water

Although severe storm warnings occurred through out the state of Virginia, the rain bypassed Richmond and is not expected for another week; so, this morning, I'll water my newly installed test plants with water salvaged from my home's AC condensation.

Unfortunately, most AC condensation is simply drained next to a house foundation. While I know you will think I'm exaggerating when I say - on a really hot VA dog day, I've collected up to 25 gallons of water - I'm not. For, I'm sharing a tip gathered through experience.

Be creative and identify what water sources available at your home site. Become water wise!

See "Water It Right!!" 1-page publication is available on the website at: http://virginiagreen.org/Info_Files/WaterItRight/water_it_right.htm

for additional articles/info: http://virginiagreen.org/be_water_wise.htm.

I just recently saw an article on just how severe our water problems are not only in the U.S. but in the world and thought to myself: This can't go on like it has and we expect to have a future. A month ago I was approached by a woman who asked me if i knew about machines that could turn air into water? Then she proceeded to tell me about them and I was floored!I not only contacted the distributors but also have had discussions with the patent owners of
this new technology. They are called Atmospheric Water Generators or Watergens for short.
They take the humidity out of the air and generate crystal pure water! I am now working with
them to help generate interest in this technology. They can manufacture products from a watergen that can fit on your desktop and produce up to 10 gallons of water a day, to units that can supply crystal pure water to an entire building (homes, retail, hospitals ,etc).The units start at around 2,300 dollars. we have generated quite a buzz. I feel this really is the future of water. I think about the ability to give developing countries a clean source of water, or giving this country and other countries the ability to protect themselves from terror by not needing a water supply that could be tainted because we harvest the water from the air! Not only does these machines create purified water but it also purifies the air as well.

The technology is unique, as no other air-to-water technology products are offered commercially in the U.S. or International markets. The technology maximizes temperature, airflow, and surface area for optimum water production.

A condensation unit receives humid airflow and condenses water vapor into liquid. This process is known as atmospheric condensation. Water is filtered and treated by bacteria-killing devices such as ultraviolet light before it can be dispensed. Water produced by the water generation machines is pure and safe for human consumption and meets established U.S. and International Public Health standards, including the NSF 53 standard. NSF 53 is the top U.S. benchmark for drinking water and includes the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOC's).

Volatile Organic Compound pollutants are removed by two (2) NSF 53 approved filters. Volatile organic chemicals such as Ether have proven extremely difficult to remove by filtration methods of the past, but will not be present in the water generated by a water generation machine.

They are also offering an energy product that can take your home off the energy grid as well.
I am looking for those that want to start implementing these products in new homes as well as old ones, and in areas of crisis, in the U.S. and abroad. I am looking for people who can make a difference and start to stop our global water crisis.

The Photovoltaic roof consists of a set of solar panels assembled to cover the surface of the roof of a house or a building. Don't confuse it with the pool solar heaters, they are used to hot water and not to generate electricity.

There are no moving parts, maintenance requirements are reduced to the minimum terms and consist, mostly in periodic checks of the accumulator battery.

The photovoltaic modules that make up the solar panels, transform the energy received from the sun into electricity used for domestic use in partial or total replacement of conventional supply.

This solar system is feasible even on complex already built but is considerably cheaper, obviously, if already part of the plan for a new building.

Of course, the main advantage of these systems is in the use of an inexhaustible energy source, free and clean. The energy produced by photovoltaic panels is included in the existing electrical system and connected to the supplier of electricity.

Therefore, a practical example is that when it produced more energy than required, the system can assign an energy surplus to the electricity distributor.

The market is increasing its penetration, the experts for the magazine "World Renewable Energy" have estimated a change of 1000 kW in 1990, 2000 in 1993, 7000 in 1996, 36,000 in 1999, 60 thousand in 2000, 800 thousand in 2010.

Although fall is settling in, it's never to early to plan for next summer and spring-time projects. In that vein, here are a few things I bet you didn't know about salt water pools: first, salt water pools clean with zero scoops or discs of chlorine. No more red eyes, green hair or dry skin. They have a chlorine generator system that sanitizes the water and converts it back into salt, so the pool itself remains free of chlorine.

 You won't need to store chlorine, which is expensive and hazardous to have around. On occasion you'll need to add salt, like when rainwater overflows a pool. Any pool or spa can be converted to a salt water pool. discountsaltpool.com offers kits to convert your pool to salt water.

The latest in luxury is 100% chemical-free water, as in zero chlorine, from Eco Smarte. The process uses less wattage of power and claims even the backwash is safe. It involves converting calcium to bicarbonate which eliminates scaling on pool surfaces. Then, an ionization and oxidization process sanitizes the water. Next, a copper ionization process cleans the water and leaves a by-product of organic dead matter . And finally, an electrical current separates the oxygen and hydrogen atoms that eliminate the organic dead matter along with body oils and sun tan lotion. At ecosmartepool.com you have to request pricing but 5% of the cost is donated to the eco-charity of your choice.

As of today, we are under mandatory water restrictions.

Neighbors, when you see me hopping around the yard watering daily, please know it is grey water, water that is being reused for another purpose. And that's what we've been doing all along.

It's actually quite easy: Put a large pail in the shower. As the water goes from cold to hot, it collects. Take a smaller pail and transfer water into watering can. When you bathe the children at night, leave the tub full at the end, and use it to water your yard the next morning.

