Interest in survivalist bunkers has risen by 2,000% since the pandemic struck, according to The Sun.

Vivos, a bunker supplier, who refer to themselves as ‘the Largest Survival Community On Earth!’ say that at least 1,000 of their members are from the UK.

So just how is a survivalist bunker better than hiding away in your own home and how do you go about building one?

Understanding a survivalist bunker

A survivalist bunker is an underground shelter that caters to all of an individual’s needs during a catastrophic event, such as covid.

Vivos claim that their bunkers are habitable for around a year as they provide fresh water, purified air, and fresh food.

The idea is that once you move into the bunker, you don’t leave until the major event is over.

Bunkers therefore typically come with living areas, food prep areas, wash facilities, gymnasiums, surgical areas, bars, pools, and so much more.

Building a bunker

When it comes to building a survivalist bunker you have two options; the DIY route or a ready-made bunker.

A ready-made bunker gives you a good shell to work with and you can still use your building skills to enhance your shelter.

You could erect walls inside the bunker to create individual rooms or zones, build cupboards, install storage, or make a games room.

Fitting plumbing, electrics, and lighting are a must too. If you’d rather start completely from scratch, you’ll need a good plan to work from.

Concrete, bricks, and blocks will form the foundations of your bunker. Most importantly, your air filtration system needs to be carefully planned out and vents must be installed.

Surviving in a bunker

Anything can happen while you’re locked away in your bunker, so you need to ensure you’re prepared for life away from humanity.

For example, you’ll need to know how to administer basic first aid, in case you or one of your loved ones get injured or sick.

You’ll also need to hook up to a water supply, such as a water tank or connect to a nearby well. But you must ensure that the water is purified and safe to drink.

The simplest way to do this in your bunker is to boil the water to kill off harmful germs.

Don’t forget the importance of storing enough non-perishable food items away either.

Canned goods and dehydrated food items are ideal when you don’t know how long you’ll be locked away.

Alternative options 

Not sure that a bunker is for you? One alternative is a bermed home which is also known as an earth home.

These are typically built half underground and half above ground. They are more energy-efficient than a standard bunker as the earth acts as an insulator, while the front of the house is built south facing for light and heat purposes.

A simpler and more DIY-friendly option is a bunker made from corrugated pipe which you can build a sleeping, living, washing, and dining area in.

It’s impossible to predict when the next global disaster will strike. But the one thing you can do to prepare is build a solid, reliable, and enjoyable bunker to hide away in.

As of 2021, the world has already used almost 3 trillion tons of freshwater. Unquestionably, the data is a clear sign that everyone should start being water conscious. However, aside from minimizing the frequency of using the sink, there are also other ways to help preserve this natural resource. Below, the following sections will briefly discuss various innovative ways to conserve water at home and work.

Build a rain harvesting system

In a house, collecting rain would help a family minimize the frequency of using the sink or water outlet and have quick access to water outside. While there are rain collection systems available for purchase, one can easily make a simple version using an existing downspout or anything that can guide the water drops from the roof to a collection barrel. After that, an individual can then use the collected rain to spray plants, wash the driveway and car, or for something else.

Opt for a less water-consuming garden

Since plants need water to survive, most water-saving methods do not apply to gardens. However, choosing some plants over others would help. As such, species like orchids, succulents, and clovers are not water-demanding, so it’s fine to sprinkle lesser volumes. Otherwise, one can improve the irrigation to reduce water usage thanks to direct flow in roots and less evaporation.

Bring a bottle of water to work

As you may already know, staying hydrated throughout the day is important, but what’s equally as important is the quality of the water you’re drinking. Aside from convenience, bringing a bottle of water to work helps prevent one from drinking out of unsafe sources. While some drinking fountains and faucets likely received sterilizations, most still are left uncleaned, especially public ones. Accordingly, carrying a personal water tumbler is like having a total home water supply safety guarantee anywhere. Besides, buying bottled water from stores is bad for the environment.

Store water on bottles in the fridge

When fetching directly from the sink, the water often comes out warm, especially in hot seasons. However, most people run the tap for extended periods to wait for the water to cool down, causing more liquid waste. Instead of doing this, why not keep water in bottles in the fridge to have a better drinking experience, reduce water waste, and eliminate the need to wait to quench the thirst.

Avoid throwing tissues in the toilet

In any public place, people might get very conscious about using the bathroom, especially in the workplace. Since all employees know each other, cleaning everything and leaving no traces after using the washroom is almost a given. However, this can also mean individuals throwing used tissues directly into the toilet, making it harder to flush and consuming more water in the process. Therefore, to avoid this, it’s best to trash tissues or wipes into bins or designated places to conserve water and maintain environmental hygiene.

Educate co-workers or employees

Employees can advise and educate co-workers about the importance of conserving water. Also, informing each other every time helps whenever someone forgets to close the sink or is wasting significant volumes. On the other hand, an employer or boss can place signs and notices in the kitchen, bathroom, or other water sources in the company establishment to constantly remind the staff to use water wisely.

Conserve Water At Home And Work

Water constitutes most of the world and the human body, so it’s important to manage this natural resource wisely. Aside from minimizing using the sink or other outlets, the above tips are also effective in conserving water. Above all, raising awareness about the importance of water consciousness can help create a more eco-caring generation. After all, the people on earth are still the ones to benefit from doing such good practices.