Rain barrels collect rainwater and store it for future use in watering your lawn and garden. Setting up a rain barrel is the ideal way to cut water costs. Place the barrel under your gutter spout to collect any water coming down and to prevent flooding around the base of your home. Addin...
Always use a grounded electric cord connected to a GFCI outlet. This type of outlet acts as its own circuit breaker and is specifically designed to trip in the event water and electricity are within close proximity of each other. The water you collect in the rain barrel is not suitable for...
Use a platform that can hold the barrel’s weight when it’s full of water – around 300 pounds. You can purchase a plastic rain barrel stand or use 2 to 4 concrete cinder blocks (depending on the size of the barrel). Gravel or sand pit: In lieu of a platform, dig a pit 2 to...
And if you have leftovers, don't throw them away try making them into new dishes or donating them to a local food bank. Finally, let's talk about water conservation. This can be done by taking shorter showers, fixing leaks promptly, and using a rain barrel to collect rainwater for ...
2. Reduce energy consumption–turn off lights and unplug electronic devices when not in use, switch to energy-efficient light bulbs, and replace old appliances with energy-star certified ones. 3. Conserve water–take shorter showers, use low-flow fixtures in the home, and use a rain barrel ...
Use a watering can or rain barrel to water your plants in the fall. Your plants, lawn and garden all require less water this time of year. Install low-flow showerheads, faucets and toilets. Shorten up your shower. Try a five-minute shower. ...
If you connect your sprinklers to a watering computer, you can even leave on a holiday knowing your lawn and plants will be taken care of. Many lawns have spots that require more water than the rest of the lawn. Install a rain barrel and use the harvested water to water these spots by...
2. Use a Dishwasher Instead of Hand-Washing The average dishwasher uses 6 to 10 gallons of water per cycle. This might sound like a lot, but washing by hand can actually use much more water, as you have the tap running for 5, 10, or even 15 minutes at a time. ...
Rainwater harvesting is collecting the run-off from a structure or other impervious surface in order to store it for later use. Traditionally, this involves harvesting the rain from a roof. The rain will collect in gutters that channel the water into downspouts and then into some sort of stor...
If you want to collect more than a watering can full of water—and reducestormwater runoffat the same time—you can install a rain barrel. The barrels catch the water that drains from your roof through your downspouts. They typically have a spigot at the bottom with a hose so you can ...