Here are 10 quick ways to reduce the amount of garbage that goes into your bins every week. Even if you’re not thinking about the environmental impact of doing this; it’ll be less to carry.

* If you’re looking to shrink your waist, Rob’s your man.

1. Give it away

   A ‘spring clean‘ - at any time of the year - is a great opportunity to take advantage of this one. If you’ve got something which is perfectly reasonable (but no longer wanted); give it away. Donate it to charity, give it to a neighbour or find a friend/family member who’d love to take it off your hands.

   This works well for low-priced items, or things which are far too heavy to consider putting up for sale.

2. Sell it online

   Once all of the low-value goods are out of the way, there’s a good chance that you’ve got quite a few things left. Grab a couple of photos, write brief descriptions and put them up on an auction site like eBay. Alternately, use any of the larger trading sites such as Craigslist, Loot or the Trading Post.
   

3. Compost heap

   If you spend many a sunny weekend raking up leaves or mowing the lawn, a compost heap is for you. This will give you a quick, simple way to turn the unwanted leaf litter and grass clippings into great material for the gardens.

   To find out exactly how to make a compost pile or bin, take a look at this article.
   

4. Make your own mulch

   When it comes to garden equipment, one of my favourites is a machine known as ‘The Piecemaker‘ (great name). It simply breaks up larger stems and branches into bite-size pieces - perfect for garden mulch.

   Like the compost heap, a shredder or mulcher is a great way to turn garden waste into useful garden product. Beautiful.
   

5. Take your own shopping bags

   Quick question for you : when you go shopping, do you take your own bags? This is a particularly easy way to cut back on your household waste. After all, the plastic or paper bags provided at each store have to go somewhere once they’re home. If you can avoid using them at all, great.

   To read a little more about this, head over to the article 5 Ways To Reduce Packaging In Your Grocery Shopping.
   

6. Set up a worm farm

   I love worm farms. Although I usually think of them as indoor equipment, I understand entirely if you’d rather keep yours outside. In a slightly sheltered area, of course.

   A worm farm is a great way to convert unwanted kitchen scraps into nutrients for your garden. It can even work its magic on your dog’s, well, ‘markers‘. And, if you’re wondering, it’s great to have a worm farm as well as a compost heap. Slightly different functions.
   

7. Grow your own fruit & veg

   One of the simplest ways to reduce your household waste is to produce at least some of your own food. This doesn’t necessarily mean opening a cattle ranch or dairy farm; growing a few fruits and vegetables will start things off.

   If gardening isn’t exactly a strong point (either you never grow anything or you kill almost any plant you touch), a large pot filled with herbs is a great start. In general, they’re tough little things.

   To see how it’s done (and don’t worry, it’s little more than pot + soil + plants), walk this way.
   

8. Use it for something else

   This is a technique which is often overlooked - re-using an item for something else. An old bookshelf that gradually makes its way to the garage, a pair of socks that enjoy a new life as dusting cloths and so on. Before throwing something away, ask yourself if it could be used for something else.

   Of course, there are many, many ways to reuse the items which you may already have. Whether you’re looking for something in the ‘arts and crafts‘ line, or are much more at home in the garage; these should give you a few ideas :

   • Ikea Hacker
   • Instructables
   • Workout equipment you can build yourself

   
   

9. Restore and Renovate

   Although the impact is somewhat more subtle, this is the second cousin of the ‘re-use‘ category above. Essentially, it’s just re-using an item for the original purpose.

   Another question to ask when about to throw an item away - would you keep using it if it were in better condition? If the answer’s ‘yes‘, then it may be worth the time and effort involved in fixing it up. Especially with larger, expensive items.

   As the restoration of just about anything (furniture and cars are at the top of most lists) is a specialist activity, I won’t even attempt to cover things here. I will point out though, that with a bit of time and effort (and - in some cases - money); almost anything can be restored.
   

10. Use biodegradable packaging

    Back to the great outdoors, sort of. Whenever you buy something, think for a second where the packaging is going to end up. I don’t just mean ‘in the bin‘ (although that’s a start), I mean slightly further down the line. Sitting atop a massive pile of garbage somewhere?

    Whenever possible, opt for materials which break down fairly easily. Think of a paper-wrapped parcel from the butcher, rather than the equivalent plastic and foam concoction at the local supermarket.

    A rule of thumb here - if you’re not sure if it breaks down easily, it probably doesn’t.
    

Bonus : Recycle glass, paper and plastic

Remember cleaning up after the last party you had? All of the bottles and cans? Recycling is a particularly simple way to get rid of them all. And a whole lot more.

Final thoughts on shrinking your waste

Just about anything you throw away can be put under one of the headings above. For the remainder, well, keep on making it smaller. It’s a lot easier to carry.

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That article - and many others - gives the reader a somewhat inaccurate impression of the situation. Here’s a brief look at the use of compact fluorescent lighting, including the safe disposal of broken or used bulbs.

What are Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)?

A CFL is essentially just a smaller version of the fluorescent tubes you see in many offices and supermarkets. The tubes are generally much slimmer, and twisted into a spiral or other compact design. The photo at left shows one of the more common varieties.

These lights have grown in popularity enormously over the past couple of years; mostly due to the fact that they consume far less power than the incandescent light globes we’ve all been using for decades. A low-wattage CFL will typically light the room as much as a high-powered incandescent equivalent.

The concern over mercury

Whilst they do use far less power than similar incandescent lights, CFLs require a little more attention when it comes to disposal. There are several differences between the two technologies, but the primary concern is over a single aspect of the CFLs :

CFLs contain a tiny amount of mercury.

The amount of mercury found in a CFL - even a broken one - is tiny (usually less than 4 milligrams), and extremely unlikely to cause a problem. To illustrate this, here’s a quick calculation based on a typical CFL in a medium-sized room (a child’s bedroom, if you like) :

a CFL containing 4mg of mercury breaks in a room containing 25m3 of air (a medium-sized room). The entire 4mg of mercury vaporises, resulting in an airborne mercury concentration of 0.16mg / m3. This level will fall rapidly, as air from outside / other areas of the house comes in to the room. In all likelihood, it will be at zero after an hour or so.

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard (the level which is considered safe) is 0.05mg /m3 averaged over eight hours. Even if the air in the room (containing the broken CFL) takes 8 hours to be replaced, the level of mercury from the bulb is only a minuscule 0.02mg /m3. Well within the guidelines.

