Group 067-06: Sustainability

Week 3 consisted mostly of looking for parts for our theoretical model. We were able to find a variety of water collection tanks, gutters, pipes, etc. For our specific building, we need to figure out which type of each component fits best. We are still deciding on which building we could best improve on. We can't decide between a flat roof vs a sloped roof. A flat roof would include a drain connected to the collection tank while, a sloped roof would include gutters that concatenate into the collection. We also figured out the construction specifications on how to hang gutters, slope the gutters for drainage, and figured out the length of gutter per downspout. 

This week we spent a majority our time researching the parts for the type of model we needed to design. Not only were the parts a factor but we also had to decide on which building to implement them onto. While choosing our building we wanted something with a large roof area to increase the amount of rainfall it was able to catch. We also began thinking of how we could filter the gray water into potable water. We decided we were going to use a large water storage bin to collect the rain water, which would be placed underground or on the ground near the roof. While researching the gutters we found it is possible to place foam like material inside the gutter to reduce sediments in the water. Another solution would be a diverter to sort the water. After a long period of time without rain, sediments will build up on the roof. This includes leaves, branches, seeds, etc. By installing a diverter it is possible to sort the sediment filled water until the...

Week one of the project, we formed our groups and started brainstorming. We began thinking about which option we would rather try to  improve. We decided to improve water efficiency of a building. In order to do so, we began brainstorming about what kind of building we could improve and in what ways. Our first ideas were focused on which specific building/type of building we are going to use to improve on. We conversed and agreed that older houses are more likely to be more inefficient. One of our first ideas to improve the water efficiency was to construct a rain water collection system. We discovered in order for the harvested water to be consumed it has to go through a purification system. Other than consumable uses the reused water can be used in toilets, gardens, outdoor hoses, etc. Other ways of improving water efficiency would be to use sink tap restrictors which can also be applied to shower heads, etc. The water efficiency in a building is also highly dependent on its user...

Philadelphia house to receive retrofit Our group has currently decided on using a single family house as the building to receive our proposed retrofit. Housing at least 4 people (4 bedrooms) with the addition of 3 baths, a lot of water is bound to get used, so we thought this building would greatly benefit from our design. This house was also built in 1868, so the appliances are probably less efficient than they could be. To approximate how much water is used, the group thought of multiplying the number of possible residents living in this house (1 per bedroom) by the average number of gallons of water used by a person a day (87). And then, that number would get multiplied by 365 for a rough estimate of yearly water usage. As shown in the photo, the house has an angled roof, so our idea of using gutters to collect rainfall is still viable. However, the house already has gutters. On the plus side for us, the gutters lead into the ground and the water ends up getting wasted...

This is the blog of group 6 in section 067 of Freshman Design Lab in the spring quarter of 2018. The theme of this section is Increasing Sustainability in the Built Environment. Our group has chosen to focus on water efficiency. The goal of this design lab is to create of retrofit for an existing building to decrease water usage by 50%. This blog will primarily serve as a track of our weekly progress with the project, but can serve as a source of information and inspiration for those seeking to increase the sustainability of water as well. Thank you for visiting our site! If you have any inquiries, feel free to contact any of our members. Our contact information is listed on the Biographies page.