California Conferences

October 2011

Some upcoming California conferences on our radar:

Bioneers
22nd Annual 2011 Bioneers Conference
October 14-16, 2011
Marin Center in San Rafael, California

The Bioneers Conference is a leading source of innovative solutions. HOG plans to soak up a “solve-the-whole-problem” approach from people like feminist icon Gloria Steinem and filmmaker and environmental advocate John Liu.

Failcon
October 24, 2011
Kabuki Hotel in San Francisco, California

We all make mistakes. But how do you turn those mistakes into success? FailCon is a one-day conference for technology entrepreneurs, investors, developers and designers to study their own and others’ failures and prepare for success. 

Sailing with Sally along the West Coast’s Hwy 101

October 2011

Set Sail Along the West Coast

Sally Dominguez, HOG designer and intrepid captain of the highway, sets sail up the West Coast in her 1979 Bill Blass Lincoln Continental. Share in the gorgeous scenery (compliments of California’s unstable geology) and ensuing hi-jinks. Read more.

B.U.G. (Beautiful.Useful.Green) Design

October 2011

2011 Solar Decathlon
Maryland University’s “WaterShed”

Our in-house design guru, Sally Dominguez writes, “Even before we started making HOGS in the USA, we had our first Solar Decathlon customers when Cornell University bought HOGs for their 2007 Decathlon entry. Teams apply to the US Department of Energy with their proposals for a zero energy house. Grants are given to the top 19 entries to enable their teams to realize the designs in Washington DC. It’s a terrific initiative to demonstrate new and proven sustainable energy and water management strategies. This year’s winner, Maryland University’s “WaterShed” is near to our hearts for its comprehensive water collection and reuse strategies. See the engineering behind the “WaterShed” here.

©Amanda Silvana Coen for Inhabitat
Maryland University’s “WaterShed” wins the 2011 Solar Decathlon.

Why is it beautiful? “Inspired by the rich, complex ecosystems of the Chesapeake Bay watershed,” the architecture distills its parts into an elegantly simple language. It’s a house that delivers beautiful design with its impressive sustainability achievements.

Why is it useful? The use of vegetation to filter wastewater is terrific but nothing beats the soon-to-be-patented “liquid desiccant waterfalls for humidity control” – a brilliant piece of biomimicry.

Why is it green? Well, it’s covered with lush vegetation for a start!  The vegetation not only collects and filters the rainwater but provides thermal mass to regulate the temperatures inside the house.

Check out Sally’s blog for more BUG Designs.

Zerohouse 2.0: KB Home and HOG reduce the energy bill to zero

October 2011

ZeroHouse 2.0 from KB Home

When is zero a hero? Using photovoltaic power and solar panels, KB Home has unveiled a heroic home energy formulation that reduces a home’s energy consumption (and electricity bill) to zero.

The ZeroHouse 2.0      ©KB Home

The ZeroHouse 2.0 made its debut in Tampa, Florida. KB Home will achieve their net-zero energy goal using alternative technologies to produce more power in the home than is actually used by the homeowners. Similar models are in the works for the Texas cities of San Antonio and Austin.

The Tampa Tribune breaks down how it works.

You may remember our partnership with KB Home (and Martha Stewart) for the Builder Concept Home 2011. HOG tanks were a water-saving feature of the KB Home GreenHouse™ which debuted in Orlando, Florida in January 2011.

The ZeroHouse 2.0 continues our partnership with KB Home. HOG tanks take on double-duty in the ZeroHouse for rainwater harvesting and as an emergency water supply source.

Find out the nitty gritty on the ZeroHouse 2.0 in Builder Magazine and Fine Homebuilding.

Emergency Preparedness: Back to School with a Plan

October 2011

Edna Maguire Elementary Emergency Water Supply

“A small investment [and a] smart move,” says former elementary school emergency coordinator Ken Campbell of the choice to use one 50-gallon eHOG to shore up his school’s emergency water supply.

