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Q. Dear Umbra,

We use a dehumidifier in our basement. How can we use the water it collects — drink it? Use it in the garden? For our pets?

Jean K.
Newington, Conn.

Gray water is safe for inedible plants to drink, but you probably shouldn’t try it yourself. (Photo by Shutterstock.)

A. Dearest Jean,

I hereby bestow enormous thanks upon you, for you have given me an opportunity to revisit one of my favorite topics — the ever-useful, though disgustingly named, gray water. This is an especially pertinent topic during these times of drought and other wild weather.

Gray water, as you might know, is the lightly used wastewater that comes from our showers, dishwashing, laundry, and so forth — basically, anywhere but the toilet. (That stuff is even more disgustingly known as “black water.”) Water in a dehumidifier counts as gray water too, though it is snatched from the air instead of dispensed from our pipes. Whatever the source, it seems a shame to pour this water down the drain. It is still useful! Despite being gray or grayish! So what can we do with it?

To answer your questions: No, it is not drinkable. For you or for your pets. But it should be okay for watering plants and a few other uses, which I shall detail in a moment.

However, I must first pause to let you know that I contacted several of our friends in the dehumidifier industry, who do not condone this practice. “We do not recommend using the water for any purpose,” says Tom Kelly, vice president of the Air Conditioner Group at Haier America. “There are issues with the cleanliness of the bucket and the possible growth of microorganisms. The water flowing off the coil will tend to wash any airborne contaminants that have been deposited on the fans into the bucket. The third issue is the possibility of the copper and aluminum leaching into the water as it condenses on and runs off the coil.”

To recap: The risks are microorganisms, airborne contaminants, and heavy metals such as copper and aluminum. (If the rest of Tom’s quote has you scratching your head, perhaps you’ll find this diagram handy.)

With all due respect, these are risks that most hardy plants deal with on a daily basis, which is why many people seem to be comfortable using dehumidifier water on well-established houseplants and in their gardens — although, as with all gray water, you should not use it on edible plants. Whether it is safe to use on marijuana plants appears to be a topic of great interest, according to the startling results of one of my Google searches; I did not investigate further, lest the Grist higher-ups get the wrong idea about what goes on down here in the library stacks.

To keep the grunginess of your gray water in check, try to keep your dehumidifier as clean as possible. (Here are a few other tips for safely using gray water from other sources.) You might also want to test the pH of the water — if it’s too high (generally above 7.0), your plants probably won’t like it. Of course it all depends on where you live, what you’re growing, and what’s already in your soil.

Many happy people also recommend other uses for this collected condensate. Some use it to wash their cars or floors, though you’d want to be careful about paints and finishes; others flush the toilet by pouring water into the bowl (not the tank); still others fill their irons or presoak laundry with it. Being a cautious type, I would avoid those last two ideas, on account of the whole “microorganism, contamination, heavy metal” warning from earlier. No need to knowingly introduce those items into your wardrobe.

So Jean, it looks like you’re left with two basic options: toilets and tulips. Which, as it happens, is the working title of my autobiography. Thanks for being thoughtful about your water use.

Parchedly,
Umbra

Wolverines are loners, and they don’t like to share. They try not to hang out anywhere near other wolverines or other mammals, a social preference that some of us can relate to. And like other grumpy, anti-social creatures, wolverines do not like to share their food.

You’d think that they’d be safe by living in the coldest reaches of the planet, in the middle of snowy wastelands. But they cannot escape the pesky insects and microbes that find a way to live anywhere and that would be happy to feast on the food that wolverines have scared up. To defeat them, the wolverines keep their food in what’s basically a DIY refrigerator. National Geographic News reports:

Robert Inman of the Wildlife Conservation Society and colleagues assert that wolverines use cold, snow-covered structured chambers like crevices and those created by the rugged terrain of mountainous areas to cache food and protect it from other scavengers, insects and bacteria.

Unlike our lame refrigerators, wolverine refrigerators probably actually do reach sub-zero temperatures. Plus, since these fridges exist naturally, they’re energy efficient. And since their fridges have to defeat bacteria, wolverines probably don’t end up throwing away mountains of uneaten food, like we do. Not only aren’t humans the only creatures that have figured out how to preserve food, we’re not even the best at it.

