Rain Barrels Explained: A Slow, Practical Introduction
The rain barrel has become a kind of mascot for residential sustainability, the iconic blue plastic drum sitting under a downspout, quietly…
Sustainable Home Systems
Category
Sustainable Home Systems
Long-term home upgrades that keep paying back, rain barrels, greywater basics, smart water devices, eco plumbing, water-efficient appliances, and the planning that ties them together.
Sustainable Home Systems
Greywater Basics for Homeowners Who Don’t Want to Overhaul Everything
Greywater is the household water that's been used once, for handwashing, laundry, showering, or bathroom sink use, and is still clean enough…
Sustainable Home Systems
The Eco Plumbing Upgrades Worth Paying For
The "eco plumbing upgrade" category is huge, encompassing everything from $5 aerators to $20,000 whole-home greywater systems. The marketing pushes all of…
Sustainable Home Systems
WaterSense Appliances: Reading Labels That Actually Matter
The WaterSense label is one of the most useful efficiency markers in the residential appliance and fixture market. Created by the EPA…
Sustainable Home Systems
Whole-House Filtration: When It Helps Save Water, and When It Doesn’t
Whole-house water filtration systems are increasingly common in residential plumbing, marketed for everything from skin health to plumbing longevity to drinking water…
Sustainable Home Systems
Hot Water Recirculation Pumps: The Quiet Hero of Plumbing Upgrades
If your home has a bathroom or kitchen sink where you turn on the hot tap, walk away for thirty seconds, and…
Sustainable Home Systems
Smart Showerheads That Don’t Feel Like Smart Devices
The category of "smart" bathroom devices has been hit-or-miss for years. Smart faucets with LED lights that mostly didn't work. Smart toilets…
Sustainable Home Systems
The Honest Truth About Replacing Old Toilets With Dual-Flush Models
Dual-flush toilets are presented in conservation marketing as a straightforward upgrade, same toilet, half the water, easy choice. The reality is more…