Archive for the 'Rainwater harvesting' Category
August 11th, 2010 -- Posted in Connections, Events, Rainwater harvesting |
On August 10, like-minded businesses and neighbors convened for the SustainabLEE Community Partnership Meeting at the Eco Living Center in Fort Myers. The purpose was to learn how to transition to more sustainable policies, practices, and conscientious lifestyles. The premise is that the health of our environment, economy, and community go hand in hand.
Here are some pictures from the event (click on one to open a slideshow, then click on any again to close it )
The meetings are held on a monthly basis, each time with a different speaker and topic. This time, the monthly speaker was Tom Becker, UF/IFAS Florida Yards & Neighborhoods agent. Tom gave a walking tour of the demonstration gardens at the Eco Living Center, located at Rutenberg Park in Fort Myers. The gardens were designed based on the nine principles of Florida friendly landscaping [more info].
The second principle is “Water Efficiently.” To that end, the gardens are watered using stored rainwater, which is captured by a system installed by our own John Comito. The rain catchment solution was the main focus of the tour.
It was a team effort. Many partners are involved in the gardens. Closely aligned with the rainwater harvesting project are John Bishton of Electrical Service Masters, Inc. [more info] and Jeff Paul of Jeff Paul Enterprises, both of Fort Myers. Bishton installed the solar panel, along with its associated components, which powers the electrical pump that draws water from the underground water storage to divert it for irrigation, which is further controlled by a timer. Paul installed microjet irrigation, which waters plants even more effectively than traditional sprinkler methods, at a fraction of the gallon-per-hour rate.
For our private clients, we aim to provide rainwater storage solutions that are “out of sight, out of mind.” For the demonstration gardens, however, the components were purposefully designed to be plainly visible so visitors touring the gardens could see how easy it is to water a landscape in a manner that’s completely off the grid.
The Eco Living Center has a sloping roof, off which water is collected by gutters and stored in an above-ground cistern. With all the rain we receive in the wet season, this cistern quickly overflows. To make use of that overflow, it is collected in an underground system comprised of modular matrix blocks. These are very strong recycled plastic crate-like structures that form void space underground where water can efficiently be stored. Water is also collected from natural ground seepage. We installed permeable pavers through which rainwater easily flows.
An important quality of the permeable pavers is the cost savings with the local water utilities. You may notice an annual assessment from your utility company that is charged based on the area of impermeable surface on your property. Impermeable surfaces force rainwater to run off into waterways, storm drains, etc. The water authority then has to deal with all that unfiltered runoff. The modular matrix blocks we use are incredibly sturdy. They could be configured under a driveway, that is then surfaced with permeable pavers.
As Tom Becker said at the event, “You could park your firetruck on it.” If you do have a firetruck, consider parking it over your watersupply. You might then need a shorter hose.
Seriously, though, John Bishton said, “It’s fun to watch your electric bill go down.”
Think about how much fun it would be to watch your water bill go down along with it, while your beautifully sustainable landscaping plants come up. Your rainwater storage could also feed a beautiful water feature while it irrigates your garden.
Think about it. And join us at some Community Partnership Meetings in the future. We’ll keep you updated. Also, check in with the Lee County Extension Service [more info].
August 6th, 2010 -- Posted in Connections, Events, Rainwater harvesting |
When:
Tuesday, August 10, 2 – 5 p.m.
Where:
Eco Living Center at Rutenberg Park, 6490 South Pointe Blvd., Fort Myers
Monthly speaker:
Tom Becker Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Agent
Cost:
Free
RSVP:
avilamc@leegov.com
Why:
The intent of these meetings is to serve as a catalyst for businesses, government, and individuals to transition to more sustainable policies, practices, and conscientious lifestyles based on the belief that the health of our environment, economy, and community go hand in hand.
What:
Tom Becker UF/IFAS FYN Agent will give a guided eco-tour to show sustainable, Florida-Friendly landscaping™ using the nine principles of LeeCounties’ Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program. The walking tour debuts use of new rainwater harvesting tools to maintaining native plant beds. The system conserves potable water and provides water to supplement rainfall, and it uses newly-installed off-grid solar technology; an in-ground cistern built using matrix storage aqua-blocks, walkways using colorizing shell mulch and porous pavement using recycled tire rubber
The SustainabLEE Community Partnership meetings objectives will include:
* A bimonthly opportunity to exchange information on sustainable products and practices
* Guest speakers that will share their expertise on sustainability issues and lead in discussion.
* Forming a network for local businesses that provide eco-friendly products and services or seek to use them.
* Educating the community and exchange information on what sustainable products and services are available to them and their applications
* Applying sustainable land use strategies
* Identifying sustainable action plans for our local community, state, and nation
* Stimulate local collaboration
Who:
You, and your neighbors, too!
More info, including agenda:
[CLICK HERE]
April 10th, 2010 -- Posted in Rainwater harvesting |
Click on the image to see our slideshow presentation, delivered to the U.S. Green Building Council Gulf Coast Chapter in collaboration with the Lee County Extension Service. John Comito and Extension Agent Thomas Becker spoke about Elemental’s installation of an in-ground rainwater harvesting system at the agency’s Eco-Living Center demonstration gardens.
Click on John to see news coverage of the project.
April 5th, 2010 -- Posted in Rainwater harvesting |
In case you missed the show, you can CLICK HERE to listen to Gulf Coast Live – Connect, “Rain,” which aired April 5, 2010 and featured Elemental owner John Comito. continue reading »
October 24th, 2009 -- Posted in Rainwater harvesting |
Rainwater Reuse, Low Impact Design and New Water Storage Technology
A Demonstration Project at the Eco-Living Center
Co-presenters Thomas Becker, Extension Agent, Florida Yards and Neighborhoods for Lee County Extension and John Comito, Owner, Elemental Stone & Waterworks, Inc., will present to the chapter an overview of a recent water conservation and smart irrigation demonstration project being installed in the Eco-Living Center landscape. The project components include site design techniques that a building owner or a homeowner can construct on their own lot. Components include: a 375 gallon above-ground cistern, a 250 gallon capacity in-ground, exfiltration storage tank using an AquaBlox™ matrix® , a 195w Evergreen PV Solar panel and micro-jet mist head (10GPH/.17 gpm) sprinklers.
Rainwater harvesting is very cost effective and a water efficient solution for building owners and homeowners who are looking to save time, money and maintenance on their Southwest Florida landscape. This project shows an example of Florida-Friendly landscaping, which was recently legislated and signed into law by governor Crist, Senate Bill 2080. The demonstration landscape at the Eco-Living Center demonstrates ’how to’ use mostly native plants in a home landscape Plants rely entirely on rain water during the wet and dry season. Design considerations for each component will be discussed including potential credits in green building certification programs
When:Â Wednesday, Nov. 4 2009
Time:Â Â Â Registration 5:30 pm
Program Start 6:00 pm to 7:15 pm
Fees:Â Â Â Free to members
$5 nonmembers
Where:Â Eco Living Center
6490 South Pointe Blvd
Ft Myers, Florida 33919
Click HERE to register
August 10th, 2009 -- Posted in Rainwater harvesting |
Have you ever considered collecting rainwater for later use? It can be as simple as a rain barrel or as sophisticated as an underground catchment system integrated with your irrigation system and decorative water feature.
An ancient practice made new again because of our realization that a dependable source of usable water may actually depend on you! continue reading »