Q. Dear Umbra,

This fall, I will be going to college. One of the biggest (and most expensive) items on the list is a laptop. My stepmom and I were debating whether it would be more eco-friendly to buy a refurbished laptop versus a new one. Will a refurbished laptop place less demand on rare earth metals and those other nasty resources needed to make electronics, or should I just invest in the newest computer? Please help me settle this debate! I want to be eco-friendly!

Kristen
Chapel Hill, N.C.

Are refurbished laptops the greener way to go? (Photo by Wayan Vota.)

A. Dearest Kristen,

Congratulations — what an exciting time! And my, how things change: In my day, “the list” included things like “towels and flip-flops for the shower.” Those were essentials.

In fact, speaking of essential, is it crazy to think one could get by at college in the current era without a personal laptop? Is part of our national economic and environmental crisis due to the fact that this country’s 20.4 million college students are expected to buy — and then forced to dispose of — a piece of electronic equipment rendered obsolete before they graduate? Are these notions of mine demented?

Demented. So a laptop you must procure, and a laptop you shall have. While I understand your stepmother’s instinct to get the best and bedazzlingest technology, a refurbished model can actually satisfy that need and assuage your eco-concern — if you do some smart shopping.

Let’s look at what “refurbished” actually means. It is not the same as “used” or “secondhand,” and it is not as banged-up as it sounds. In most cases, it refers to a machine that has been barely used, or not at all, by a customer. Once reclaimed — usually by the manufacturer, but sometimes by a retailer or do-gooder nonprofit — it is inspected and given a tune-up as necessary, then sold at a lower price than a brand-new model.

The key to getting a green computer. (Image courtesy of Shutterstock.)

A refurbished computer is akin to a used car, as this fun Gizmodo rant points out. What you are buying is a perfectly good machine that just needs a loving new owner. In fact, it might have even gotten more attention than the “cursory quality-control check” on a new machine, says this CNET fellow. The best part? You’ll save between 10 to 30 percent off the original price, maybe more if you get lucky. And when you’re faced with a staggering list of things to buy for college, every dollar counts.

So is this an eco-friendly choice? Yes. Electronics manufacturing and disposal is notoriously toxic. You will be doing your part to reduce, if ever so slightly, this heap of e-trouble, and you will send a message to manufacturers that recycling is okay in your book.

As for shopping, start with these basics:

1. Think about what you need. Maybe it’s just word processing and web connectivity. Maybe it’s something more. Whatever it is, shop online or in a store as if you were buying a new machine, figure out what sort of core RAM processing intelligence boosters you need (note to alert commenters: yes, I know that’s not a thing), then look at refurbished options with those requirements in mind.

2. Find the greenest manufacturers and models. This handy EPEAT registry will point you to the companies that are using greener materials and making their machines easier to recycle. Spend some time familiarizing yourself with the industry leaders.

3. Hit up the “outlet” stores. Major manufacturers offering refurbished machines through an online “outlet” store include Apple, Dell, Sony, Toshiba, and Lenovo. They usually offer fairly broad definitions of where the machines have been and what they’ve been through (e.g., “Opened, possibly used, tested to pass original specifications”). Big electronics and office-supply retailers also frequently offer refurbished machines, but most experts recommend dealing directly with the manufacturers, if only for peace of mind.

4. Get a warranty. On the off chance that you do buy a lemon, you want to have some recourse. Again, the manufacturers should be helpful here: Dell, for instance, offers the same warranty on refurbished products as on similar new ones, and Apple offers a one-year warranty on all refurbished machines. You could even get an extended warranty that will last through your college years.

Here are a few more things to think about as you shop. Now go take the world by storm, Kristen. And don’t forget to write.

Matriculatingly,
Umbra

This Barcelona flat might be our favorite tiny apartment yet. Everything is just so cleverly tucked away! The dressers are inside their own drawers that slide out from under the raised bed. The table and the bench slide back and forth on the wall, so they can be pulled apart for use or stacked for a smaller footprint. And the piece de resistance: Underneath the bench is a full-size bathtub.

