We’ve all heard of shower heads that conserve water by restricting the flow of water, but this one  goes about things a little differently.  This shower head, made by Oxygenics, oxygenates the water flow through 16 ”air entrance ports”   which results in water that contains 10 times the oxygen content of normal tap water, and reduced water consumption.

Manufacturers claim that highly-aerated water is more refreshing, and rejuvinating spa-like experience (Hey, I like the sound of that).  In addition, oxygenated water promotes healthy cell reproduction, and promotes a youthful appearance.  Water conservation and the promise of youth?  What more could you ask for?

Oxygenics shower heads also include handheld units which allow you to pause the water flow when you need to….another great way to save water. I found the Oxygenics shower head at Home Depot for $49.99.  No shower is complete without some fluffy organic bath towels…check them out.

Whether you like it or not, you’ve got to give this one an “A” for ingenuity in water conservation. It’s a sink that replaces your toilet lid. When the toilet is flushed, clean water from the toilet tank is routed up through the toilet lid sink for hand washing. Then the water is stored in the toilet bowl awaiting the next flush. So, the water is actually used twice.

Although this is not a replacement for your traditional bathroom sink, I think the toilet lid sink is a creative addition to any green bathroom, and a great idea for saving water at home. The sink is made of plastic, it requires no tools for installation, and it has a built-in soap dish. The sink fixture is made of chrome. On a personal note-I’d really like to see this as a stainless steel sink. I found the toilet lid sink at Real Goods for $89.

There is a common misconception that living green is always expensive. While some green household products do cost more than traditional products, there are many things you can do to save energy, reduce household waste, and live greener for less than $10. Here are just a few:

Install a sink water aerator: Available for just a few dollars, these household gadgets attach to your kitchen or bathroom water faucet, and will help you conserve water in your home.

Put up a clothes line: Get back to basics and line dry your clothes. For less than $10 you can buy clothes pins and the rope you need to make a brand new clothesline. Not only will you save energy by not using your clothes dryer, you’ll be surprised how fresh your clothes smell.

Make your own cleaner: You can easily mix your own homemade household cleaners with basic, low-cost ingredients such as baking soda, citrus fruits, and vinegar. Cost $3-$7.

Buy a plant: For a few bucks, a single house plant can help improve the air quality in your home.

Ditch the paper towels: Buy a package of washcloths or make your own from old clothing, and you’ll be reducing household waste and saving trees. Cost: $5-$10, and maybe nothing if you make your own.

Unplug!: Pull the plug on household electronics such as televisions and computers whenever you can. As always, this energy-saving technique is absolutely free!

Looking for an easy way to conserve water? Consider purchasing or making a rain barrel which installs under a downspout. When it rains, your rain barrel will fill quickly, giving you gallons of free water for watering your garden. Although it’s not recommended for human consumption, rain water provides softer, pure water for lawns, green gardening, and washing the car.

Make your own rain barrel: You can easily up your water conservation efforts by making your own rain barrel. Any watertight container with a lid , such as an outdoor trash can will work. Simply cut a hole in the lid, about the size of your down spout and place the container under the downspout. When you’re ready to use the collected rain water, simply remove the lid and dip out the rainwater with a bucket.

Purchase a rain barrel: If you don’t want to make your own rain barrel for saving water, you can purchase one at many garden centers for around $150. Commercial rain barrels come with a few conveniences such as pre-cut openings for inserting your downspout and open/shut valves for easily dispensing the collected rain water. The rain barrel shown above is available at Clean Air Gardening.

For a typical family of 4, laundry is truly a never-ending chore. And, with more than 40 gallons of water and a cup of laundry detergent consumed with every load, laundry takes its toll on the environment too. In fact, if you’re looking for ways to save water and conserve energy, then adding green appliances to your laundry room is a great place to start.

The Staber model HXW2304 is an energy-efficient washing machine that uses 67% less water per load, 50% less energy, and 75% less detergent. It works using a patented horizontal axis agitation process, and it’s the only top loading washer in the U.S. of its kind. The unique design of this water conserving washing machine eliminates the middle agitator bar found in traditional washing machines, so you can fit up to twice as much laundry inside.

In addition to the environmental benefits such as conserving water and saving energy, adding an eco-friendly washing machine to your green home can help you save a few dollars too. Staber Industries, Inc. estimates that this model saves consumers an average of $300 per year.

Whether washing your car at home or at the car wash, there’s no quicker way to undo your water conservation efforts. It’s estimated that a single car wash uses up to 140 gallons of water. If you like having a shiny set of wheels, but want to save water, you might want to check out Green Earth waterless car wash.

Designed to clean, polish, and protect your car without using any water, these green cleaning products are also environmentally friendly in other ways. It contains no dyes, is fragrance free, and VOC free. This green household product is also biodegradable. According to So Go Green, you can get 7-10 green car washes from a 16-ounce bottle, but it’s not recommended for heavily-soiled cars with caked on dirt or mud.