A Rainwater Harvesting System can be installed in a house to reduce mains water usage and maintain water supplies in periods of drought

Rainwater Harvesting

If rainwater is required only for the garden and car washing, the simplest solution is to connect water butts to existing rainwater pipes. If there is surplus rainwater, it can be used in the home for non-drinking purposes, like flushing toilets and to fill a washing machine.

Rainwater Harvesting - Water Meters

Most UK households pay their water and sewerage charges as part of their Community Charge. In order to save money on water supply, it is advisable to contact the water company and arrange to have a water meter fitted. A water meter allows water usage to be monitored and for periodic checks to be made for leaks in the system.

Rainwater Harvesting - Purification

It is possible to replace all the home's water requirements with rainwater harvesting, as long as a purification system is installed in the system. If the house already has a mains supply of drinking water then a purification system is unlikely to be cost effective.

Take Other Measures Before Installing Rainwater Harvesting

Before investing money in rainwater harvesting initiatives, it is advisable to take simpler water conservation measures first.

Rainwater Harvesting System Design

Rainwater harvesting is a specialised field so when considering an installation it is advisable to takes the advice of a competent installer. The rainwater harvesting system must be designed so that the supply of rain water meets the demand. Rainfall is intermittant so it will be necessary to store enough rainwater to avoid running out in dry spells.

Rainwater Harvesting - Back-up Water Supply

It is usual to install a back-up mains supply that will operate automatically when the underground rainwater storage tank (www.grumpyb.com.au) runs low. The control system is programmed to fill the storage tank from the mains when there is insufficient rainwater available.

Rainwater Harvesting - Collection Surface

Most pitched roofs provide a suitable rainwater catchment area and the existing rainwater pipes and gutters will act as the harvesting system. It is preferable to collect the rainwater that falls onto a house roof.

Rainwater harvested from the ground is more problematical as it is likely to be contaminated and will require additional cleaning. However, contamination may not be a problem if the rainwater is only used for garden watering

Sun tube lights are a simple way of transferring natural daylight deep into a building.  Natural daylight enters the building through a clear plastic dome and is reflected down a mirrored pipe to illuminate the internal space

Effective Lighting from Sun Tube Lights

Sun tube lights are highly effective at transferring daylight into parts of buildings that have little or no natural lighting. They can be used to replace artificial lighting and will therefore substantially reduce the annual energy consumption of a home. In many cases, sun tube lights will be used to provide all the light for an internal space but they can also be used to compliment an artificial lighting scheme.

Light Quality from Sun Tube Lights

Natural daylight is known to give much better quality light than that provided by electric light fittings and is more beneficial to recipients. Even on an overcast day, the quality of light transferred into a house will be considerable when compared with artificial light.

Sun Tube Lights

Where possible, the clear plastic dome should be situated on a south facing roof to gain the maximum amount of daylight. Sun tube lights are highly effective at delivering light into internal and badly lit spaces making it particularly useful for bathrooms, stairs, corridors and any dark areas.

Clear Plastic Domes on Sun Tube Lights

Clear plastic domes are available in unbreakable polycarbonate or impact resistant modified acrylic. They are available in several different sizes depending on the amount of light required and can be located on flat or pitched roofs. 

Fitting a Sun Tube Lights

In normal circumstances, sun tube lights require no structural alterations as the tube system fits comfortably between rafters and ceiling joists. The joints of the tube are sealed using aluminium tape and only a minimum of fixings are required; often just a single fixing at the bottom of the tube. A system can usually be installed within two to three hours. See Sun Tube Light Video for a demonstration

Sun Tube Light Assembly

For maximum effectiveness, the sun tube assembly should be as straight as possible. As it is not always possible to mount the clear plastic dome in line with the ceiling diffuser, bends are available to offset the solar tube near the top and bottom. The tube can be swiveled easily, to target natural light exactly where it is required. The offsets bends are adjustable up to 30 degrees from vertical.

In 1987, the Bruntland Report, on economic development and the environment, defined sustainable development as - ‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’

Code for Sustainable Homes

In December 2006, the UK government launched the Code for Sustainable Homes. The Code is a development guide for home designers and builders, and the national standard for the building of sustainable homes.

Code for Sustainable Homes - Lower Energy Use

It is anticipated that the Code for Sustainable Homes will reduce the environmental impact of the construction sector as whole and will form the basis for future Building Regulations. The Government wants to see homes built in a way that minimises the use of energy and reduces harmful carbon dioxide emissions but, more importantly, it adds -

‘We also need to build and use our homes in a way that minimises their other environmental impacts, such as the water use, the waste they generate, and the materials they are built from’

Sustainable Homes Assessment and Rating System

It comprises an assessment and rating system aimed at improving the environmental impact of new homes by introducing minimum standards in nine areas, including the use of energy, carbon dioxide and water.