What to do when a CFL breaks

On the rare occasion when a CFL is broken, a little caution is necessary. Both the glass and the mercury need to be disposed of carefully. Here’s how :

1. open any windows in the room itself, and elsewhere in the house
2. if you have an air-conditioner or central heating system, switch it off
3. clean up the broken glass carefully (avoid touching it with your skin, or vacuuming it up)
4. wipe the area with a paper towel in order to mop up any remaining glass fragments, and mercury
5. put the broken light, and the paper towel, in a plastic bag and take it to a recycling centre (hazardous waste section)

Leave the room. It’ll be back to normal in an hour or so.

Safe disposal of Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)

Although breakages are extremely rare, CFLs should still be disposed of carefully when they reach the end of their life (or are no longer required). Fortunately, there are a couple of ways to do just this.

For used or unwanted fluorescent lighting, take a look at the Tube Terminator. This thing’s superb.

To see it in action, head over to The New Inventors site (it was shown on there last year). Although the demonstration focuses on the larger form of fluorescent lighting, an adapter is available for CFLs.

Alternately, take the light(s) to a recycling centre which handles CFLs. In the US, check out the Lamp Recycle and ALMR sites.

An alternative to Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)

If you’re looking for a low-energy alternative to the compact fluorescents, check out the current generation of LEDs. These make use of yet another technology, require even less power to run and are simpler to dispose of.

LEDs are not yet considered inexpensive, but prices are falling rapidly. If you haven’t taken a look at them in the past few months, it’s well worth your time. You’ll save a considerable amount of money over their lifetime.

Final thoughts on CFLs and mercury

Whilst CFLs do contain a tiny amount of mercury, it’s nowhere near the levels that some news reports would have you believe. As with many consumer items, all that’s required is a little common sense.

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When it comes to energy use around the house, this idea certainly holds true. Having an idea of the amount of electricity, water, gas etc which is being used can help you make real changes - quickly. And as you’re likely to be saving money in the process, the first place you’ll notice the benefits may just be your utility bills.

As with most things on the market, there are a number of options when it comes to energy monitoring. Here are a few of my favourites.

EcoVision

The EcoVision - shown the other night on The New Inventors - is a real-time, touch-screen display for your home that shows the household’s current power and water consumption. The system is also geared for group or community use - showing the consumption levels of a communal building or small town.

Future versions of the device are expected to collate national and global data.

My thoughts on this : although it’s a great idea for new homes, it isn’t - yet - ready to be connected to existing houses. Once it does, and the price of touch-screen displays drops, it will undoubtedly take off. To see more, watch the New Inventors segment, or head over to www.ecovisionsolutions.com.au.

NB : You may also be interested in the MorePower Multi, which is heading along a similar path.

Wattson

This is at the stylish forefront of energy usage monitoring, and looks the part (as well as acting the part). In terms of functionality, it simply monitors how much electricity your house is using, and displays that information in the form of coloured lights and the cost of the power.

My thoughts on this : whilst it’s clearly a good-looking device (and made Stuff Magazine’s ‘Cool Gadget List‘ last year), it’s a little on the expensive side. For energy-monitoring, at least.

NB : There are a number of devices similar to this - with varying prices - such as The Owl (formerly the Cent-A-Meter, known as Electrisave in the UK) and the Efergy.

EWGECO

Developed by Scottish inventor Tanya Ewing, the EWGECO is a small, hand-held monitoring device for tracking electricity, gas and water consumption. Once it learns your ‘usual‘ consumption patterns (which takes about a week), it’ll display - in real time - whether you’re higher or lower than this; and by how much.

At the moment it’s for business use only; a household model is due out shortly. More info is available on the EWGECO site.

My thoughts on this : the integrated electricity/gas/water approach makes a lot of sense to me; as does the small, handheld idea. It’s now possible to think of this offering as part of another device, such as a cellphone or television.

Kill-A-Watt

The Kill-A-Watt is much like a double-adaptor with a screen; quickly identifying the electricity usage of any device plugged in to it. A handy way to check up on your existing appliances.

My thoughts on this : although it may seem to have a limited use (after all, it’s only for one appliance at a time), it’s nice and cheap. Around $20 on Amazon.

NB : Devices similar to this include the Prodigit 2000M plug-in mains power & energy monitor and the Brennenstuhl PM230 Electricity Meter.

Other options

If you’re not in a position to spend money at the moment, there are still a couple of things you can do. The first is to grab as many of your electricity bills (from that house) as you can, and get an idea of the amount you generally use. Watch for seasonal changes, which may be an air-conditioner, pool cleaner or heating system.

The second is to use one of the free online calculators, such as this one (US only). This will give you an approximate breakdown of your electricity usage.

Final thoughts on Monitoring Your Energy Usage

These devices all have one thing in common - they make it easy to keep an eye on your power consumption; reducing your power bills in a number of cases. Whether your goals are environmentally-based, or simply related to saving a bit of cash; monitoring your energy usage is well worth considering.

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* As in many parts of the world, one of the road rules here (Sydney, Australia) requires a reduced speed around schools during the times the children arrive and leave each day. A set of lights and warning signs often announces this.

What are the main advantages of solar-powered devices?

Before we begin, let’s take a quick look at two of the key advantages of solar-powered devices in general. These apply to almost anything that’s solar-powered - whether it’s intended for domestic or commercial use.

• Installation is often simpler. Once you remove the cables supplying power to the device itself (and I’m obviously referring to larger equipment here), the installation requirements are greatly simplified in many cases. It’s also less to worry about when you’re digging nearby.
• Greatly reduced maintenance costs. A significant part of the maintenance cost for many electrical devices involves the power supply, and the transmission of this power to the core of the equipment. Solar-powered devices remove this.

Once the initial cost comes down to a reasonable level, local government bodies stand to save a considerable amount of money; both when the items are new, and on an ongoing basis.

Solar-powered devices in the streets

Now, on to the devices themselves. These are all things which are currently available, and in use in various parts of the world. If you’d like to see more of them where you live, just talk to your local council or government.

Street lights

These really show off the two advantages above. With nothing physically connecting them to each other (wireless communications sort out the timing and collective functions), they take up a very small space at ground level. Meanwhile, the reduced maintenance cost enables them to be employed along minor roads in small towns which otherwise go poorly lit.

Although there are many varieties, the one in the photo at left shows a typical setup. The overall shape of each streetlight is almost unchanged.