For daily use, owner Valentina Maini has a shower drain in the floor of the bathroom, so she can basically shower over the sink. But if what you like is a soak in the tub, a rinse over the shower drain is never going to cut it. Maini says her hideaway bathtub is like a spa, a space for relaxation and contemplation.

Maini’s got some really astute ideas about tiny living; she also explains in the video that she didn’t want a fold-out bed, because chances are she would never fold it back up and that would look gross. There’s a lot of good lessons in this apartment: be realistic about  how you’re going to live in the space, instead of how you would like to live. Give yourself access to light and outdoor space. Have a narrow entryway to make your apartment feel larger (as Maini jokes about her three-foot stairwell). And make sure you have a dedicated place to relax — even if it’s under your dining room table.

Editor’s note: Umbra’s on a hard-earned vacation herself, so instead of her regularly scheduled column, we’re pulling this gem out of the archives.

Stuck in a cubicle, straining your neck for a glimpse of summer sun? The 9-to-5 routine can be particularly irksome when the weather’s lovely. Daydreaming about future vacations can help ease the strain, and a little forethought can go a long way in making trips more sustainable. A Washington state reader wants to map out future travel with her husband:

“We’ve had the typical RV fantasy as we do love to travel, but we worry about the gas consumption and resulting emissions that would come of that route. We could tour around in our Prius and stay at budget hotels (and probably break even monetarily), but we’re concerned with their poor laundering, heating/cooling and other consumption choices. Of course we love foreign travel, but the emissions from airplanes are hard to justify, even with purchasing carbon offsets. Any ideas … ?”

Read on for Umbra’s answer. She advises not to fret about hotels and recommends the Union of Concerned Scientists’ guide to lower-carbon vacations.

A little fuzzy on how to stay clean-shaven yet green in a disposable razor culture? Umbra’s here to offer tips on warding off stubble trouble while shaving away waste.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of our Ask Umbra advice column, and to celebrate, we’re pulling a favorite gem of eco-advice out of the archives each week.

Q. Dear Umbra,

We are in the midst of a heat wave. I have a window unit air conditioner in my tiny apartment. There is an “energy saver” option that shuts down once the temp reaches the desired setting (generally 79 degrees), then starts back up again when the mercury rises. It’s been so hot that it seems to only take a few minutes till it fires back up. Is this really saving energy?

Emily
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Photo by Jan Tik.

A. Dearest Emily,

With hope, the heat will have broken by the time you read this. But we all know it will rise again, and we’ll have plenty more days when we can hear the entire country lean back in its chair, wipe its brow, and mumble, “Hot enough for ya?” Except here in Seattle, where we get approximately one hot day a year, usually the third Tuesday in September.

Before we get to your question, a few eye-opening facts about America’s love of indoor climate control: In the late 1970s, 23 percent of American homes had some form of air conditioning; today, 87 percent do. We have become so addicted that 9 out of 10 new homes are built with central air. We spend $40 billion a year air-conditioning our buildings, says the EPA, and cooling our homes accounts for 17 percent of household energy use.

In return, we get — well, I’ll let author Stan Cox say it: “Air-conditioning buildings and cars in the U.S. has the climate impact of half a billion metric tons of carbon dioxide a year. That exceeds the total annual carbon dioxide emissions of any one of these nations: Australia, France, Brazil, or Indonesia.”

Wait, you mean the thing we use to get through the record heat is … helping to cause the record heat? I believe that is what the kids call ironic.

So my first piece of advice is, when you can stand to go without the AC, please do. Keep your blinds closed against the sun, use a fan, unplug appliances that generate heat, eat popsicles, drink water, place wet washcloths upon your fevered brow, sleep naked. When you use the AC, please set it at a reasonable temperature (your 79 is very civilized) and do not — do not — crank it all day while you are gone, people. Your dining room set does not need to be comfortable.

Emily, you’ve perhaps passed out while waiting for me to get to your actual question. I have experienced “energy-saving” mode, and I’ll admit I find it rather annoying. The mechanical hum stops. Your brain adjusts to the quiet. And then — ga-glunk — it starts up again. On or off? On or off? It can’t seem to decide.

