Ecousable

wide_logo

My husband and I strive to make our home as healthy and eco-friendly as possible, particularly because we have a little boy and one on the way. One of the things we do is avoid buying bottled water. I can’t say that we’ve eliminated plastic water bottles completely, but for the most part, we use a PUR Water Pitcher when we’re at home. We also try to use a reusable water bottle when we’re out so we don’t have to purchase bottled water. What I’ve found is that when we’re out all day, we tend to buy bottled water when our reusable water bottles are empty (or hot).

494_thumbnail_imageThanks to Ecousable, we received a 25 ounce Stainless Steel Ech20 Filtered Water Bottle. Not only is this reusable, it has a filter so you can refill it on the go from any tap water source. It’s truly brilliant! Here is a little more information from the site:

Enjoy filtered tap water on the go instantly filtered as you drink through the ech2o Ionic-Adsorption Micro-Filtration System! This exclusive top removes up to 99.99% of pollutants for up to 100 gallons of great tasting filtered water.

I am most impressed with the convenience this bottle offers. So many times I hear people talk about how expensive or time-consuming “going green” is. Fresh, filtered water couldn’t be easier (or cheaper). For $40 (yes, a bit pricey at first glance), you’ll get 100 gallons of filtered water (which replaces 757 half liters of bottled water). And the water tastes great! Now this is coming from a girl who was called a bottled water snob in the past. Additional filters can be purchased for $25. There are a lot of misconceptions about tap water. In fact, much of the bottled water you purchase is no better than tap water.

One of the questions my husband asked me was where I could filter the water from. The answer: Any source and any type of water except salt water. That is truly impressive. If you think about it, in an emergent situation you could use this bottle for survival (hey, I live in Southern California where Emergency Preparedness is on the forefront of our minds). The bottle is perfect for camping, hiking and other outdoor venues where clean water may not be readily available.

For more information, including the types of organisms the filter is capable of removing, please visit the site.

Profuse thanks to Mom Fuse for this review opportunity.

reviewer

Water Conservation With Waterpik

wpGreyLogo

My husband and I are always trying to do our part to preserve our precious planet’s natural resources. About a month ago, we received a notice in the mail concerning the water shortage in Southern California. I’m not surprised, considering I don’t remember the last time we had measurable rainfall. The notice contained a list of recommendations for reducing water consumption. On that list was to replace shower heads with low-flow versions. The result is the potential to save up to 50% on water usage.

These days, I’m lucky if I get more than a 5-7 minute shower. During the first trimester, I’d wait until just before my son was due to wake up and run in as quick as I can. Lately I’ve been waking up earlier to get in a bit more time and perhaps even shave both legs in the same day. Those days of long, 30 minute showers are gone.IMG_1753-1024x768

I recently had an opportunity to try out a Waterpik EcoFlow Shower Head. When it arrived, I was quite impressed with it’s appearance and more so with how it actually functions. I like shower heads that emit a good amount of water pressure. My one concern with a low-flow shower head was that it wouldn’t provide the amount of water pressure I’m accustomed to. The shower head I received is a fixed mount version (as opposed to a hand held version) featuring 5 spray settings. It saves up to one gallon of water per minute and includes a fingertip pause control to save even more water during shaving or shampooing. This is a quality shower head made of chrome and offered at a very affordable price.

Honestly, I only really like one setting on it (which I can’t remember off the top of my head). However, that’s ok because the setting I do like works well for us and gives me enough water pressure to get my thick hair rinsed! The only other thing I’d prefer in this shower head is the ability to use it as a hand held shower head, but the company does offer that option.

Waterpik’s EcoFlow Shower Heads are available for purchase online and at Lowes for $20-$50. Do you want to see how much you could save with a low flow shower head? And if you’d like more tips on how to save water, just visit the site.