In developing countries, according to UNICEF more than 884 million people lack easy access to safe, clean water, and this number is still growing. This means that only about one in every eight people has water when and where they need it. Along with this using water, particularly hot water, contributes to global warming by increasing the emissions of greenhouse gases. Furthermore according to the UK Environment Agency the average family in the developed world uses about 500 litres of water per day, which produces around 1.5 tons of greenhouse gasses every year.

In Australia the average family wastes according to the Environment Protection Authority based in Queensland about 60000 litres of water a year, this alarming figure needs to be cut down and it is therefore, extremely important that you try to conserve water. You will find that it pays to save water, and if you follow these five simple tips for water conservation you will soon see your water bills decrease significantly.

For example it may be a well know piece of advice but leaving the water running while you brush your teeth or massage the shampoo into your hair is not only entirely unnecessary, it can also waste hundreds of litres of water. By simply turning off the tap while doing these things, you can save money and the environment.

1. Invest in Water Efficient Shower Heads and Faucets as well as a Low Flow Toilet

According to Environment Canada today, we use nearly 50% more water than we used to. This is partly down to the fact that showers have become more powerful and household appliances use more water to run. Showers and faucets make up about 35% of our total daily water consumption. By using more efficient faucets and shower heads, you can still enjoy your showers, but with the knowledge that you are not using more water than you need to.
Toilets use about 40% of the total daily water consumption in a household. Using a more efficient flush system for your toilet could greatly reduce that percentage and save you a lot of money in the long run.

2. Outside Water Tanks

Collect any rain water that falls (after all its free!) into a water tank to store for use around the garden, this is a great way to save and store water so that it can be used for the gardening or even washing the car therefore saving you from taking the water from the tap.

3. Toilet Gadgets!

Ok so these may not be at the top of many must have gadgets lists but there are an increasing number of gadgets you can use in the tank of your toilet that help to cut down on water supply. Some of these gadgets use polyethylene to reduce the amount of water flushed away and can save up to 2.5 litres per flush! That equates to a lot of saved water by the end of the year!

4. Be Smart when using water in the garden!

Maintaining a garden especially throughout the summer takes up a lot of time and water, however there are ways to limit the water that you do use. As mentioned above outside water tanks help to save but other simple tips such as leaving your grass to go slightly brown or not cutting it short (longer grass needs less water) can save tips. Checking the weather forecast and waiting for rain, using a watering can instead of a hosepipe all saves a lot of water. Finally the planning of your garden to make sure plants get some shade during part of the day is an excellent way to cut down on watering needs

5. Fix Leaks and Insulate Your Homes Water Pipes

You may not think that a leaky faucet or shower head wastes a lot of water, but all those drops add up and a leaky faucet could waste up to 75 litres of water per day. So just imagine how much water a larger leak can waste.

When taking a shower, you probably need to leave the water running for a few minutes to warm up before you get in. By insulating your water pipes, the water will heat up much faster, and you can save water by not leaving the water on for longer than you have to. It also pays to have your water heater checked at least yearly, to ensure that it is working as efficiently as possible.

By Trent Bardon, a writer for Sydney Water Tanks

One of the many things that you will have to decide on when you are about to start keeping bees is what kind of beehive design you want. There are three major types of beehives to choose from, but you will have to decide which design works for you. There is the movable frame hive, top bar hive, and fixed come hive. There are also variations of each of these types of hives.

The fixed comb hive is the oldest type of beehive design. Within this design, the combs cannot be removed without destroying the hive itself. All of the original hives that were kept in ancient times were fixed comb hives. Unfortunately, this hive is not the best for keeping bees. Fixed comb hives are no longer used commonly and are illegal in some places.

Top bar hives are commonly found in Africa. These hives were originally used in Vietnam and Greece. Once the honey combs are removed from the hive, they are not replaced, making them less efficient than the movable frame hive, but superior to the fixed comb hive. The initial cost of owning a top bar hive is relatively low and they are easy to work with. There are a few well known types of top bar hives such as the Kenyan Top Bar Hive, the Tanzanian Top Bar Hive, and the Vertical Top Bar Hive.