NB : Portable versions of these are also available - perfect for temporary uses, such as roadworks.

Parking meters

These are the first solar-powered devices I saw beside the roads, several years ago. As solar options become cheaper and more efficient, the solar-powered parking meters are making their presence felt in a number of parts of the world.

School safety lights

These are the lights I mentioned at the beginning of this article. The device itself is a simple warning sign - a series of flashing lights and an area of text - and is ideal for the solar approach.

NB : a great alternative is the SafeZone, which features a series of coloured road-based markers. Very easy to see.

Bus shelters

This seems like an obvious use for solar technology, as it’s fairly simple to modify existing shelters; without any significant change to their appearance. These are gradually becoming more common in many areas.

Buses

The Tindo Solar Bus I pointed to recently operates on a very simple model. The solar power is gathered at the bus depot, not on the vehicle itself; and simply recharges the vehicle at night (in the same way as a plug-in hybrid). Being an electric vehicle, the bus is almost silent, and perfect for the typical short journeys around urban areas.

Solar Road Markers

As you can see from the photo, these are essentially solar-powered cats-eyes. As you’d expect for devices which are going to suffer being run over many times a day, they’re extremely tough. Temperature extremes, heavy traffic - no problem at all. Great things.

Temporary Traffic lights

This is a superb combination of power from renewable and non-renewable sources - solar-powered temporary traffic lights. As with the street lights, these often make use of wireless communications to keep everything running smoothly.

Street signs

Many of the above devices have a common trait - the energy is harnessed, stored and then re-used when appropriate. Street signs are a perfect example of this. Solar energy is collected during the day, and used to power lighting (for the sign) at night.

A battery backup easily covers the dim and overcast days.

And a few that I’d like to see :

Permanent Traffic lights

Now that solar-powered temporary traffic lights are available, it isn’t exactly a huge leap to incorporate the same technology in permanent setups. After all, an intersection which is suddenly without traffic lights is chaotic at best.

Safety railings

Although several varieties of solar-powered bollards are already available, I haven’t yet come across similar options when it comes to sections of safety railing.

Public Recharge points

Similar to the solar-powered bollards mentioned above - although they’d simply store their energy, rather than offer lighting - would be public recharge points. If your electric car or hybrid is running low on power, simply pull over and plug in for a while.

The cost of maintaining something like this? Very low indeed.

Final thought on Solar Technology in the Streets

I love the idea of solar power; after all, it’s essentially free electricity. The next time you’re in town, take a look around at the ways in which solar-powered devices could really reduce costs and simplify things.

Chances are, there are more than you think.

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Designing a new house? Great. This article looks at the many things you can do at this point which will radically reduce the amount of water you use - without adding anything at all to the total cost.

By how much can you reduce it? In many areas, it’s quite possible to disconnect from the mains supply altogether - or at least to stop using water from that source.

Let’s get started.

Water conservation can be broken into three broad areas. These are :

1. reduce the amount you use
2. collect your rainwater *
3. re-use it where possible (clean it as necessary)

Looking at it this way, you’ll see that it isn’t a single problem to be addressed. Several small changes will have a major impact.

* I realise that this could be placed in the ‘re-use’ category, but it’s such a key change that it’s been given a category of its own.

Reduce the amount you use

There are a few ways to do this. The first is by changing your behaviour (brushing your teeth without the water running, using a bucket for the cold shower water); a second is by using more efficient appliances. Designing a new house gives you the perfect opportunity to do this.

When buying water-efficient appliances, be sure to find out if there are any rebates available in your area, and take full advantage of them. Unexpected income is always a nice feeling, and the extra cash may make the difference between a device that’s ‘OK’ and the one you really want.

The third way is a little less obvious. Almost any physical product you buy (a can of tomatoes, for example) will incur a fair amount of production, packaging, transportation and display. Purchasing an alternative product (or, in the case of tomatoes, growing your own) often reduces the cost of things, labour involved, power and water used. Of course it isn’t always possible - or even reasonable - to buy something else; but it can make quite a difference in the long run.

When designing your house, it’s a great opportunity to take advantage of this third approach. Although the savings involved with a can of tomatoes may be negligible, a change of housing materials or suppliers can reward you with a notable reduction. In fact, the first place you’ll notice it is often in your wallet.

For more on these approaches, see the article How to save water around your house.

Collect your rainwater

This one alone will have a massive impact on the amount of water you purchase - and the home-design stage is the perfect time to really take advantage of it. In an earlier article we looked at the various types of water tanks; all are great, however some of them are much more realistic when building a new home.

Particularly the bladder and wall tanks. Designing a deck to fit around a tank (rather than squeezing a tank into the space available) is definitely the way to go. Much, much cheaper.

In fact, you’ll probably be able to collect much more rainwater in a new home than an existing one of the same size. How much should you collect? Quite simply, as much as you can.

For more on this, see the article the benefits of using a water tank.

Re-use it where possible

Once again, there are a couple of approaches here. As with the section on ‘reduce the amount you use’, a few minor changes in behaviour can have a marked impact. Directing excess water from your washing machine on to the garden, using bathwater to ‘bucket flush’ the toilet.

When designing a new house, however, you can also take advantage of both greywater and blackwater recycling. As one of the largest costs with these systems is the plumbing, this is the perfect time to set things up.

Installing a greywater system

In the last article we looked at greywater - what it is, and how to use it. Several options were noted, ranging from small behavioural changes to complete systems to clean and re-use the water supply. When it comes to the design of a new house, there’s a great opportunity to take advantage of all of them; particularly the full recycling systems.

There are several available, and your decision will certainly come down to location and budget; however a good place to start is with the Nubian Oasis.

For more on this, see the article Using Greywater.

Blackwater

Blackwater is water which contains the waste from areas such as toilets and greasetraps; and accordingly needs quite a bit of cleaning before it can be re-used. The result is usually Class A+ water - the highest standard of recycled water possible. Although some regulations prevent you from drinking this water (and you’d be fine if you did), it’s perfectly OK for everything else.

Currently there are only a handful of options when it comes to recycling residential blackwater; though I imagine this will greatly increase over the next few years. An example of a blackwater system that can be purchased right now is this one from EcoNova.

NB : as governments around the world have different viewpoints on equipment such as this, it’s worth asking a few questions of your local council or controlling body.

It isn’t just water you’ll be saving

Throughout this series you may have noticed that in a number of cases, saving water also means saving time, money and electricity. An example of this is the KISSS roof garden system which was shown on the New Inventors a few days ago.

