The Whole HOG: May 2013

Water-centric Green Design News

“One winner for versatility and storage capacity is the Rainwater HOG…rainwater storage…that can sit flat under a deck or stand up against the side of a building.” – Tricia Edgars, Kalev.com

Rainwater HOG is a standout in The Rain Barrel, Reinvented section of Tricia Edgars’ new overview of revolutionary ways to store rainwater on Kalev.com. We’re in good company with friends like RainSaucers, the stand alone water funnel that frees water collection from the downspout.

“Young people and farmers starved for jobs – and land starved for water – were a prescription for revolution,” writes Thomas Friedman in his recent New York Times op-ed about Syria. We generally use the word ‘revolution’ much more lightly than Friedman, but we wanted to share his take on fallout from the Arab Spring in “Without Water, Revolution.”

Although our focus is on rainwater primarily for home or school use – be it greywater reuse, toilet flush, landscape irrigation, or simply watering flowers on the patio- sometimes it’s instructive to zoom out and look at water in a global context.  Water is a diminishing resource and access to water is an emerging global issue that has social, economic, and political repercussions worldwide.  Here’s Friedman again:

“This Syria disaster is like a superstorm. It’s what happens when an extreme weather event, the worst drought in Syria’s modern history, combines with a fast-growing population and a repressive and corrupt regime and unleashes extreme sectarian and religious passions, fueled by money from outside powers…” This is worth a read!

This May, we’re not holding back with news and events: Sally Dominguez to present at the Marin Home & Garden Expo, an ARCSA rainwater catchment survey,  a NY-ASLA presentation on Reimagining School Grounds; case studies: Egg Harbor City Community School brings HOGs to an edible classroom; and, last but not least, our B.U.G. Design feature: Mill Valley Green Home.

May 2013: ARCSA Survey

ARCSA surveyThe American Rainwater Catchment Association (ARCSA) is conducting the first industry-wide survey since 1992.  If you’re involved in the rainwater catchment business, we encourage you to participate.

The 2013 North American Rainwater Catchment System Survey closes May 31st. Don’t miss this chance to add your voice to a long overdue system-wide assessment!

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.