The most commonly used beehive design in modern times is the movable frame hive. This type was developed as a way to preserve the hives when it was time to extract the honey. Lorenzo Langstroth is credited with perfecting the movable comb hives. After this, many beekeepers began creating their own version of these hives. Within this design, the frames are movable and it is opened at the top. Langstroth hives are the most common in the United States. England, France, Germany, and Scotland have found ways to create their own versions of the Langstroth movable hive, changing different aspects of the hive design to match the characteristics of the bees in their respective areas.

To build your own beehive, see these beehive plans.

The app contains 214 entries for various categories of produce, including categories beyond fruits and vegetables such as herbs, mushrooms, nuts, and salad leaves. Information includes local growing season, import season and the growing seasons for other areas of the world, a picture of the produce, and a short blurb of background information that can be used to search for more in depth information if the user desires more.

When planning the produce shopping, users can utilize search tools and browsing options to locate the freshest options to put on the table. Consumers seeking fresh local food can provide a boost to the local economy and improve their own daily health and living with consumption of the fresher and healthier local options. To make finding the fresh picks even easier, a map tool provides graphical information about the location of farmers' markets in the user's vicinity. Creators of the app have gathered this local information in Australia and the United States through information gathered from the Australian Farmers Market Association, Local Food Advisor, Qype, and the United States Department of Agriculture.

Other changes with the latest version of Seasons include localized Spanish language options, support for Retina display, and new entries for 43 products. To locate the newest version of this iPhone app, simply search in the "Lifestyle" category or search directly for "Seasons." For users wishing to reconnect with nature, support the local agricultural centers, stimulate the local economy, eat fresh produce, or simply know where produce originates before it hits the table, this app can satisfy all of those cravings.

Seasonal iPhone App.

Since the plants and fish have a symbiotic relationship, this process happens over and over. Although this method of raising fish dates as far back as the height of the Aztec civilization, when it was used as a form of agriculture, aquaponics as we know it today is still in its early stages. Gaining popularity in urban areas, it’s a new way to “go green.”

The benefits of aquaponics are numerous. It’s excellent for creating food at home. Not only do you save money by raising the fish yourself, but this method also only needs 10%–20% of the water than what’s needed for most other growing methods.

If you’re environmentally-responsible, then there’s the bonus that water is always being reused and recycled. It’s a good way to grow fish for people that don’t have a lot of land, such as city folk. Because aquaponics doesn’t require cropland, these systems are relatively easy to maintain. You don’t have to do much cleaning and the ongoing garden expenses are low.

Other advantages are the decrease in diseases that typically trouble aquacultural systems and the organic fertilization of plants. Microbes and insects change fish feces into humus, which becomes soil. This soil, of course, can then be used to grow organic vegetables. The resulting food is natural and healthy. You get to reduce your carbon footprint, and you won’t need to drive as often to get food if you’re growing it at home. With this sustainable process, aquaponics doesn’t need as many resources as traditional farming after the initial cost of equipment.

So, how do you find and use an aquaponics system? There are a number of sites that sell kits online and guides. We recommend you check out the Aquaponics 4 You guide.

You can also call your local gardening supplies store to see if they sell aquaponics supplies, and ask the clerk for advice. For beginners, it’s been recommended that you set up a medium-fill grow bed in your backyard. Be sure to research how much space you’ll need before making any purchases, as the kits have a range of materials and sizes.

Find out more about the Aquaponics 4 You guide.

Having moved into a new house recently I was shocked and dismayed to realize I had no where to store my tools, lawn mower and all the other crap I've managed to accumulate over the years. Not to mention having a retreat away from the misus - after all, every Aussie boy needs a shed.

That when I came across Ryan Henderson DIY Shed building guide with 12,000 shed plans to choose from. Ryan has been building wooden outdoor sheds for over 20 years and will teach you the basics of how to build a shed in minutes, not days.

This shed building guide put together by Ryan shows you exactly how to start building wooden sheds and woodwork projects easily, so that you're fully up and running, creating remarkable outdoor garden sheds and woodwork projects within days from now.

Even I was able to follow this guide and I barely know one end of a hammer from the other. As it says on the box, this guild can help you:

• No matter whether you're a beginner or a seasoned woodworker.
• No matter whether you're building your first shed or your 100th project.
• No matter if you do not have the DIY skills, knowledge or aptitude for building
• No matter how many instructional books or blueprints you've bought...