If you didn’t catch the show, the KISSS Ebb and Flow Mat provides an exceedingly simple and cost-effective way to manage a roof garden - even on sloped roofs. In addition to conserving water, the mats will greatly reduce the building’s heating costs (by around 30% for a typical home); as well as cutting back on the installation and maintenance times associated with rooftop gardening.

A brilliant idea.

Final thoughts on designing a water-efficient house

I love water. Tipping your head back in a light snowfall, listening to a trickling stream, watching a fountain (thanks, Marty - this is a great idea), taking a cold shower on a hot day.

Perhaps surprisingly, I also enjoy being surrounded by modern appliances. Fortunately, it’s quite possible to have both.

When designing your house, keep in mind that conserving water actually gives you greater control over your environment. Your bills will be lower, you’ll spend less time on maintenance and there’ll be absolutely no guilt whenever you decide to enjoy a long, hot shower or a soak in the bath.

Ideally, the amount of water your home collects from the rain will be enough to cover 100% of your water needs. In many parts of the world this is entirely possible - and will save you an incredible amount of money.

Designing a new house is the perfect opportunity to take full advantage of this possibility. Save money, help the environment; reduce your maintenance costs - perfect.

I hope this series has given you a couple of ideas when it comes to the topic of saving water. Self-sustainability (at least as far as water is concerned) really isn’t as difficult as you might think.

If you missed any of the previous articles, you can get up-to-speed below :

• How to measure your water usage
• The benefits of using a water tank
• Guttering and Drains
• How to save water around your house
• Using Greywater

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When it comes to conserving water, this is the big one. As greywater comprises around three quarters of a household’s waste water, it’s well worth looking at. After all, saving water = saving money.

What is Greywater?

First, a definition.

The water you see around the house can generally be classified as one of three types -

White / fresh water : this is the clear water you drink.
Greywater / graywater : this water contains a small amount of dirt, and is water that has been previously used within the house. The water which leaves the washing machine, for example.
Blackwater : this is the waste water from the toilet.

Just remember the greywater = previously used part, and you’ll begin to see just how much of the stuff there is available.

What can greywater be used for?

At this point you may be wondering exactly what you can do with all of this slightly cloudy water. After all, it contains everything that was washed off your hands, dishes, clothes and so on.

There are two answers to this, as you’ll quickly see in the sections on collecting greywater. It can either be used as-is for a few things, or cleaned up and re-used in any number of ways.

Using greywater as-is

There are a few ways to collect the water in the house, and use it on an appropriate (more on that in a minute) part of the garden. These are all free, and are things that anyone can start doing today. Excellent.

The Bucket Method

In an earlier article on saving water around your house, I mentioned the idea of putting a bucket in the shower, specifically to catch the cold water that comes out before things start to warm up. Once the bucket is full, put it to one side until after your shower; and then pour it on the garden.

An alternative is to use this bucket of water to flush the toilet. Simply pour the water into the bowl, instead of flushing. It’ll automatically flush everything away.

NB : Having a bath? The same thing applies. Grab the bucket afterwards.

Simple redirection

Several appliances (notably washing machines, air-conditioning units and dehumidifers) enable a hose to be connected to the back (often just a regular garden hose) to redirect the waste water. Simply attach a hose to the back of the machine, and point it to an appropriate part of the garden. Perfect.

What is an ‘appropriate’ part of the garden?

In the examples above, much of the water was already clean to begin with; putting it on any area of the garden is fine.

With greywater, however, some plants enjoy it more than others. If you have a choice, use it to water :

Lawns : most grasses are fine with greywater. If the greywater is particularly cloudy, just alternate its use with fresh water.
Trees and large shrubs : the majority of these are fine. Greywater tends to be slightly alkaline, so trees such as Oaks do particularly well with it.
Roses : roses also tend to enjoy slightly alkaline conditions, so greywater is perfect.
Alkaline-loving plants : whilst roses are perhaps the best known, a number of other alkaline-friendly plants enjoy a bit of greywater. These include bougainvilleas, agapanthus and honeysuckle.

As a general rule, use the greywater for ornamental plants rather than those you eat. Whilst there are exceptions, this will keep things running smoothly.

NB : If the garden is physically lower than the machine spitting out the water, you won’t even need a pump. Just plug in and enjoy.

Things to avoid

The vegetable garden : although some vegetables really don’t mind it, the majority don’t like it at all.
Irrigation systems with small holes at some point (even the sprinkler heads) : these occasionally become clogged with the larger material in greywater.

Cleaning up the greywater

As I mentioned earlier, the other way to handle greywater is to collect it; and then clean it up a little. When people talk of the costs associated with greywater, this filtration is usually involved. Effective, yes; but not exactly cheap. Yet.

Why clean the greywater?

By filtering the greywater, the clean water produced can be re-used to flush toilets, run the dishwasher, fill the washing machine and so on. It can also be stored for much longer periods of time.

How is this done?

There are a number of systems on the market for doing this (collection, filtration and storage), with the expected range of appearances and costs. These systems generally work by :

Collection and filtration : the water is taken as it goes down the drain, and redirected into a filtration system.
There’s absolutely no difference in appearance at this point - in fact your neighbours may already be doing it. You’d never know.
Storage : once the majority of impurities have been removed, the water is directed to a storage tank.
Re-use : the storage tank is connected to the wet rooms of the house. Whenever the toilet is flushed, or the washing machine is used (as well as many more devices) - this cleaned greywater is used.

NB : If there isn’t quite enough water in the storage tank, the regular supply of fresh water is automatically used.

Keeping the greywater clean, naturally

As you can see, greywater is simply a mix of the stuff you pour down the drain (except the toilet, of course). No matter whether you’re using a bucket or a cutting-edge filtration system; life will be much, much easier if the water is a little cleaner to begin with.

To keep the greywater as clean as possible, take a look at your household cleaning products. There are a number of items that will do a superb cleaning job (particularly shampoos, laundry and dishwashing detergents); as well as keeping your plants happy. If you’re putting greywater on the garden, these are well worth considering.

Of course, all products vary in their cost, appearance and effectiveness - ask your neighbours what they are using. Regardless of the brand, however, here are a few general guidelines :

• use products which are phosphate free
• use products which are low in sodium
• use products which state that all of their ingredients are biodegradable
• use products which are concentrated
• use products which can be used in cold water

Although this sounds like a bit of work, most of the products with ‘green‘ names will tick these boxes. And your garden will look great.

