Go Green with Grey: Grey-Water System Information

The environment is a hot topic for many people and has been for quite sometime. I remember during the Presidential debates in 2008 that green technologies and developing those technologies were top priorities for all candidates concerned. Although as a Nation, we’re still building on those sources of renewable energy, and there are little things we can do ourselves to either reduce our carbon footprint, use less energy, or recycle.

The business of recycling has never been better. Matter of fact, in most neighborhoods, it’s a requirement. City programs have paid for and provided residential units with recycling bins and large recycling containers to make it easier for homes to separate the trash from recyclables to help out in the cause. There are many more donations centers that take in old computers, cell phones and other electronics. The facilities are more readily available than every -- it’s just a matter of you taking your own personal initiative to make a difference.

However, I’m not asking you to tie yourself to a tree and starve yourself for weeks on end. Quite the contrary, you should go about your business, just not as usual. As a homeowner, you’ve taken great pride (if not, shame on you!) in having your slice of the American dream. And like I mentioned before, your city is helping you live green, whether you know it or not. What many people don’t realize is that regardless of the city donated recycle bins, the hybrid cars, or even the green light bulbs, U.S. households still use an extraordinarily insane amount of water on a daily basis.

The water use I’m talking about is water that you use to shower, wash the dishes, wash your clothes, brush your teeth and the like. This water usage accounts for on average 54% of a household’s monthly water usage, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. That’s just ridiculous when you think about it. How many of you out there turn off your faucet when brushing your teeth? I’ve been guilty of the same crime, all the while using up gallons of water through the week. Take comfort in knowing that you’re not alone, but also take more comfort in knowing that there is a way for you to re-use that water to benefit the environment, as well as reducing your monthly water bills!

Grey-water systems allow households to redirect that water into irrigation. If you’re a homeowner, you already know the value placed on real estate that has great landscaping and a beautiful green yard. With grey-water systems, you alleviate the need to break out with the water hose, or turn on your sprinklers. More importantly, you eliminate the need to use additional water. The initial investment of these systems can seem expensive (some start out as low as $500), especially in today’s economy. However, after installation, you as a homeowner, will realize in relatively short time that the investment will pay for itself -- especially with a reduction of 30-40% of your monthly water bill.

If you’re looking for ways to go green, or live green, then take the time to do some research on these systems. I’m not writing to specifically endorse any particular company or brand -- I’m writing to inform and to help you realize that just because you care about the environment, doesn’t mean you need to change your lifestyle to the extreme. Thanks for reading and until next time: evaluate your daily habits and consider what you do on a daily basis and how you can implement a change to help the environment!