DIY Life

I live north of Atlanta, Georgia, an area currently under homeowner outdoor watering restrictions. Not much is allowed because of a lingering drought. In addition to trying to do my part to conserve water, I want to be able to water my plants, without waiting for Mother Nature to send the rain. I liked Dan Chilton's article on rain barrels, but I wanted to do something a bit different. I built my barrel in about two hours and it's now the repository for all my recycled water and rainfall, such as it is.

Peruse the gallery, follow the construction steps, and you can be the proud owner of your very own rain barrel and, might I say, the envy of your neighbors.

Gallery: Rain barrels made easy

We have all seen LEDs become more and more prevalent in our daily lives. They are as common as traffic signals in major cities (after the whole energy rate fiasco a few years ago) and power indicators on most items. They are also as frivolous as LED hats to support your favorite team.

Manufacturers and retailers are starting to see the future in LED items as well, as they realize that a lot of people are looking to save energy. People want to support being "greener," sure, but they also want to keep a few more dollars and cents in their bank accounts.

Here are a few items I have come across that demonstrate how LED products will continue to make inroads in new categories of retail.

Have you ever seen the Chicago River on Saint Patrick's Day? As you probably already know, it is colored a brilliant shade of green for the occasion. This has been a Chicago tradition for decades now. It provides a bit of family-friendly fun for the kids, and a welcome midday distraction for the Loop's office workers. The green color achieved is shockingly bright -- I mean so bright you'll think your eyes are deceiving you.

So how do they dye the river green? I went looking and was delighted to find that it's no big secret. According to Green Chicago River, the event organizer's official site, it takes 40 pounds of vegetable dye to create a carpet of green that lasts four to five hours. Of course, they don't dye the entire river with that--just one section a couple of blocks long.

Interestingly, the vegetable-based dye replaced an oil-based dye that was initially used. Environmentalists lobbied for the change, arguing that oil-based dye was hardly an eco-friendly substance to be shoveling into a river.

Yesterday we talked about going green in the bathroom and the many ways that we can reduce our water consumption. It is suggested that we switch to low-flush toilets. This is probably the most recommended solution, and many cities even offer credits and rebates toward the purchase.

Ultimately, the goal is to go green, so can the same result be achieved with the old toilet while avoiding a new purchase -- and its inevitable end in the landfill? Yes, it can, thanks to this article teaching us how to convert any toilet into a low flush toilet.

The conversion is dead simple. All you do is fill a half gallon container part way with pebbles or other heavy material, then top it off with water. Put the jug in your toilet tank, where it will displace the water. You'll save a half gallon of water per flush. That's a significant savings in each household; just imagine if your neighbors got on board too! Have a read through the full instructions and the helpful tips, then pass it on to a friend.

[via: Lifehacker]