Final thought on using greywater

When it comes to saving water, the use of greywater is an obvious choice. Whether you’re using a bucket or a complete filtration system; using greywater just makes sense.

Next week I’ll be taking a look at the many things possible when you’re building a new house, or renovating an existing one. Self-sustainability (at least as far as water is concerned) really isn’t as difficult as you might think.

In the meantime, check out some of the previous articles in this series. Enjoy.

• How to measure your water usage
• The benefits of using a water tank
• Guttering and Drains
• How to save water around your house

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• Saving Water : How To Save Water Around Your House
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• 10 Ways You Can Help The Environment (and save money)
• 5 Ways to Save Money With Your Kettle

No matter where you live, there are a number of ways you can save water in the house you already have. There are many excellent environmental reasons for doing this, but you’ll also benefit from something much more tangible - you’ll save money.

When it comes to saving water around the home, there are three basic approaches :

• reduce the amount of water you use
• repair leaking plumbing fixtures
• reuse household water

Lets take a look at each of these.

Reduce the amount of water you use

This one is perhaps the most obvious - simply use less. However, as the idea is to use less water without reducing your standard of living, it takes a little thought. After all, water is very much a part of our lives now.

Reduce the amount used for bathing : Whenever possible, opt for a shower rather than a bath (of course an occasional long, hot bath is great - but think of it as a rare treat, not a daily necessity). Try to keep the showers down to a reasonable time - 4 or 5 minutes.

NB : Some low-flow shower heads are also well worth considering. As they vary quite a bit, try out a few whenever you get the chance (when you’re staying in a hotel, at the airport, at a friend’s house). The good ones are virtually indistinguishable from standard shower heads, but use much less water. It’s worth the effort.

Shower with one of your children, or bathe two of them together : Naturally this will depend on several things, but if the option is there; take it. You’ll use much less water.

Reduce the amount used for washing clothes : If you’re in the market for a new washing machine, consider the most water-efficient model available. Although it will most likely cost a little more to begin with, you’ll be saving money for many years to come.

NB : Front-loading machines are generally more water and power efficient than their top-loading cousins (although there are exceptions).

Reduce the amount used for washing clothes, using your existing machine : Not ready for a new machine? There are still things you can do. Try these :

• skip additional rinse cycles
• if the machine has a ’save suds’ option, do a couple of loads
• use the economy cycle when available
• try to avoid washing one thing at a time - if you urgently need to clean something, put a few other things in with it

Reduce the amount used for flushing the toilet : Once again, if you’re in the market for a new loo; you have a range of options available. Low-flush, dual-flush, composting and so on. Your choice really comes down to price, availability, and the one you most like the look of. It’s a personal thing.

That said, if you’re about to go bathroom shopping; begin by looking at the dual-flush options. Good water savings, and a massive variety of styles.

Reduce the amount of water used for flushing the existing toilet : Perhaps you’re renting, or there’s simply nothing wrong with the toilet you already have. There are still a couple of things you can do.

• put a plastic bottle (filled with water) in the cistern - you’ll use less water per flush. Alternately, anything of a similar size and weight is fine; you can just use a brick.
• there are many devices available which will control the length of each flush. The toilet is flushed only for the length of time the button is held down - much easier to control. These are cheap - starting at around $10.

Repair leaking plumbing fixtures

A dripping tap or toilet is not only incredibly annoying to listen to; it can waste around 200 litres per day. That adds up in a hurry.

Fortunately they’re often quite easy to fix. If you’re DIY-inclined, take a look at the following video which demonstrates the process of fixing a leaky tap.

YouTube DirektLink

NB : If the problem is simply that the faucet is never turned off properly, just take a look at some of the newer handles on offer. There’s no need to replace the whole thing.

Reuse household water

There are many, many ways in which to do this. If you’re keen to set up your own greywater system, great. You’ll love next week’s article.

Even without going that far, however, there are still things you can do. And these really do make a difference.

Collect the cold shower water : I’m sure you know the drill. When it’s time to take a shower, you turn it on and wait for it to warm up. In the meantime, a considerable amount of perfectly good cold water goes down the drain.

Simply grab a bucket and collect the water before it warms up. After your shower, just pour the cold stuff on the garden.

NB : Enjoying a bath? Keep the bucket handy, and when the water cools down; again pour it on the garden.

Redirect the washing machine excess : Once washing machines use their water, the excess is simply thrown down the drain. Instead of the short, flexible pipe which does this; attach a longer garden hose and direct the water to the desired location.

Many dehumidifiers afford the same possibility.

Other ways to save water around the house

Although there are several ideas above, there are actually a number of other ways to save water in your home. A few things to consider :

• use the economy setting on your dishwasher
• only use the dishwasher when it’s full (for small or single-person households, the split drawer options are great)
• fill the kettle only as much as you need at the time (more kettle-centric ideas here)
• when peeling or washing vegetables, use a water-filled bowl rather than a running tap
• when brushing your teeth, turn the water on/off as required (rather than leave it running)
• install aerators in kitchen and bathroom taps

Final thought on saving water around the house

These changes really do work. As an example, a report released recently noted that Sydneysiders now use less water than in 1974 - despite the population growth. That’s a massive reduction.

This is the fourth article in this series on Saving Water. If you missed the previous pieces, you can grab them here :

1. How to Measure Your Water Usage
2. The Benefits of Using a Water Tank
3. Guttering and Drains

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Related Articles at Former Fat Guy Blog:

• Saving Water : Using Greywater
• Saving Water : Designing a water-efficient house
• 5 Ways to Save Money With Your Kettle
• Saving water : Guttering and Drains
• 10 Ways You Can Help The Environment (and save money)

Have you ever caught yourself standing indoors during a heavy downpour, wondering where all of the excess water ends up? Obviously the garden can only drink so much, the pool may take a little and the
water tank takes whatever it can.

However, the rest - the vast majority - is simply thrown away.

This article - on guttering and drains - looks at several ways to improve the flow of water around your house (so you can make the most of it), and take a few steps toward the ultimate water goal : any water that falls on your property, stays on your property. No more water bills. Ever.

Water-wise gutters and drains

If you’re planning to build a new house, or replace the guttering for your existing home; you may be wondering just what types of guttering are available. Rest assured, there are many, many varieties of each - here I’ll take a look at just a few of the more unusual options. Water-wise, of course.