Building a Shed Shouldn't be too much like hard work

... and Ryan makes it a breeze. His shed plans spoil you for choice, and with so many plans to choose from you can pick one that matches you level of DIY skill. I was able to knock up a great little shed in a day with only 1 trip to Bunnings instead of the usual 4 that most other projects require!

Click Here to Find Out More

A little reading can be a dangerous thing. After a little research I've found that a greenhouse will help you grow vegetables almost all year round. Now I want to build my own glasshouse so I can grow vegetables in winter and enjoy organic produce all year.

During the colder months, glasshouses keep in moisture and heat, allowing you to grow vegetables during winter (unless you're in a really cold area).

Glasshouses can be cheap to build. All you need is a basic frame and a transparent covering. Glass can be expensive, however there are cheap alternatives to glass that can make glasshouses an affordable addition to the garden.

If you're need plans, I found a cheap guide to building a green house that's only US$29.95 and available for download at the following link:

Build a Greenhouse - Plans

All structures both residential and commercial constructed on 30/40 ft and above dimension plots, should install rain water harvesting system within 9 months from the date of the proposed new rules.

(view the original press release)

Could be a good time to install a water tank!

This Guide to Converting your Car To Electric shows how a couple living off the grid were able to convert their car to electric power and spend less than $20 per month to rechard their car.

This build your own electric vehicle guide will show you how to:

• Cut Fuel Costs to Nearly Zero
• Clean Up The Environment
• Get Massive Tax Refunds
• Step by Step how to convert a car to electric

So if you don't want to fork out $40k for a new Prius, but would love to convert your existing car to electric, go check out How To Convert Your Car To Electric.

1. Make sure you roof is suitable for collecting rainwater.
2. Reduce the amount of debris that will end up in your tank by installing gutter mesh.
3. Fit gutter outlets to the underside of the gutter to prevent obstruction of water flow.
4. Fit leaf eater-beater rain heads to downpipes stop gutters blocking. Leaf eater-beaters deflect leaves and debris and keep mosquitoes out of pipes that hold water.
5. Install a water diverter to prevent the first flush of most contaminated rainwater from entering the tank.
6. Ensure a tank screen is installed at the water tank entry point to filter water and keep mozzies and pests out.
7. Find your nearest rain water tank supplier.
8. Choose a suitable size tank for your home and consumption volumes.
9. Attach insect-proof screens or flap valves to the end of all pipes to the tank screen and to the tank overflow outlets to keep mosquitos and pests out and ensure the tank is well vented.
10. If necessary, utilise a tank "Top-Up" system to automatically top up the tank with mains water when water levels fall to the designated minimum level.
11. Select a water pump system to distribute water for use inside or outside the home.

• Understanding why you should Go Green;
• Learning to adapt your lifestyle to benefit the planet;
• How and What to Recycle to save our resources;
• Reduce the amount of waste in landfills;
• Help your community;
• Live a healthier life;
• Saving energy and put money in your pocket;
• Recycle home waste products
• Buy the right products with recyclable packaging
• Compost kitchen and yard waste
• Perform Home Energy Audit
• Buy local
• Install rain water tanks
• Plant drought tolerant plants
• Buy energy saving light bulbs (CFL)
• Shop for Energy Star Saving Appliances
• Calculate your carbon footprint

If you're interested in learning more about you can reduce your carbon footprint and living green, check out Going Green, the comprehensive book on home sustainability and living green.

The Age also reports that this week water storage levels in the state fell to their lowest level since the Thomson Dam was built in 1984.

Read the Full Article in The Age.

Read the full article at The Age.

Check out the NSW Dep't Environment & Climate Change website .

High energy use and consequent high greenhouse gas emissions are the major issue with desalination that need to be addressed. A plant similar to Perth's, even with energy recovery capability, will consume about 24 megawatts of electricity to produce about 45 gigalitres of water per year. This represents about 185,000 megawatt hours of energy per year. - Desalination Report

According to an Environment Victoria report, rainwater tanks are five times more energy efficient than desalination plants, and if fitted to all suitable houses in Melbourne could save up to 84 billion liters of water a year.

Professor Pat Troy's book titles "Troubled Waters", writes that mandatory rainwater tanks, greywater recycling and drycomposting toilets in all new homes would cut potable water use in those homes by 70%.

Personally I agree with making water tanks mandatory in all new homes in Melbourne and Victoria and hope that the Victorian governement decides to put these measures in place before buidling a desalination plant.

