Following the mantra of the 3 R's is a must when trying to live a sustainable lifestyle. Interestingly enough, the 3 R's are placed in order of importance; first being Reduce, then Reuse and finally Recycle. If one first considers reducing the things they need, then reusing what they already have and then finally recycling those things left over they are fully embracing the mantra of sustainability.
Let's consider water for an example:
You can reduce water consumption by turning off the tap when brushing your teeth, washing your hair, or loading your dishwasher. You can also reduce your water usage by taking a shorter shower, or placing water saving devices on your shower head or sink faucets.
You can reuse and recycle water by installing a grey water system in your home. There are many ways to do this, some of which can get quite costly. One easy and cost effective way to conserve water is to install a rain barrel to your home. A rain barrel collects and stores the water from your roof, which can then be used in your garden during the hot summer months when it is vital to conserve water. Here is a link to a great video providing instructions on how to install a rain barrel quite cost effectively:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HamURhj_S3E
For more information and some one on one advise on how to install your own rain barrel, visit Home Depot in The Village at Park Royal.