Rain Handler : This is a guttering system which actually follows much of the ‘no gutters‘ thinking - water is elegantly removed, without filling up with the dirt and debris all-too-common in guttering.

Rainsaver gutter / tank : I mentioned the rainsaver gutter / tank briefly in my last article about the benefits of using a water tank. Quite simply, it collects the rainfall from the roof; temporarily storing it in a slim tank just beneath the roofline. If your heart is set on guttering of some sort, this is a great idea.


Gutter Monster : for those living near a number of trees, guttering such as the Gutter Monster is perfect. Leaves 0 : Water 1.

Snow Gutters : I love these. If you live in snow country, you’ll quickly see why. This is an incredibly strong, flexible guttering system designed specifically for buildings which receive their fair share of snow and ice. Rather than being allowed to build up on the roof, the snow is allowed to slide off onto the ground.

Great idea.


Atlantis Wall Drainage : these drainage cells come in a great range of shapes and sizes - ready for inclusion in walls, paved areas, gardens and lawns. To get an idea of just how they can be used, take a look at these photos of a Wall Drainage setup in a Sydney car park. Superb.

NB : These are also perfect for a number of residential uses; particularly around gardens.


Beany Block : Like many inventions, a quick look at this begs you to ask ‘why didn’t someone think of that before’. Brilliantly simple idea.

Conventional roadside guttering acts to channel the water along to a specific point, where it is poured into a massive drain. Beany Blocks - developed around two decades ago by Highways Engineer Neill S.
Beanland - are sections of guttering containing an embedded drainage channel. Each section has a large opening to allow the water to enter the channel directly.

Fantastic idea.

Adding value to your house

If you’re not ready to make massive changes to the guttering and drainage around your property, there are a number of small things you can do which will not only increase your water efficiency (saving water of course); they will also add value to your house.

They are :

Round the corners : many plumbers have a habit of creating sharp corners in water pipes - particularly outside the house. Take a walk around your property. Whenever you see a right-angled bend, replace it with a curved section of pipe. Water will flow much more easily around it.


Rainwater diverters : if you’re not quite ready to install water tanks, consider grabbing a simple rainwater diverter. This will divert excess rainwater from your roof - via a normal garden hose - to anywhere more useful. A covered garden perhaps, or a lawn that needs a helping hand.

Keep some of the stormwater : it’s common to see pipes leading from the house into the closest street, where excess water is channeled into the community’s stormwater system (thrown back into the sea). Expose these pipes, drill a few holes in them and let some of this excess flow back into the soil (in dry areas - you’re not trying to create a flood). If you have trees in front of your property, this is a great way to keep them happy.

Where do I go from here?

If you’re anything like me, the above solutions are more than enough to start the wheels turning. When it comes to self-sustainability, managing your water use - and eliminating your water bills entirely - is definitely achievable.

To get a good idea of the things that work well in your area (or the one in which you intend to live), simply wait until the next time it rains; and take a look at a few nearby houses, lawns and roads. You’ll quickly get an idea of the types of water management that are necessary.

Final thoughts on guttering and drains

Although it may seem like a small part of the water-saving puzzle, managing the flow of water around your property can prevent flooding, keep the gardens happy, the pool full and ensure there’s plenty of clean drinking water whenever you need it. It doesn’t get much better than that.

This is the third article in this series on Saving Water. If you missed the previous pieces, you can grab them here :

1. How to Measure Your Water Usage
2. The Benefits of Using a Water Tank

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Related Articles at Former Fat Guy Blog:

• Saving Water : Using Greywater
• Saving Water : How To Save Water Around Your House
• Saving Water : Designing a water-efficient house
• Saving Water : The Benefits of Using a Water Tank
• 10 Ways You Can Help The Environment (and save money)

Today we’ll be looking at something for home-owners worldwide - the benefits of using a water tank. A rainwater tank, that is.

When I was growing up in Sydney there was no thought of restricting water use. It was common to see people watering their lawns in the evening, washing the car (with a high-pressure hose) on the weekend and standing under the cool, running water on a hot day.

In recent years (over the past decade or so), the idea has been gradually spreading that water is a valuable resource. This is particularly evident during periods of drought, when water restrictions are in place.

One thing that has made a massive difference to the amount of water we have available - taking us back to the ‘good old days‘, if you like - is the installation of a water tank. If you haven’t really thought about putting one in (regardless of where you live), here are a few things which might just have you considering the idea.

What is a water tank?

Firstly, let’s take a step back and make sure we’re both thinking of the same thing. I’m simply referring to a rainwater tank (aka rain barrel), which is simply a large container that collects the water from your roof when it rains; allowing you to re-use that water at other times. Most tanks have a tap near the base, and a common use is to connect a hose and use the water to keep the garden happy.

Of course, there are a number of other things you can do with that water - ranging from looking after your pets to use in dishwashers and washing machines. And the ultimate use; you can drink it.

Types of water tanks

Round and slimline : Tanks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, designed to suit a great range of accommodation. For existing homes there are large, sturdy outdoor models (in a range of shapes, sizes and colours). These just need a solid, flat surface (a small concrete slab or a paved area) somewhere near the guttering. Redirect a downpipe, set up an overflow, and you’re good to go.

NB : An option may be to bury the tank beneath a garden or lawn. Although it takes a bit of work to set up, it’s completely hidden from view. Perfect.

Bladder : Newer homes often take advantage of the massive, inflatable bags which are designed for use under floors or decking. Although it’s possible to install these in existing homes, it’s much easier (and cheaper) to design the floor with the bags in mind.

If you’re living in an apartment or other type of shared accommodation, it’s worth talking to the person/people in charge of things there. Not only is it a sensible and environmentally-friendly approach; it’s often much, much cheaper.

Rainsaver gutter / tank : these tanks are hidden with a fairly typical guttering system, and can hold a surprising amount of water. A notable example is the RainSaver.

Under gravel, paths and gardens : I love the idea of these - particularly for new homes or during major landscaping work.

The tanks resemble milk crates (with a finer mesh, of course), and are buried beneath gardens, paths and driveways. Excess water works its way down to them, where it is stored for later re-use. A beautiful setup.

Atlantis are the best tanks of this type I’ve seen, and there are some excellent resources on their site looking at this approach.

Benefits of tanks

There are several reasons to consider setting up a water tank or two. They are :

Cheaper : When it comes to saving money, this one’s definitely on the shortlist. After all, rainwater is cheaper than the stuff you pay to have piped in.

