solar-poweredrain barrel pump. (NAPSA)—Homeowners today are looking for ways to protect the environment and be more eco-conscious. Better utilizing one of our most precious resources, water, is at the top of the list. Fortunately, there are new and easy ways to save on water usage by recycling rain. A growing number of homeowners are realizing that it doesn’t make sense to pay for water to care for your garden when you can simply collect water in a rain barrel. Consider this: One inch of rain over 1,000 square feet of area yields 623 gallons. One inch per hour of rainfall yields about 10 gallons per minute per 1,000 square feet. So it doesn’t take long to fill a few rain barrels with water. But once you’ve captured all that rain, how do you get it out so you can use it? With an ecofriendly pump system, you can easily run a hose or sprinkler from your rain barrel and power the water out. Systems like the RainPerfect™ pump from Rule help in two ways—by harvesting rain and using the power of the sun. Since solar energy powers the rechargeable NiMH battery, there’s no need for an electrical outlet. The pump and solar panel install easily and provide enough pressure through an ordinary garden hose to run most low pressure sprinklers, for keeping the garden green, washing a car or watering just about anything around the house. Since water usage can increase during warm weather by as much as 30 percent from lawn, flower and vegetable garden watering, it’s a perfect way to go green and save green at the sametime! Increasingly, these environmentally friendly efforts are being rewarded. Since many states now mandate rainwater usage, your rain barrel purchase may qualify you for a rebate from your utility company or government. Rebate amounts and qualifications vary, so be sure to contact your utility company or government for redemption instructions. The RainPerfect pump is available online and through select retailers. For a free tips booklet and more information, visit www.rainperfectpump.com/freegift.