Everything that Digital Pacific uses in the operations of our business, including servers, routers and air conditioners are eco powered so not only are you hosting your website on state of the art hardware you are also showing your commitment to a more sustainable world.

The purchase of Digital Pacific hosting services will be equivalent to planting several acres of trees or removing several cars from the road. We have calculated our carbon footprint (emissions) which represent the impact of everything that Digital Pacific uses in the operations of our business, including the hosting servers, routers and air conditioners. In order to neutralise these emissions we have purchased carbon credits to offset emissions.

Digital Pacific's has two data centers, one here in Australia, the other in the states.  All orders are automatically  hosted at the Australian data center unless otherwise requested.  Hosting plans start from just $4.90 per month.

If you're interested in greening your website (aff), checkout Digital Pacific.

Turn down your water meter tap.

Yep, that's it.  Reducing your mains water pressure by turning it down at the meter will reduce the flow of water to all your taps and water outlets in the home.  Your family will be forced to use less water as the flow rate will be reduced.

Try it for a month or three and see what it does for your water usage and water utility bills.

By doing that, you avoid huge expanses of green lawn and instead have dirt or rocks and natural plants here and there to make a pleasing design. Keeping it trimmed and cared for helps make it look great and you won't be using much water. If you have a lot of plants you might need to irrigate them, especially when they're just getting started.

For the most part, though, you can just leave the natural plants to fend for themselves. They're used to growing in that climate with the water that they would normally get, so there's no need for a system to give them water every day. You'll have a beautiful, naturally-landscaped yard and the environment will thank you.

Looking to save money on energy bills and save the environment at the same time?  Or perhaps you're just wanting to be a little more self sufficient.  This Homemade Wind Generator Guide will tell you how to build a wind turbine at home for as little as $100 in around 2 weeks.

This 100+ page guide includes instructions on how to build 1000 and 3000 watt wind turbine models and will also show you how to construct a tower and hook the generator up to a battery grid.

Building a wind generator at home has never been as easy or as cheap and cost effective.  Most parts can now be purchased locally and assembled to produce your own self sufficient wind generator.

Save money on electricity by creating you own self sufficient sustainable wind and solar generation unit.

This guide includes:

• easy to follow plans
• plans for 1000 and 300 watt wind generators
• price list that comes in at UNDER $100 for materials
• built with readily available materials
• easy to build and assemble

The Homemade Wind Generator Guide will step you through the process of building your own home made wind turbine to help you live off the grid and be self sufficient.

If you're not happy with the guide, there is a 100% 8 week, no questions asked money back guarantee.

Not only does this guide give you instruction on building a wind electricity generator it, for a limited time it also comes bundled with 4 other guides to help you live off the grid:

• Making Bio Diesel Fuel
• Building Solar Panel Arrays
• Renewable Energy Solutions Guide
• Build your own Home.

ORDER ALL 5 GUIDES FOR $47.97

Make Bio Diesel Fuel

If you want to get off the grid quickly then one of the best ways is to buy a generator and make your own bio diesel. By using a generator and powering it with biodiesel you can generate the electricity needed to power your home for nect to nothing, freeing up money to use to build up your renewable energy system.

This guide will show you how produce bio fuel to use in your generator or even in your vehicle.

Build a Solar Panel Array

Choosing the right solar panels for your off the grid home can be a tricky affair with so many products on the market. There are so many different shaps and sizes of solar panel that figuring out which ones to buy has become much more difficult than it should. Installing a solar panel array can be an even bigger headache without a guide to help you. This solar panel instillation guide will walk you through the process of installing your own solar panel array.

Renewable Energy Solutions Guide

Learn from a families 15 years experience living off the grid. This guide will teach you how to use renewable energy to assist in living off the grid and in your day to day life. This is the ultimate start from scratch and learn what you need to know guide for learning about renewable energy.

Build your own home

Want to build your own home but have no idea where to start? This “Build Your own Home” guide will take you from beginner to “DIY Home Builder” in easy to follow steps. The Build Your Own Home guide book is fully illustrated to show you what you need to know and how to do it in step by step.

This guid will show you how to hire an ‘expert builder’ for free - it is his job to make sure you build your house properly.

ORDER ALL 5 GUIDES FOR $47.97