The only costs to offset that (and these are one-time-only) are the price of the tank itself [rebates are often available], and the installation.

NB : The installation isn’t particularly difficult. If you’re DIY-inclined you can probably do it yourself; otherwise it’s time to call the local plumber or guttering expert. The company which sold you the tank may even install it for you.

Add value to your property : Unsurprisingly, homes with reduced - or no - bills do somewhat better than their conventional counterparts (everything else being equal). Reducing or eliminating the need to buy water can increase the value of your home.

You’ll use less water : Like a lot of things, knowing you ‘can‘ is often enough. Once the tank is in place, you may find yourself using a little less water - simply because you know it’s there, if you need it.

What size tank do I need?

This depends on three main things :

1. The amount of water you’re using currently (see the first part in this series - How to Measure Your Water Usage for the answer to this)
2. The space you have available, and are allowed to use
3. Your financial situation (see the section on Rebates - these may make it a much more reasonable proposition)

Tanks range in size from just a few hundred litres to hundreds of thousands; so there’s bound to be something to suit your current needs. A family home may only require 10,000 litres or less to completely look after its water requirements. That’s for the garden, washing, cooking, drinking - everything.

To find out your own household water use, take a look at the first article in this series - How to Measure Your Water Usage.

How long will it take to fill the tank?

To get an idea of the time it’ll take to fill the tank, you’ll need to know two things :

• the rainfall in your area (an approximation is usually available online, or you can measure the actual rainfall on your property)
• the area your roof covers (although the material, pitch and installation of your roof all play a role, the area will give you a pretty good idea)

As a guide, 1 square metre of roof will catch about 1 litre of water for each mm of rainfall.

Replacing the household water supply

Although the simplest use for a water tank is to store rainwater to look after the garden on dry days, they can certainly be used to help with any water needs around the house.

The tank’s installer will give you an idea of cost here (if you installed it yourself, just call a local plumber).

Rebates

Although the price of tanks has fallen slightly in recent years, they still require a bit of an investment. One thing which may help is a government rebate.

As these vary from state to state, country to country; it’s worth taking a look to see what’s available in your area. To give you an idea though, here are several of the more common approaches :

In the US : The rebates vary from state to state, and even between water suppliers. The ones listed at Water Saving Hero are fairly typical (these ones apply to residents of California); RainMaster has a more complete list of water conservation and rebate sources here.

In Australia : Rebates here also vary from state to state, with a few of the typical schemes outlined on the Rain Harvesting site.

In the UK : Although rebates are slightly more difficult to find, there are a few available. A good starting point is the Surface Water Drainage Rebate; followed by a phonecall to your local water supplier.

NB : One of the easiest ways to find out what’s available locally is to ask the salesman at your local whitegoods store. If they sell washing machines and dishwashers, they’ll know where to look.

Other considerations

When setting up your rain harvesting system, there are a few things which will keep the process nice and smooth :

• A clean roof = greatly reduced need to filter the water. If you’re planning to have your roof scraped, repainted or treated in any way; do this before you set up the tank.
• As a secondary precaution, throw away the water from the first fill of the tank.
• Adding a screen to the top of the tank will keep leaves and other large debris out of your water supply.
• Use an overflow device to redirect the excess water when the tank is full.
• Check gutters, downspouts and overflows regularly to make sure they’re not blocked.

Final thoughts on the benefits of using a water tank

I love the idea of putting fresh, clean rainwater to work - at the very least, storing it ready for watering the garden on dry days.

Regardless of whether you own your own home, share accommodation or rent; the benefits of using a water tank are well worth considering.

This is the second article in this series on Saving Water. If you missed it last week, you may also like to check out the first part, the all-important How to Measure Your Water Usage. Good fun.

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Related Articles at Former Fat Guy Blog:

• Saving water : Guttering and Drains
• Saving Water : Using Greywater
• Saving Water : Designing a water-efficient house
• Saving Water : How To Save Water Around Your House
• 10 Ways You Can Help The Environment (and save money)

To start with, here’s a look at something which underlies all efforts to save (and re-use) water - measuring your current water usage.

Can’t I just take a look at my bills?

Your water bills will certainly give you an approximation of the water you currently use - inside the house at least. They won’t take into account the amount of rainfall you receive (which often helps out by watering the garden occasionally, topping up the pool a little and filling up things like small ponds, water features and birdbaths).

Similarly, the bills won’t help you determine how much of your water usage is taken up by different parts of the house. When a slightly higher bill arrives, was it the bath or a leaking tap at fault?

NB : I realise that not everyone receives a separate bill for water usage. It may be part of a regular payment which is made to your local council, or other government body. If that’s the case, the following methods will definitely come in handy. After all, it isn’t free.

Measuring rainfall

This is where I slowly raise my hand and state ‘My name is Scott, and I’m a Weather Geek‘. If you’re not similarly afflicted, don’t worry - measuring rainfall is a painless and simple process. What’s more, it doesn’t involve going outdoors when it’s raining.

The easiest way to do this is to grab yourself something like the Oregon Scientific rain gauge pictured (this is actually the one I use). Essentially it’s a small bucket - which gets left out in the rain - and a small display which sits in comparative comfort indoors. The bucket communicates with the indoor display (via a wireless connection), and tells you exactly how much rain has just fallen. It also tracks the rainfall over the previous month.

All you need to do is write down the mm/inches that it says. I’ll show you how to use that information in an upcoming piece.

Checking for leaks

Before you begin checking the various appliances around your house, it’s a good idea to quickly check for leaks. No only will this alert you to a potential problem (and allow you to easily save some money), it will take ‘leaking taps‘ out of the equation.

Doing this is extremely simple :

1. Turn of everything which is using water, and check the meter
2. Wait a couple of hours
3. Check the meter again

If there’s any difference in the meter readings, chances are you have a leak somewhere. If possible, fix this prior to taking the next measurement.

Measuring individual items - the bucket test

Although there are many ways to measure the flow of water, one of my own favourites (for indoor measurements) is also the quickest, simplest and cheapest. The bucket test.

For items (such as the shower) where the water disappears down a drain after a brief visit, simply :

1. Turn it on as much as you would normally have it
2. Catch the water in an empty bucket, for a known time (say, 1 minute)
3. Measure or estimate the amount of water in the bucket

You can now work out how much water you use in a 5 minute shower (or however long it takes).

