Filed under: Original Rainwater Pillow in the Media, Uncategorized | Tags: bladder tanks, cisterns, green approved products, green building, Green Buliding Products, green products, GreenBuild, International Builder's Show, irrigation, Jim harrington, Judith Kinnard, rain, rain water, rain water harvesting, rainwater harvesting, REOSE Sustainable Design Competition, Stormwater management, The Original Rainwater Pillow, water conservation, water pillow, WaterSmart
New Orleans’ Sustainable Home Model to Promote Green Materials, Appliances, Equipment, and Furnishings that can be packaged and shipped internationally.
The construction of the Sunshower SSIP Models designed by architects Judith Kinnard and Tiffany Lin, winners of the 2010 REOSE Sustainable Design Competition, is underway in New Orleans. “This design stood out as a model that was both attractive in appearance, but also smart and functional in terms of energy efficiency and ability to weather the toughest storms and conditions,” said Joseph Basilice, President of Oceansafe. OceanSafe, the premier manufacturer of durable and energy-efficient Steel Structural Insulated Panels, The ReGen Group, sustainable design consultants, C&G Construction, a leading green residential and commercial contractor, and Woodward Design+Build, the largest Design + Build contractor in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast Region have entered into a strategic partnership to produce this winning model, REOSE’s first sustainable prototype in New Orleans. The four associated companies are poised to begin to manufacture, package, sell and market fully functional sustainable building kits in the US and abroad.
The REOSE Sunshower SSIP Model is located at 222 Harrison Avenue in the Lakeview Neighborhood of New Orleans, LA. The rapid construction of this model will take place over the next several weeks and will be the premier example of green and sustainable construction. Builders, local and international dignitaries, green building organizations, media and people from around the world will be provided opportunities to tour the project and be present for building milestones. The public will experience the latest in green technology, materials and building design. With the help of preferred vendors, everyone will see what a truly sustainable home looks like and experience what it would be like to live in one. Onsite property tours are available by appointment.
Each REOSE home building kit includes all the materials required to achieve a safe, healthy, comfortable and enduring level of building performance, while meeting all of its energy and water needs, even in extreme environments. Sponsoring companies have agreed to donate the materials and equipment for the interior and exterior of the dwelling, and to also collaborate as to renewable energy components, rainwater harvesting, HVAC, lighting, decking and interior framing, windows, doors, furniture, cabinets, appliances, flooring, and home décor for the project.
Filed under: Customer Testimonials | Tags: bladder tanks, cisterns, green approved products, green building, Green Buliding Products, GreenBuild, International Builder's Show, irrigation, Jim harrington, landscaping, NAHB, National Green building Standards, rain, rain water, rain water collection, rain water harvesting, rainwater, rainwater collection, rainwater harvesting, rainwater pillow, storm water, Stormwater management, The Original Rainwater Pillow, water conservation, water pillow, WaterSmart
Victoria Garden Mews ~ Santa Barbara, California
Rainwater collection systems are becoming more popular throughout the country as shown by a recent installation of a 14,000 gallon system in a state-of-the-art, multi-family, green residential project in downtown Santa Barbara, California. The goal of this system is to collect and conserve enough rainwater to drip irrigate the landscape for a nine month long dry season.
A custom 14,000 cistern liner ( 20 ft x 10 ft x 7 ft ) was built and installed in a cement vault in the basement of the condo building.
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| Installation area |
The liner hangs from the ceiling of the vault. The installation is designed to manage humidity, reduce the footprint of storing a large volume of water, and additional security during an earthquake.
The rainfall is collected off an 1,800 square foot roof which has the potential of catching approximately 16,000 gallons of water from an average annual rainfall of 14 inches in Santa Barbara. The six downspout filters divert the water via gravity to the liner. The excess water overflow is piped to outdoor infiltration chambers. All the water that falls on the property is retained on the property. The collected water is then distributed to the drip irrigation system through a submersible pressure pump located inside the liner.
The building is applying for LEED Platnium certification and the cistern liner contributes to the required points.
We custom build liners for new construction and repairs.
Contact Us:
Rainwater Collection Solutions, Inc.