Here’s what is actually happening: Air conditioners remove heat and moisture from your air by passing it over coils filled with refrigerants. In a window unit, a compressor moves the refrigerants through the coils, and fans move the air where it needs to go. In energy-saver mode, the compressor shuts off when, as you say, the desired temperature is achieved. The fans turn off too, but they come back on every so often to check in on you, see whether you need any lemonade, etc. When the fans find air that’s too warm, the compressor comes back on. So what you might be hearing every few minutes is the fans turning on and off, while the compressor is laying low.

According to the EPA, this mode uses about 10 percent less energy than the conventional “cool”mode, so that saves you a little money. I’ve had trouble getting more detail than that from several manufacturers I contacted, none of whom could provide specifics on power savings by my deadline. Some even seemed a bit stymied. Generally I can count on geeky online chats to yield at least one insanely detailed calculation in these situations, but here, too, they all just shrug and say, “Eh, doesn’t save you much.” I guess even the geeks are feeling hot.

If I do get more details, I’ll add an update here. Meanwhile, I can tell you that choosing a unit that’s the right size for your dwelling is the real key to efficiency and comfort. Make sure your home is properly insulated, too — that will keep you comfy in summer and when the now-unimaginable chill of winter descends.

Vently,
Umbra

It’s great when kids warm up to green living. But what happens when they get fresh with you on not-so-fresh habits? From reader Kathy:

“My two sons, age 12, shower twice a week, with prompting. I told them most Americans shower daily, and one of them stated flatly, ‘That’s crazy. It’s wasteful.’

I am all for saving water, but I told them it depends on the situation. What is your opinion — should I respect their Earth-loving impulses or, as they begin their teenage years, teach them to pay more attention to personal hygiene?”

Read on for Umbra’s answer. She offers praise for raising such eco-friendly kiddos and suggests ways to help the boys feel better about showering — from turning down the water heater to joining the shampoo-free movement.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of our Ask Umbra advice column, and to celebrate, we’re pulling a favorite gem of eco-advice out of the archives each week.

Dearest readers,

Some people celebrate Independence Day with parades, cookouts, fireworks, and reflections on our nation’s grand traditions. I celebrate it by sorting through my inbox to make sure I have answered your most pressing, timely questions — before they get dustier than Jefferson’s wig. Read on for a new batch of truths, which you might or might not hold to be self-evident.

Q. Dear Umbra,

I love grilling in the summer, but what is the best source of fuel? Propane is yet another gas, and though the containers can be refilled, there is a lot of waste. At the same time, charcoal doesn’t seem like the best bet either. What’s the cleanest fuel for my fire-roasted fun?

Brianna C.
Sacramento, Calif.

If only we could live in harmony with the rats. (Photo by Pink Sherbet Photography.)

A. Dearest Brianna,

You’re not the only reader to fire this question my way. The short answer is, propane is better than charcoal. The longer, juicier answer is found in my recently reposted video on this very topic. Be sure to watch for my star turn as a wriggling wiener! By the way, a bit of trivia for you: According to the wonderfully named “State of the Barbecue Industry Report,” 82 percent of American households own a grill, and Independence Day is our very favorite time for this pursuit. So enjoy, all ye grillers, but remember: Eating less meat is good for you and good for the planet. Here’s a rack of red-meat alternatives to make your summer sizzle. Yum!

Juicily,
Umbra

Q. Dear Umbra,

Are there any good recipes out there for homemade dandruff shampoo? Pre-made organic shampoos are super expensive, so I’d like to save money and be a little more sustainable.

Kevin
Berwyn Heights, Md.

A. Dearest Kevin,

Ah, dandruff, the scalp condition that dare not speak its name — yet affects up to 90 percent of Americans. Frankly, I think the ingredient lists of conventional dandruff shampoos are even scarier than the high price of organics. That’s why I’m excited to report that many household ingredients can reportedly be corralled for this conundrum: things like lemon, baking soda, vinegar, and salt. Some people swear by rosemary oil and tea tree oil, too. Remember that nutrition can affect dandruff — so be sure to think about what’s going into your body, not just what’s going onto it.

