Guyot Designs created the TapGuard, which can serve as an alternative to bottled water. All you have to do is run the carbon pouch under water for one minute, slide it into the TapGuard, place the unit into your water bottle and drink clean, fresh water throughout the day. John Steed who is in charge of the environmental programs and logistics at Guyot Designs says, “[The TapGuard] is a pretty easy step for people to take if they want to be green.”

The TapGuard comes in three different colors: Tahoe Blue, Tangerine and Black. The unit comes with two replacement carbon filters, which is enough to filter 200 liters of water. The carbon is made in the U.S., and it is derived from charred coconut husks from the Philippines, which are heated up to over 1,000 degrees. The heat creates an oxygen deficient area, and tiny holes emerge on the carbon, which attract negative ions. Steed says, “[the carbon] is activated so something happens chemically and it reacts with chlorine to absorb the smell.”

On average, you will need to replace a 100-liter carbon cartridge every two to three months. The TapGuard removes 95 percent of chlorine, which is commonly used by water treatment plants. In addition, the unit also filters out iodine and other organic chemicals. So when you’re traveling in airports, heading to the gym or rushing to work, you can take your refillable water bottle with TapGuard along with you.

Using the TapGuard can save you money, but it can also save the environment from being polluted with more plastic and carbon dioxide. Steed says, “We try to make the packaging as minimal as possible.” This is done with 100 percent post-consumer recycled cardstock and soy-based inks. An added plus is that you can even send the product back to the company to be recycled, because Steed says, “our products are made in a way that’s easy to strip down.” Inexpensive product, filtered water on the go, and reuse/recycling properties…what more can you ask for?

Well, here are a couple reasons…

• Shower showers can save you money in water heating costs (traditional gas water heaters are big energy sucks since they’re continually heating and reheating water 24/7).
• You can tie a solar shower into a rain catchment system, meaning you don’t have to use water from the city grid to bathe (check the regulations regarding rain catchment and allowed uses in your area).
• You can shower outside and enjoy nature (watch out for peeping neighbors).
• You need more DIY projects! This is the perfect chance to practice your MacGyver skills in the backyard.

Okay, that’s all well and good, but is building a hot solar shower tough or is it something anyone can do?  Are there ready-made kits or do you have to go the DIY route?

Let’s look around and see what people are up to…

DIY vs. Ready-Made Solar Shower Kits

A quick look at Amazon shows us that there are indeed solar shower kits, but they’re really geared toward campers or folks who just want to hose off poolside.  Typically the kits just have you fill a bucket and prop it above the showerhead where the water can warm in the sun. There’s not usually much capacity.

If you want something more sophisticated that actually heats up enough water for the family, then you’re going to have to traipse into do-it-yourself land.  Fortunately, there are quite a few stories (and even videos) of folks who have built a solar shower and shared their experiences.  Since this is something I’ve yet to do (the whole Pacific-Northwest-largely-cloudy climate hasn’t inspired me to do much with solar yet), I’ll refer you to some great articles out there on the web:

• 20 Gallon Solar Hot Water Shower — Materials list, instructions, and pictures to boot.
• Solar Hot Water Batch Collector — This one involves building a largish holding tank for the water and then running several systems (including an outdoor shower) off the heated water.
• Weekly DIY Solar Shower — Based of the system the Dervaes family made on their urban lot in California.

And lest you think this is an easy home improvement, you may want to watch these videos on YouTube:

DIY Solar Hot Water Shower Pt 1
DIY Solar Hot Water Shower Pt 2

If you decide to try to your hand at a solar shower, let us know how it turns out!