Edna Maguire Elementary School in Mill Valley, California (where Ken acted as emergency coordinator for five years)  teaches 338 kindergarten through fifth graders. The school has a shipping container that holds emergency supplies for the school, including first aid kits, radio communications, tents, food and water. An olive green eHOG sits near the front door of the container, holding an emergency water supply.

The eHOG holds pride of place (and 50 gallons of drinking water) at the entrance of the container.

“It’s a good measure as a secondary device,” says Ken. The eHOG is supplemented by gallon jugs of water, which provide a transportable water supply. The American Red Cross recommends one gallon of water per person per day in the case of an emergency.

Edna Maguire Elementary School keeps their emergency supplies in a shipping container.  

Other benefits of the eHOG to Edna Maguire:

• reduced environmental impact – our 50-gallon tank can be re-filled from the tap, reducing the waste of discarding expired gallon water containers.
• reusable -The eHOG can be used like a water fountain, or the kitchen sink, to re-fill water bottles that people already have.
• space-saving – The small footprint of the eHOG allows more room for remaining emergency supplies.
• increased safety – in case of a natural disaster, the eHOG will not roll (as would a barrel), ensuring the safety of any kids in the path.

The Whole HOG: October 2011

October 2011

2011 ARCSA Conference

Simon Dominguez, CEO of Rainwater HOG, is freshly returned from the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) conference in Portland, Oregon. He met with old friends (including Tom, Dean and John)….

                                  
Tom Sparga of RainSaucers            Dean of BARR Plastics (left)                                                       with John of RainHarvest Systems

…and made some new ones. We’d like to welcome our newest readers to The Whole HOG!

We received great feedback from folks at the ARCSA conference, and wanted to extend the conversation to you. What do you want to see more (or less) of in our monthly newsletter The Whole HOG? Comment to tell us what you think!

Emergency Preparedness (and Waterless Gas Heaters)

February 2011 found New Zealand reeling from a devastating earthquake in the city of Christchurch. All five of the city’s water reservoirs were damaged. Whole blocks of the city, using waterless gas heaters, were without any emergency back-up supply.

Many cities and power companies offer rebates for the more sustainable waterless gas heaters. They are almost 20% more energy efficient than traditional tank water heaters. Efficiency is a measure of heat transfer from the energy source to your hot water. For small houses and nearly all apartments, water heater tanks provide the only back-up emergency water supply. The problem is they are too bulky and inefficient to use.

Hence, to live sustainably, you need a waterless heater – and a decent back-up supply of water. The eHOG has you covered when it comes to an emergency water supply. Read on to find out how everyone from local elementary schools to one of the nation’s largest homebuilders have incorporated eHOGs into the plan.

October Newsletter

The Whole HOG Water-centric Green Design News2011 ARCSA Conference Simon Dominguez, CEO of Rainwater HOG, is freshly returned from the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) conference in Portland, Oregon. He met with old friends (including Tom, Dean and John)….                  Tom Sparga of RainSaucers        Dean of BARR Plastics (left)                                                     with John of RainHarvest Systems …and made some new ones. We’d like to welcome our newest readers to The Whole HOG! We received great feedback from folks at the ARCSA conference, and wanted to extend the conversation to you. What do you want to see more (or less) of in The Whole HOG? Click here to tell us what you think! Emergency Preparedness (and Waterless Gas Heaters) February 2011 found New Zealand reeling from a devastating earthquake in the city of Christchurch. All five of the city’s water reservoirs were damaged. Whole blocks of the city, using waterless gas heaters, were without any emergency back-up supply. Many cities and power companies offer rebates for the more sustainable waterless gas heaters. They are almost 20% more energy efficient than traditional tank water heaters. Efficiency is a measure of heat transfer from the energy source to your hot water. For small houses and nearly all apartments, water heater tanks provide the only back-up emergency water supply. The problem is they are too bulky and inefficient to use. Hence, to live sustainably, you need a waterless heater – and a decent back-up supply of water. The eHOG has you covered when it comes to an emergency water supply. Read on to find out how everyone from local elementary schools to one of the nation’s largest homebuilders have incorporated eHOGs into the plan.