The Original Rainwater Pillow
770-853-9918
Filed under: Original Rainwater Pillow in the Media | Tags: bladder tanks, cisterns, green approved products, green building, Green Buliding Products, green products, GreenBuild, International Builder's Show, rain, rain water, rainwater, rainwater harvesting, rainwater pillow, Stormwater management, The Original Rainwater Pillow, water conservation, water pillow, WaterSmart
Throughout the world, rainwater harvesting is a way of life; and in the U.S., it is rapidly growing in popularity as a simple and easy conservation method. Drought, limited resources and energy costs are driving the trend for rainwater harvesting based on the fact that about 70% of the water we use can be replaced with rainwater. Rainwater harvesting systems collect and use the water at the source, reducing energy needs for processing and movement as well as limiting storm water run-off.
The first component is the collection system. Water is typically captured from a roof, but it can also be collected from permeable pavement or a dry creek bed. Cleaner water leads to less filtering and maintenance.
Once water is captured, it is directed into the second component, a filtration system, prior to entering the storage vessel. There are a variety of filters available on the market. The Original Rainwater Pillow system uses a debris pad filter. The benefit of a pad filter is that the water is cleaned to a greater extent. The filter pad needs to be cleaned once or twice per year and replaced annually. The second type of filter is a screen which removes materials larger than the screen size. Screen filters are often on metal roofs because there are no asphalt granules that need to be removed. The screen filters are also self-cleaning.
The next element of a rainwater harvesting system is the storage tank. There are three types of storage vessels: below ground, above ground and horizontal pillows. In choosing the right vessel the user must consider both its planned location and cost. The Original Rainwater Pillow is designed to be installed in horizontal wasted space such as a crawl space or under a deck. The Pillows are custom built to fit the available space. Above ground tanks are simply installed next to the collection area and can vary in size as small as a rain barrel to many thousands of gallons. Lastly, there are underground storage tanks and systems. These can be either rigid tanks or crate systems surrounded by a liner.
Typical crawlspace installation
The final part of a rainwater collection system is the pump which is required to move the water. There are numerous pump sizes and capabilities from which to choose. The lower cost pumps must be manually turned on and off and will pump about 10 gallons per minute at 25 PSI. As prices increase, the options may include fully automatic demand pumps with sensors that can determine if water is available and which will monitor the system for leaks. In selecting a pump it is important to match the pump size with the anticipated water volume and use requirements
Additional add-ons are available to maintain water levels, to flush toilets, roof washing, aeration and drinking water processing.
A basic rainwater harvesting system for hand watering irrigation can cost as little as $2,500, with upgrades, such as providing for toilet flushing, beginning at approximately $1,000. Of course prices will vary depending upon the specifics of your individual circumstances and needs.
Jim Harrington
770-853-9918
http://www.rainwaterpillow.com
Filed under: Original Rainwater Pillow in the Media | Tags: bladder tanks, cisterns, green approved products, green building, Green Buliding Products, green products, GreenBuild, International Builder's Show, irrigation, Jim harrington, landscaping, NAHB, National Green building Standards, rain, rain water, rain water collection, rain water harvesting, rainwater, rainwater collection, rainwater harvesting, rainwater pillow, storm water, Stormwater management, The Original Rainwater Pillow, water pillow, WaterSmart
Remember the Georgia drought of 2008? Folks in that part of the country have seethed over federal judges’s ruling that barred Atlanta and communities downriver from using water from Lake Lanier, a reservoir in northern Georgia. The lake was originally built for hydroelectric power and flood control. Metro Atlanta, however, now relies on the water for it’s watering needs. Read the complete article
Filed under: Original Rainwater Pillow in the Media | Tags: bladder tanks, green approved products, green building, Green Buliding Products, green products, GreenBuild, International Builder's Show, irrigation, Jim harrington, landscaping, NAHB, National Green building Standards, rain, rain water collection, rainwater pillow, Stormwater management, The Original Rainwater Pillow, water conservation, water pillow, WaterSmart
The Original Rainwater Pillow and Pavestone Project Profile:
It’s Easy Being Green
Michelle Brown, Consultant to Pavestone
Today’s designer must overcome challenges such as: Where do we “hide” the new water-saving and energy-efficient hardware, and how do we design eco-friendly landscapes to please clients used to water-hungry foliage.
While meeting the challenges of the Green movement seems daunting at times, efficient product design and clever integration makes these challenges far more manageable.
According to Pavestone commercial sales representative, Dan Kaylor: 3,000 square feet of pavers can capture 3,000 gallons from one inch of rain over an 8-hour period.
