Sustainable Ideas...

  After restricting single-serving bottled water in 2007, Davis, CA is taking the next step in sustainability—losing bottled water entirely. In a new Reusable Water Bottle Initiative partnership with Nalgene, the city is trying to reduce their carbon footprint, waste, and emissions by encouraging reusable bottle use. Nalgene is donating water bottles to employees with the City, and proceeds from reusable bottle sales support the City’s sustainable programs. We’ve known for a while that bottled water produces a ton of waste. But, consider: the average consumer uses 167 water bottles, but only recycles 38 of them. That sends 38 billion bottles a year end up in landfills from U.S. consumers alone. Considering that 24 million gallons of oil is required to produce one billion bottles, it isn’t surprising that if we saved the energy we now use to create water bottles, we could power 190,000 homes. (Learn more at Nalgene's site.) In an era of high-tech filtration, there’s no need for bottled water. Learn more about filtration in general from AllAboutWater.org and figure out which filtration system works best for you at WaterFilterComparisons.com. Once you’re committed, take the pledge to go bottled-water free at Nalgene’s Filter For Good. Photo from: Nalgene.