Emergency Preparedness: Back to School with a Plan                  Edna Maguire Elementary Emergency Water Supply “A small investment [and a] smart move,” says former elementary school emergency coordinator Ken Campbell of the choice to use one 50-gallon eHOG to shore up his school’s emergency water supply. Edna Maguire Elementary School in Mill Valley, California (where Ken acted as emergency coordinator for five years)  teaches 338 kindergarten through fifth graders. The school has a shipping container that holds emergency supplies for the school, including first aid kits, radio communications, tents, food and water. An olive green eHOG sits near the front door of the container, holding an emergency water supply. “It’s a good measure as a secondary device,” says Ken. The eHOG is supplemented by gallon jugs of water, which provide a transportable water supply. The American Red Cross recommends one gallon of water per person per day in the case of an emergency. Other benefits of the eHOG to Edna Maguire: • reduced environmental impact – our 50-gallon tank can be re-filled from the tap, reducing the waste of discarding expired gallon water containers. • reusable -The eHOG can be used like a water fountain, or the kitchen sink, to re-fill water bottles that people already have. • space-saving – The small footprint of the eHOG allows more room for remaining emergency supplies. • increased safety – in case of a natural disaster, the eHOG will not roll (as would a barrel), ensuring the safety of any kids in the path. Edna Maguire Elementary School keeps their emergency supplies in a shipping container.The eHOG holds pride of place (and 50 gallons of drinking water) at the entrance of the container.

ZeroHouse 2.0: KB Homes and HOG reduce the  energy bill to zero                        ZeroHouse 2.0 from KB HomeWhen is zero a hero? Using photovoltaic power and solar panels, KB Home has unveiled a heroic home energy formulation that reduces a home’s energy consumption (and electricity bill) to zero. The ZeroHouse 2.0      ©KB Home The ZeroHouse 2.0 made its debut in Tampa, Florida. KB Home will achieve their net-zero energy goal using alternative technologies to produce more power in the home than is actually used by the homeowners. Similar models are in the works for the Texas cities of San Antonio and Austin. The Tampa Tribune breaks down how it works. You may remember our partnership with KB Home (and Martha Stewart) for the Builder Concept Home 2011. HOG tanks were a water-saving feature of the KB Home GreenHouse™ which debuted in Orlando, Florida in January 2011. The ZeroHouse 2.0 continues our partnership with KB Home. HOG tanks take on double-duty in the ZeroHouse for rainwater harvesting and as an emergency water supply source. Find out the nitty gritty on the ZeroHouse 2.0 in Builder Magazine andFine Homebuilding:

B.U.G. (Beautiful.Useful.Green) Design                               2011 Solar Decathlon Maryland University’s “WaterShed” Our in-house design guru, Sally Dominguez writes, “Even before we started making HOGS in the USA, we had our first Solar Decathlon customers when Cornell University bought HOGs for their 2007 Decathlon entry. Teams apply to the US Department of Energy with their proposals for a zero energy house. Grants are given to the top 19 entries to enable their teams to realize the designs in Washington DC. It’s a terrific initiative to demonstrate new and proven sustainable energy and water management strategies. This year’s winner, Maryland University’s “WaterShed” is near to our hearts for its comprehensive water collection and reuse strategies. See the engineering behind the “WaterShed” here. ©Amanda Silvana Coen for Inhabitat           Maryland University’s “WaterShed”wins the 2011 Solar Decathlon. Why is it beautiful? “Inspired by the rich, complex ecosystems of the Chesapeake Bay watershed,” the architecture distills its parts into an elegantly simple language. It’s a house that delivers beautiful design with its impressive sustainability achievements. Why is it useful? The use of vegetation to filter wastewater is terrific but nothing beats the soon-to-be-patented “liquid desiccant waterfalls for humidity control” – a brilliant piece of biomimicry. Why is it green? Well, it’s covered with lush vegetation for a start!  The vegetation not only collects and filters the rainwater but provides thermal mass to regulate the temperatures inside the house. Check out Sally’s blog for more BUG Designs. Mattie Ivy, Editor Rainwater HOG, LLC