyoeul Umbrella Stand Waters Your Plants.
By ChrisjobFrom Inhabitat:
"Sick of rain-slicked slippery floors? Looking to take your rainwater recycling to the next level, while simultaneously improving your green thumb? This Umbrella Plant Pot by Kyouei Design offers a beautiful solution to the soggy umbrella dilemma, and allows you to turn that excess, unwanted rain water into nourishment for a plant! It’s a simple ceramic umbrella jar with an ingenious twist - watershed from your soaked brel » READ MORE
How To Clean an Aquarium.
By Chrisjob
Curbly's featured some incredible fish tanks over the last year - here, here, and here - but one has to keep it sparkly to ensure its continued awesomeness. HowToCleanThings offers a natural way to keep your aquarium spotless. Just remember, as they say, "water+electricity = death". Siphon on!
How To Add Flavor to Your Water with Natural Add-Ins.
By ChrisjobAlmost a year ago, I asked Curbliers for their favorite DIY Flavored water recipes. A few days ago, money-management blog Wise Bread offered eight recipes to give your water a little extra zing on the cheap.
1. Salt – Adds electrolytes per those fancy, sugared up sports drinks.
2. Ginger - If you like spices, ginger is a great way to add a "zing" to your water.
3. Citrus – Freeze citrus zest within ice cubes.
4. Herbs - Mint, lemongrass, and » READ MORE
How to Refill a Brita Water Filter and Save $$$.
By Chrisjob
You're supposed to drink at least 64 oz of water a day. Charcoal filtration systems help make sure your hydration is clean and cold. Replacement filters for these systems cost anywhere from six to fifteen dollars, but can be refilled by hand for around fifty cents.
Materials:
- Filtration catridge
- Activated carbon
- Polyethylene plug
- Xacto knife
- 1/2 drill bit and dril
Low Cost Ways to Conserve Water at Home.
By ChrisjobSave money and save the planet with these tips from YahooGreen:
Reduce water use from showers and faucets
- No cost: Limit shower time to 5 minutes or less.
- Less than $10: Install an on/off valve between the shower arm and showerhead.
- $10-$50: Install a low-flow (less than 2 gallons per minute) showerhead.
- $20-$50: Insulate all accessible hot-water pipes, especially those within 3 feet of the water heater.
Toilets are the ene » READ MORE
The World's Coolest Swimming Pool.
By ChrisjobWhat a building, what a view, and what a pool. Equally cool, the room in background has merely a chair.
Photo: Peter Aaron / Esto
Toilet Tank Talk: How and why you should make a water displacer.
By DIY Maven
Statistics say that each person in the U.S. uses about 100 gallons of water a day; 1/3 of that gets flushed down the toilet. Installing a water displacer inside your toilet tank will cut that figure substantially. For instance, the Tank Bank, which is a plastic bladder you fill with water and hang inside your toilet, can cut that 1/3 by 20%. Why not just place a brick in your toilet tank? According to the manufacturer of the Tank Bank, bricks d » READ MORE
Eyecatching Wall Dividers from Water Bottles
By fabulouslygreen
Klein Dytham Architecture designed this space for the Danone Company whose main product lines include Evian and Volvic water–using their products as design material for the space.
The Concept:
Translucent screens were made to create special zones for seating, and
meetings in an otherwise open plan office. Empty Evian bottles were
strung on wires stretching from floor to ceiling like beads on a string.
The Fab Factor: Though it’s not cle » READ MORE
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The 7-Story Underwater Hotel.
By Chrisjob
"Visitors to Istanbul will soon have a chance to view the most spectacular ocean views on the planet. A seven floor, seven-star hotel is being built underwater on what was formerly a tobacco factory. There will be exhibition halls, and restaurants, and all rooms will be sea facing."
Read more from Vagabondish.com
[Via]
How to Make a Watergun Alarm Clock: Video Tutorial.
By Chrisjob
Need a little "inspiration" to wake up in the morning? Why not solder a squirt gun to your alarm clock and spritz up your morning rituals.
sQuba: The First Underwater Car.
By Chrisjob
"More than 30 years since Roger Moore's 007 put the idea into every guy's head, someone has finally replicated the underwater auto experience. Swiss design company Rinspeed has created the sQuba ($1.4 million), the world's first submersible car. Based on the Lotus Elise (it was a Lotus Esprit in The Spy Who Loved Me), the all-electric convertible can drive you to the lake in style and then dive underwater to a depth of over 30 feet. The car's eng » READ MORE