Seborrheic-ly,
Umbra

Q. Dear Umbra,

I watched the video from your visit to the Fixers Collective years ago, for making a tote bag out of a broken umbrella. I can’t seem to find the pattern on your website … is it still available?

Emilia
Portland, Ore.

A. Dearest Emilia,

I think this is what you’re looking for [PDF] — if not, let me know. By the way, I am heartened by the number of people who have gotten in touch about those totes, and I’m positively glowing from being presented with one by a dear reader in San Francisco this spring. Thank you, one and all — and happy stitching!

Bumbershootly,
Umbra

Q. Dear Umbra,

What does one do about Norway rats when IPM has failed? They’re using my garage as a condo, and I can’t find much that is deemed “safe” to use as a pesticide.

Kevin
Chicago

A. Dearest Kevin,

I’ll admit it: I’ve been ignoring your question for a month. I try to love and respect all critters, but the thought of your rat condo has sent me scurrying repeatedly from your email. So I hope you’ve gotten an answer from someone more pragmatic and less squeamish. But quickly: You don’t describe your attempts at IPM. (For the uninitiated, IPM is short for Integrated Pest Management, an agricultural practice that involves ridding pests with little or no use of pesticides.) So I would suggest that first, of course, you want a nice clean garage, with nothing that would tempt a rat. Second, you have to find out how they’re getting in, and block their entry. Preferably not with them inside, however — so to usher them out, you could try natural deterrents such as peppermint oil or wasabi. They also apparently dislike stronger scents such as ammonia and pet urine, though I’m not sure you want your garage smelling of those. Are live traps an option? Could you get a cat? Oh heavens, I’m starting to feel faint. Readers, any ideas for Kevin? I’m off to look into exposure therapy.

Fallibly,
Umbra

Q. Dear Umbra,

Where can I find other ideas like this?

Kathy
Canton

A. Dearest Kathy,

You don’t say which Canton you’re from. Did you know there are at least 23 of them in the United States? To say nothing of Australia, China, Kiribati, and heaven knows where else. I bet none of them hold a candle to my favorite place to hang out, however: the Ask Umbra archives. Kathy, that is where you can find “other ideas like this” — 85 pages of them, as it happens (or you could find them handily condensed and organized when you buy our book). I hope you’ll spend many a merry hour perusing. And if I can help you with anything more specific, don’t hesitate to ask.

At your servicely,
Umbra

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has released its annual “Testing the Waters” report, an overview of the nation’s beaches.

You’ll want to read this before taking a dip.

Over the 22 years the NRDC has created the report, 2011 saw the third-highest levels of beach closings and advisory days. What does that mean? What, exactly, would you be swimming in?

Most beach closings are issued because beachwater monitoring detects unsafe levels of bacteria. These unsafe levels indicate the presence of pathogens — microscopic organisms from human and animal waste that pose a threat to human health. The key reported contributors of these contaminants are (1) stormwater runoff, (2) sewage overflows and inadequately treated sewage, (3) agricultural runoff, and (4) other sources, such as beachgoers themselves, wildlife, septic systems, and boating waste.

Oh, neat. Here’s how that pollution has varied as a cause of beach closures over the years:

Click to embiggen.

The organization also compiled a list of the worst-offending beaches, those that repeatedly had bad, polluted water. That data includes this caveat:

It is important to note that while a high percent exceedance rate is a clear indication of contaminated coastal recreational waters, it is not necessarily an indication that the state’s beachwater quality monitoring program is deficient or fails to protect public health when beachwater quality is poor.

In other words, the beaches probably don’t let you swim when it’s really bad. We went ahead and put those beaches (both ocean and lake) on a map for you. Pro tip: Check with the proper authorities (cosmic or otherwise) before taking a big gulp of water.

The data, we’ll note, is from 2011. In other words, the beaches above could now be the cleanest in the world! But you probably shouldn’t bet on it.

If you’re more of a glass-half-full-of-clean-swimmable-water sort of person, the NRDC also provides a list of the cleanest states. Delaware, you’re in luck.

Click to embiggen.

In summary: If you leave the house at all this summer, do so in a watertight wetsuit. Or, alternately: If you do go swimming, check this space in a year to see if it explains why you spent August in the bathroom.