Mark Brown of RainCatchers commissions the system
The rainwater harvesting system installation was completed last week adding water-efficiency to this old dame’s resume’. Although many rainwater harvesting systems are buried, this installation shows that they don’t have to be. The configuration pictured above will be hidden by a deck and lattice work when the greenovation is complete.
The system was engineered and installed by a rainwater harvesting specialist who has been involved in several LEED for Homes projects. RainCatchers has a distinct advantage in this new field [for the U.S.], having appropriated 30-year-old best practices from Europe. They use the WISY self-cleaning Vortex filters like the one seen above the cistern. The water is being brought inside for indoor use and is purified to potable standards in the process. This water easily exceeds the quality of the municipal supply.
We decided to go with “LEED for Homes” because it was the most stringent of all of the certifications for renovations and actually would reward us for doing more. EarthCraft House for new homes does have a tiered system, however the EarthCraft revovation program does not. Even though we have completed the majority of the EarthCraft renovations in the program, we thought trying LEED out as well would be fun. Energy Star is a requirement for EarthCraft House, but not for the renovations. It is a certification typically used in new construction since renovations don;t usually improve enough to meet the standard. Lake Claire LEED with not only meets the energy code for new construction (as a renovation), but it should far exceed it as well. Here in GA all of these certifications can be listed on FMLS if our homeowner decides to sell the house. Since green houses could be listed on FMLS, realtors have noticed that they sell for more and sell faster as well. That is the reason to get a green certification!