- The Canopy
- Posts
- 🌳 How canal water is being used in coffee
🌳 How canal water is being used in coffee
Tuesday 6/10: Sponsored by Money.com - Making espresso coffee with canal water, house sustainability basics, and a city nature challenge

Tuesday
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
Albert Einstein
In today’s issue, we’ll take a look at:
This Venice Café turns canal water into coffee
Creating a cozy and sustainable home
Protecting your pet and your wallet
A global nature challenge
How a home warranty could cover appliances
Did You Know
Leaking faucets can waste more than ____ gallons of water a year.
Scroll to the bottom for the answer.

This Venice Café Turns Canal Water Into Coffee
Imagine sitting by the water in Venice, sipping an espresso made from the very canal you’re looking at. Sounds strange, right? But at Canal Café, that’s exactly what’s happening—and it’s meant to spark curiosity, not disgust.
The team behind it found a way to clean the lagoon water using a mix of nature and tech. First, the water flows through a small wetland filled with plants and good bacteria. Then it goes through powerful filters that make it safe to drink. You can even watch it all happen through see-through pipes by the café.
It’s strangely comforting to see something so overlooked be turned into something familiar. Clean water is getting harder to come by in many places, and this little café reminds us that even “dirty” water can have potential when treated with care.
This little café in Venice is helping people imagine a future where we take better care of our water and make use of what’s already around us. And it all starts with a simple cup of coffee.


Creating a Cozy And Sustainable Home
Creating a more sustainable home doesn’t have to mean tearing everything down and starting from scratch. In fact, the most eco-friendly option is often working with what you already have and making small upgrades as you go.
Start with what feels doable. Swapping out single-use cleaning products for refillable options is a great first step. So is hang-drying some of your laundry, or shopping from local markets when possible. Even using a drying rack by a sunny window helps cut back on energy use.
If you’re in a space you own, energy-efficient appliances, better insulation, or double-pane windows can make a big difference over time. For renters, tools like smart thermostats, thick curtains, and weatherstripping are good options to improve comfort and reduce waste.
And don’t forget your outdoor space. Native plants or edible gardens can reduce water use and add life to your yard or balcony.
There’s no perfect version of a sustainable home. Remember that the goal is progress, not perfection, and it starts with choices that work for you and your space.


How to Protect Your Pet and Your Wallet
Take the bite out of rising vet costs with pet insurance
Veterinarians across the country have reported pressure from corporate managers to prioritize profit. This incentivized higher patient turnover, increased testing, and upselling services. Pet insurance could help you offset some of these rising costs, with some providing up to 90% reimbursement.
Thank you to Money.com for sponsoring The Canopy.

A Global Nature Challenge
Nature might not be the first thing you picture when you think of cities, but a growing global challenge is helping people see their neighborhoods in a new light. The City Nature Challenge invites everyday folks to spot and record wild plants and animals—no park pass required.
This year, over 100,000 people in 650 cities joined in, logging everything from bees on balconies to mushrooms on sidewalks. More than 3.3 million observations were made, and 73,765 species were identified with help from volunteers around the world.
Some finds were especially remarkable, like a sea slug in India that hadn’t been seen in 160 years. But even a common ant trail or backyard bird can help scientists better understand urban ecosystems.
What started as a friendly contest between two U.S. cities is now an annual reminder that nature is right here with us. You don’t have to wait for next year to join in—just step outside and start noticing. It all counts.


Go Beyond Homeowners Insurance with a Home Warranty
If you’re a homeowner, you know unexpected expenses are par for the course. One way to help shield your finances is to get a home warranty. Unlike homeowners insurance, which covers natural disasters and theft, a home warranty could help safeguard you against costly repairs of eligible essential home appliances and systems due to normal wear and tear. Check out Money’s list of the Best Home Warranties and take the sting out of appliance breakdowns.
Thank you to Money.com for sponsoring The Canopy.

Final Thoughts:
From cozy cottages to creative reuses, check out this week’s top eco-friendly finds:
🏡 Tour these storybook tiny homes—These charming New York cottages look like they’re straight out of a fairytale.
🔧 Easily protect your home appliances—Prevent high costs caused by appliance repairs with a home warranty.
🍝 Make your own pasta at home—Skip the store-bought kind with this simple, satisfying homemade recipe.
🛍️ 15 clever ways to reuse plastic bags—From DIY projects to storage hacks, give those bags a second life.

Reflections:
🌎 Did You Know: Leaking faucets can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water a year. A single drip per second adds up—fixing leaks is one of the easiest ways to conserve water at home.
🌅 Sunset Of The Day: The sun can provide the most beautiful photography. That's why we're eager to see your favorite sunrise or sunset photos. Reply to this email with your best sun-based pictures for a chance to be featured!