The suburban Greenhaven residential housing project located in Chelsea Landing, East Cobb County, Georgia exemplifies such a creative use of Green technology and design. Even before it was fashionable, Richard Feis, president of Pace Homebuilders in Atlanta, Georgia recognized the importance of Green building strategies. Every home at Greenhaven carries EnergyStar and EarthCraft certifications, and incorporates the Xeriscaping landscaping method whenever possible. Xeriscaping reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water supply by capturing and distributing rainfall. Xeriscaping is promoted especially in areas without easily accessible fresh-water supplies; however, Xeriscaping is gaining popularity in other areas as well because it saves homeowners money every month, and it is Earth-friendly.
Greenhaven, the first eco-friendly neighborhood in its area, carries the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes certification and showcases the latest in green-building techniques.
Step 1: Excavate unsuitable, unstable or unconsolidated sub-grade material and compact the area which has been cleared. Backfill and level with dense graded aggregate suitable for base material. Typically the base material is four inches to eight inches in depth of compacted base for light vehicular and people traffic. Specify bedding course of washed sand conforming to the grading requirements of ASTM C-33 to a uniform depth of 1 to 1.5 inches seeded to the grade and profile required.
Harvesting Water
Among Greenhaven’s Xeriscaping features is its rainwater harvesting system. Rainwater harvesting is an excellent strategy for reducing dependence on municipal water supply. Collecting rainwater also reduces storm-water runoff, the number-one pollutant of rivers and streams. Rainwater collected and used onsite recharges the ground-water aquifer, and eliminates energy costs associated with moving water from another location. Natural rainwater is cleaner than other water sources, further reducing the required energy expenditures for treatment.
The Greenhaven water harvesting system employs The Original Rainwater Pillow. According to the manufacturer’s website, (www.rainwaterpillow.com), the system can harvest 1,000 to 40,000 gallons of rainwater. The flexible horizontal rainwater storage system used at Greenhaven is the 3,600-gallon, 15x11x3.4-foot model. It was installed out of view under the home’s deck.
This detail shows the different materials and quantities required to properly install the pavers.
Detail Courtesy of Pavestone.
Collecting Water Through The Hardscape
The rainwater pillow itself must be fed to do its job. So how does the water get there? Enter the Eco-Venetian Stone, a tumbled permeable-paver product manufactured by The Pavestone Company. At Greenhaven, the pavers cover the 4,800 square-foot driveway, as well as 400 square feet of front walkway. The paver’s joint profile allows surface water to infiltrate into the pavement and its sub-layers. With its initial 100 inches-per-hour permeability average flow-rate, the pavers meets a majority of current storm-water management plans. It also assists in meeting current EPA storm-water regulations.The paver’s modular square and rectangular shapes, as well as its cleft surface set it apart from other permeable pavement treatments. The design achieves a fine balance between good looks and efficient water-collection capabilities.
The Road To Green Success
It is an exciting time to be a landscape architech, as these professionals operate on the forefront in transforming our world into a place that is both beautiful and Earth-friendly. As environmentally-conscious building practices becoming more popular with consumers, rainwater harvesting, along with other eco-friendly landscape technologies, are poised to become standard features. The landscape contractors who understand how to incorporate such technologies into their projects will see their business success and professional standing increase dramatically.
Filed under: Original Rainwater Pillow in the Media | Tags: bladder tanks, green approved products, Green Buliding Products, International Builder's Show, Jim harrington, landscaping, NAHB, National Green building Standards, rain, rain water, rain water collection, rainwater collection, rainwater harvesting, rainwater pillow, storm water, Stormwater management, The Original Rainwater Pillow, water conservation, water pillow, WaterSmart
Storm Water Management Solution
The one in the picture above is 200,000 gallons ( 80 feet x 70 feet x 6 feet ) ! This pillow, commonly used for fuel storage for the military can easily be adapted for storm water control at a very competative price.
Be sure to consider this option for storm water management in your project designs.
We can build any size pillow your space requires. This allows you to utilize all the available space and mazimize your collection volume with ONE unit!
Filed under: Original Rainwater Pillow in the Media | Tags: green approved products, green building, green products, Jim harrington, landscaping, National Green building Standards, rainwater, rainwater collection, rainwater harvesting, rainwater pillow, The Original Rainwater Pillow, water conservation, WaterSmart
Vist us in Las Vegas at The WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Expo October 7 – 9, 2009 at the South Point Resort. Stop by and see us in Booth 206.
Jim Harrington will be presenting a program on ” Rainwater Harvesting ” Thursday Oct 8, 2009 at 3 pm on the Innovation MarketPlace Stage.
What People Say 