Your plants will thank you! : ) And you will be not only conserving but re-using a precious resource!

(Of course noting restrictions on gray water use on edible plants...)

P.s. Pictures taken by 5 year old. Thank goodness for digital cameras, otherwise it would have been 293 pictures worth of film that day.

On July 17, 2008, California became the first state in the nation to incorporate green building standards into its building codes. The codes, developed by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), will be phased in over the next three years.

The standards address the following key issues:

• Energy Efficiency (to be phased in beginning July 2009): The HCD standards require compliance with the California Energy Commission’s Residential Energy Efficiency Standards, which will increase the stringency of existing statewide energy standards by 20 percent. The new standards will make new California homes approximately 50 percent more energy-efficient than homes built to national energy standards.

• Air Quality, Moisture Control & Resource Conservation (to be phased in beginning January 2011): There are 16 features in this category that will become mandatory at the same time as the new 2010 edition of the California Building Code takes effect. Among these features are requirements for low- or no-VOC (volatile organic compound) adhesives, paints and coatings; high-efficiency air conditioning filters to better filter out dust and particulates; and always-on exhaust fans to ensure better fresh air circulation in the home.

• Water Conservation (to be phased in beginning July 2011): The HCD standards require a 20 percent reduction in overall water use within all new homes . While this new water-conserving building code will allow a variety of compliance options, it is anticipated that compliance with this requirement will commonly be met via installation of new super-low flow toilets and showerheads.

Los Angeles and San Francisco have adopted even stricter rules, and the state regulations won't trump these higher standards (this had been a major sticking point in the legislation).

We applaud California for passing this law and hope that other states will follow California's lead.

This symbol could soon become as common and EPA’s other conservation program--Energy Star. The EPA launched its WaterSense program in 2006. The program seeks to “enhance the market for water-efficient products and services by building a national brand for water efficiency.”

WaterSense is a program for water-only products like toilets, faucets, and irrigation systems. It does not include appliances like dishwashers or clothes washers that use both water and energy; these remain under the Energy Star program. In 2007, the EPA released WaterSense specifications for high efficiency toilets and bathroom sink faucets. Specifications for showerheads are currently being developed.

WaterSense is poised to become very popular in the green building community. In its proposed changes to several LEED rating systems, the U.S. Green Building Council removed some specifications for water saving credits and replaced them with “WaterSense-certified fixtures and fixture fittings should be used where available.”

Could this symbol become as ubiquitous as the Energy Star symbol? Only time will tell.

Part 6 of our 15-part Q&A series on all aspects of green building from the publishers of HealthyHouseInstitute.com. Click here for the introductory post and furthur details.

Question: Should I use metal or plastic water pipes in my new house?

Answer: Plastic water mains are now widely used by utilities, and they’re also common in many new houses. They tend to be easier and less expensive to install than metal pipes. Many plastic pipes use both a toxic solvent-based cleaner and cement to fuse the pipe and fittings together. While these are very noxious, they’re so volatile that they outgas quickly—usually within a few hours—if there’s plenty of extra ventilation.

When water moves through new plastic plumbing lines, many sensitive people report a plastic-like taste. This occurs if contaminants are being released into the water, either from the pipe itself or from the cleaner or glue.

While you can’t do much about what your water utility uses for underground water mains, we prefer to use copper for supply lines inside houses. In the past, lead-based solder was common. But today, Federal regulations forbid the use of lead in plumbing solders. Galvanized-steel piping is also relatively inert, but it’s usually more expensive than copper.

Drain pipes are bigger in diameter, making copper drains expensive. Therefore, we often recommend using plastic for these. The plastic really doesn’t outgas very much into the air. But to minimize outgassing, we buy the pipe and fittings early in the construction process and let them air out before they're installed. Then, when the cleaner and glue are used, we stay away for a while and provide extra ventilation until everything has aired out.

=========================================================== GreenerBuildings News: January 31, 2008 =========================================================== Welcome to the latest edition of GreenerBuildings News. We are committed to bringing you the latest information and resources on the full spectrum of environmental issues related to buildings and facilities. Log on to http://www.GreenerBuildings.com for more up-to-date news, tools, case studies, and other resources related to greener building practices. A full-color, graphic version of this newsletter is available online at: http://www.greenerbuildings.com/enewsletter

=-=-=-=-=-=-= JUST RELEASED: STATE OF GREEN BUSINESS 2008 =-=-=-=-=-=-=

In this landmark report, Joel Makower and the editors of GreenBiz.com answer the question: How are U.S. businesses doing in their quest to be more environmentally responsible? It introduces the GreenBiz Index, 20 indicators of progress, tracking the resource use, emissions, and business practices of U.S. companies: carbon, materials, energy, and toxics intensity, clean-tech investments, e-waste recovery, paper use, employee commuting, and more. Download it for free at: http://www.stateofgreenbusiness.com

=-=-=-=-=-=-= THE LATEST NEWS & FEATURES =-=-=-=-=-=-=

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Clorox and Sierra Club Announce Branding Partnership
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CIA Campus Embraces Green Building The CIA is working on its newest, greenest campus, with a vegetated roof, energy- and water-saving measures, and special parking for carpoolers.