NB : This method can also be used to measure activities such as washing the car.

Measuring ‘filled’ items

When it comes to measuring items which are filled prior to use (such as a bath, or the kitchen sink); just estimate the volume. To get an idea, treat the object (bath or sink) as being rectangular, and simply multiply length x width x height.

If you’re mathematically inclined, you know exactly how to refine this. Go crazy.

NB : The toilet actually gets included in this category. Although the water ends up in the slightly weird shape of the bowl, it starts out in that rectangular box overhead. Take the lid off, see how much water’s in there, and measure it in the same way as the bath.

Measuring Whitegoods

This is where things get a little tricky. The easiest way (by far) is just to have a look in the manual, which will usually tell you exactly how much water is used per load. If it just tells you the flow rate, multiply this by the amount of time it runs.

If the manual isn’t available, grab a few buckets and measure the water which leaves the machine; before it disappears down the drain.

Adding it all up

By now you’ve got a pretty good idea of how much water you use in a shower, a bath, washing the car and so on. To get an idea of how much you use on an ongoing basis, however, keep a diary.

This doesn’t need to be a lifelong thing by any means - a week should do just fine. For 7 days, keep track of the number of loads of washing you do, showers you have etc. At the end of the week it will be a simple matter to work out the amount of water you use.

As a check - grab a couple of recent water bills and work out the amount you use per week. Alternately, note down the meter reading at the start and end of the 7 days. The totals should be reasonably similar.

Final thoughts

Naturally, the purpose of measuring your household water use is to help keep things in check. It can be a great way to see wasteful areas, or those which are in need of a little fine-tuning.

Next week I’ll be taking a look at a great way to squeeze a little more out of the water you already have - installing a rainwater tank.

These activities can make a great project for the kids. If you’d like to teach your young ones the value of water conservation in a simple and fun way, leave a comment below or send me an email. There are a lot of great resources available for precisely this.

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Related Articles at Former Fat Guy Blog:

• Saving Water : Using Greywater
• Saving Water : How To Save Water Around Your House
• Saving water : Guttering and Drains
• Saving Water : Designing a water-efficient house
• Saving Water : The Benefits of Using a Water Tank

There are pro’s and cons of course (advantages and disadvantages of electric cars), but by far the biggest advantage is the impact on the earth. There are also lots of options to choose from in the various models.

A few pros and cons

Before the list itself, a few words on the advantages and disadvantages of electric cars. If you’re thinking about making the switch, a few things to consider are :

Disadvantages

• Cost : As the number of these vehicles is still tiny when compared to their gas-guzzling cousins, they usually cost a little more up front. Of course, the running costs can be greatly reduced.
• Range : For regular trips to work or the shops, these cars are often an ideal solution. For longer journeys, however, the limited range (before recharging) is worth keeping in mind.
• Reduced top speed : Although very few people put their car’s top speed to the test, some just like to know it’s their. In many cases, electric cars will have a reduced top speed.
• Frequency of ‘refuelling‘ : This is a necessary evil - and relates to the car’s range and how you use it. Something to consider.
• Availability of refuelling points : While there are several cars (listed below) using similar technologies, the recharging methods are not always the same. Take a look at the method your preferred car uses, and take a look around to see how many refuelling points there really are.
• Conversion of your current garage : The simplest way to recharge your car is usually just to plug it in at home. In some cases, this will require a small amount of up-front work.
• Lack of noise : The first time you drive through a small town you’ll notice the impact of a low-noise vehicle. When people don’t hear it coming, they are more likely to step out in front of it (when crossing the street, for example). A little noise can be a good thing.

NB : Despite these minor disadvantages, I believe the benefits completely outweigh the drawbacks. Particularly since a number of the points above are gradually being reduced.

Advantages

The most obvious advantage, of course, is a reduced impact on the environment. A smaller carbon footprint if you like.

In addition to this, however, there is another benefit which is certainly worth thinking about - they can be much, much cheaper to run. Especially since a number of these vehicles also qualify for a myriad of parking and road tax rebates.

The cars

Now. on to the cars themselves :

NB : These are in no particular order, and there are certainly more than 10 manufacturers currently producing electric vehicles. These, however, are all reasonable choices in many parts of the world - particularly the US and the UK.

• Tesla Roadster

  When it comes to performance and styling, this one definitely makes the shortlist. A beautiful car.

  YouTube DirektLink

• Phoenix SUT (Sport Utility Truck)

  After an SUT? Try the Phoenix. Looks great.

  YouTube DirektLink

• ZENN

  ZENN = Zero Emissions, No Noise. Not bad at all.

  YouTube DirektLink

• Mullen L1X-75

  Slightly more pricey than many cars on this list, but definitely a performer.

  brightcove DirektLink

• G-Wiz EV

  Live in a large, densely populated city? Consider the G-Wiz.

  YouTube DirektLink

• GEM e2

  Speed isn’t everything.

  YouTube DirektLink

• Kurrent

  Not a bad mix. The Kurrent.
  

  YouTube DirektLink

• Silence T-REX

  Although the name is somewhat misleading, this holds promise in the performance stakes.

  YouTube DirektLink

• Tango

  Very unusual.

  YouTube DirektLink

• Wrightspeed X-1

  One more in the performance column.
  

  YouTube DirektLink

As you can see, there are a number of options available - regardless of the type of car you currently drive. Which is your favourite?

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Related Articles at Former Fat Guy Blog:

• Would You Buy An Electric Car
• Are Electric Cars Ready for Prime-Time?
• Nitro Circus Grand Canyon Jump
• Jumping Cars Trucks and Bikes
• 2006 X Games Best Trick

In coming weeks I’ll be looking at the various ‘conversion vs kit‘ options available; as well as the occasional progress report from my friend’s garage. It’s a fascinating subject.

For now, though, just a couple of quick questions. For anyone who’s already done this (either by converting an existing car, or constructing one from scratch - usually from a kit);

• what are your thoughts on the experience?
• is there anything you’d do differently now?

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Related Articles at Former Fat Guy Blog:

• Would You Buy An Electric Car
• 10 Electric Cars You Can Buy Right Now
• Nitro Circus Grand Canyon Jump
• Jumping Cars Trucks and Bikes
• 2006 X Games Best Trick

In Part I we looked at the basics of freezing, and how to freeze vegetables, fruit and meat. This week we’ll talk about the ways to save money by using a chest freezer, and the all-important defrosting of foods.