All-Conserving

One way of reducing the amount of stuff we waste is to use only as much as we need (steer clear of disposable and throwaway products for a start). But what about humble H2O?

But - ah - you might be thinking. The world's full of water. There's oceans and rivers and lakes and the Dudley public swimming baths. Well, yes - but about 97% of the world's water is unusable, and 2.5% is inaccessible. So we've got to take care not to waste what's left.

If you're a shower-singer, drop Stairway to Heaven from your set and go for one of our Short Sharp Shower songs instead. You'll use less H2O and save CO2 whilst getting rid of your BO (2). And in the grand scheme of simple things to do, turning the tap off while brushing your teeth is up there with remembering to breathe.

Here are some other great ways to save some precious water:

• Conserve water with low flow taps and aerators. These clever devices from companies like Tapmagic, Aqualogic, and others can reduce your water consumption by up to 70%. You can also get aerated and low flow showerheads that use less water but still give you a good, hard spray.
• A third of all our cleaned, drinkable water is flushed straight down the loo. Save up to 3 litres per flush with a water-saving device from here or here. Or you could plump for a flushing device, like the ones listed on this site, which lets you control exactly how much water you flush with.
• About 85,000 litres of water falls onto your roof each year - so it makes sense to collect some in some sort of water butt or other. This site has nice ones shaped like a Roman column, a beehive, and even a giant rock.
• This recycling system takes water from your bath and shower, cleans it up, and then sends it to your loo for flushing. If it transported water into your kettle and made you a cuppa as well, it would be the greatest invention in the history of mankind.
• Household leaks account for a staggering 15% of indoor water use. So get yourself a leak detection kit on the double. And fix those dripping taps while you're at it.

More info from the Green Thing wiki >>

Here's a thing - every day in London, around 300 Olympic-size swimming pools-worth of water are lost through leaks. If we don't get that sorted by 2012, the 400m men's butterfly is going to be a complete non-event.