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In this clip, Steve Thomas, the host of Renovation Nation, helps a family with an erosion problem. The patriarch of the family does not want to install gutters on his roof because he is afraid of heights and maintaining the gutters would require him to go roofside. So without a proper water catchment system, the siding and the foundation risk being undone by the unchanneled water.
Steve, with the help of some high-school volunteers, digs a trench. They have to dig by hand in order to avoid hitting the sewage pipes. The newly dug trench leads to a rain garden, a type of garden that destroys runoff pollution.
Much ado was made about cleaning gutters and how nobody likes to do it. I don't think digging around near sewage lines is a much better option. If you don't like cleaning gutters or digging trenches, you may want to familiarize yourself with a company called Rain Tube.
The Rain Tube gutter protection system sits inside your gutters like a python and collects water while deflecting leaves and other debris. The debris falls over the eaves and the water is diverted any where you please. And you don’t have to clean your gutters.
Best yet, the product is made out of 100% recycled material, and the company has won the Cradle-to-Cradle Gold Tier Certification as well as other awards for being ecologically friendly. They even won the Installation, Use and Maintenance Award. So if you’re looking for an alternative to digging a trench in your yard, Rain Tube might be that alternative.
Watch this and other great Renovation Nation video clips in our beautiful video player.
Don't miss the Eco Extermination Episode of Renovation Nation from whence this clip comes.
Want more home renovation advice from Steve Thomas? Check out his Steve's Journal.
More on Water Conservation:
How Green is Your Garden?
How to Go Green: Gardening
How to Garden with Urine
Did You Know Saving Water = Saving Electricity?
How You Can Save 60 Gallons of Water Today!
How to Make Your Own Rain Garden
Why You Should Water Your Hanging Plants with Ice Cubes
Got a tip or a post idea for us to write about on Planet Green? Email pgtips (at) treehugger (dot) com.
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