Author: aoife (Page 23 of 28)

Why Harvest Rainwater?

January 11, 2010 / aoife / 8 Comments

As shocking as it could sound it is estimated that one sixth of the world’s population does not have access to clean drinking water.

A villager looking for water as he walks in a dried out lake. Photo by Sigit Pamungkas, Reuters.

According to the Irish Times developed cities and regions around the world are beginning to run out of water in advance of the effects of climate change. Many cities, including Dublin, are likely to face severe water demand over the next 20 years. Read more.

These are the key findings of a report published by the European Environment Agency looking at over-use of water across the continent: Europe running out of water.

This should make us all feel more responsible for the water we consume and take all the necessary measures to save as much water as possible.

What is Rainwater Harvesting?

Rainwater harvesting is the collection, filtering, storage and use of rainwater. This water is used in non-potable applications, such as:

WC and urinal flushing

irrigation and landscape watering

garden watering

vehicle washing

domestic laundry

The rainwater harvesting has re-gained its importance as a valuable option or an additional water resource.

There are a number of types of systems to harvest rainwater ranging from very simple to more complex and more efficient systems. Generally, rainwater is either harvested from the ground or from a roof.

The three basic types of rainwater harvesting system available:

Gravity (non-pressurised): Collected rainwater is pumped from the main holding tank to an elevated header / break tank. The connected appliances are then supplied from the header / break tank as in a normal Gravity fed system.

Gravity system by KingspanWater.

Direct (pressurised): Collected rainwater is pump fed direct from the main holding tank to the serviced appliances.

Direct domestic system by RainHarvesting Ireland.

Combination: Collected rainwater is pump or gravity fed to a low level break tank. In turn, the water is then gravity fed to an integral or external booster pump system for onward distribution to the serviced appliances.

RainHarvesting Ireland and KingspanWater are currently leading designers and suppliers of sustainable water solutions in Ireland.

Click to view Kingspan’s guide that provides an overview of the key points within BS 8515:2009 -Rainwater harvesting systems – Code of practice.

Posted by Isabel Barros

View Isabel Barros’s profile

Government Policy on Architecture 2009 – 2015

November 3, 2009 / aoife / 0 Comments

The new Government Policy on Architecture 2009 – 2015 Towards a Sustainable Future: Delivering Quality within the Built Environment was published on 8 October. Download it here.

The implementation of this Policy on Architecture and its 45 actions is of crucial importance to promote quality in the built environment and to promote awareness, education and sustainability on the role of architecture.

“The quality of our built environment profoundly affects the quality of our everyday lives.”

“…conceiving, designing and delivering sustainable architecture in our environment presents a significant challenge to this generation. This is a challenge that requires a fundamental re-appraisal of the role of architecture and urban design, integrating their cultural and environmental responsibilities to combat the effects of climate change. In rising to the environmental challenges facing our country there is a need, through research on the built environment, to make informed choices on how we use our existing places, buildings, landscapes and natural resources.”

“…the Government through this Policy on architecture and the built environment seeks to promote awareness and understanding of the contribution of good design to the daily life and well being of society as a whole. High quality design, whether in the details of the buildings we work in, or in the spaces and places that we share socially, should not be viewed as a luxury, achievable on a one-off basis. The realisation of good architecture is fundamentally about much more than individual buildings.”

“The Policy recognises the place of architecture in society as an expression of cultural, aesthetic and social values, both past and present, and the challenges and expectations of the future in shaping a sustainable high quality environment. We can all learn to embrace and indeed love architecture and still preserve the diversity of our own personal tastes and empathies. This will only serve to deepen and enrich the great debate on the places and spaces that lend to shaping our lives.”

John Gormley TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government October, 2009

____________

Read the first Report of the Government Policy on Architecture 2009-2015 published in February 2011.

Design Exposed and the Architect’s Brain

October 28, 2009 / aoife / 0 Comments

The diagram below was taken from Visual Thesaurus, an interactive tool that allows you to discover the connections between words in a visually captivating display.

Design Diagram

The connections and relationships between words are very interesting and meaningful.

If you could cross this diagram with one showing client’s requirements, environment & energy requirements and regulations, you would get a pretty good idea of what happens inside an Architect’s brain.

The Architect's Brain