Outdoors - Water management and treatment
Although we have lots of fresh water in Minnesota, it is not limitless and is closely tied with energy.
When rain falls on a solid, non permeable, surface, it runs off, typically into the street and sewer.
As it does this, it picks up pollutants and debris. This then runs through our sewer systems and water treatment plants.
Alternatively, if fewer surfaces are non permeable, that water can soak into the soil. As it does, plants filter the water naturally. Saving energy, keeping pollutants out of our streams and rivers, and, the plants like it!
Thanks to some great information, and help from Rice Creek Watershed District, we became aware of a program in which we can install strategically placed curb cuts to allow water from the street to flow through the 'curb cut', into a rain garden and then back to the street.
The rain garden is designed to take in that water, and let it soak into the ground over time.
Rain gardens are planted with plants that will help absorb that water and filter it naturally.
If there is too much water for the rain garden to handle, such as a heavy storm, the excess water will overflow the capacity of the rain garden and return to the street (where it would have remained if we had not had the rain garden).
Combined use of permeable surfaces, careful sloping of non permeable surfaces, rain gardens and curb cuts, and we treat all the rain that falls on our lot, as well as some of the water from the street and filter it naturally.
When rain falls on a solid, non permeable, surface, it runs off, typically into the street and sewer.
As it does this, it picks up pollutants and debris. This then runs through our sewer systems and water treatment plants.
Alternatively, if fewer surfaces are non permeable, that water can soak into the soil. As it does, plants filter the water naturally. Saving energy, keeping pollutants out of our streams and rivers, and, the plants like it!
Thanks to some great information, and help from Rice Creek Watershed District, we became aware of a program in which we can install strategically placed curb cuts to allow water from the street to flow through the 'curb cut', into a rain garden and then back to the street.
The rain garden is designed to take in that water, and let it soak into the ground over time.
Rain gardens are planted with plants that will help absorb that water and filter it naturally.
If there is too much water for the rain garden to handle, such as a heavy storm, the excess water will overflow the capacity of the rain garden and return to the street (where it would have remained if we had not had the rain garden).
Combined use of permeable surfaces, careful sloping of non permeable surfaces, rain gardens and curb cuts, and we treat all the rain that falls on our lot, as well as some of the water from the street and filter it naturally.
Outdoors - Water conservation
Of course, the rain doesn't always fall when we want it to (sometimes it seems as if it never falls when we want it to!).
Our yard is being designed to require little, to no irrigation from us (once the new plants are established).
Southview Design is helping us design landscaping that will require no more than normal rainfall, and perhaps a little bit of irrigation from our rain barrels in the driest weather.
Any guesses as to what is the thirstiest part of the typical yard?? If you guessed grass, or turf, you would be right!
We are going to have a bit of grass in our landscape. The grass is called "Tall Fescue" and I have been using it for a couple years where I live now. I have not, once it was established, watered it in two years.
Besides using this drought tolerant grass, most of the yard will be Xeriscape. Very little water will be required by this landscape once the new plants have become established.
Our yard is being designed to require little, to no irrigation from us (once the new plants are established).
Southview Design is helping us design landscaping that will require no more than normal rainfall, and perhaps a little bit of irrigation from our rain barrels in the driest weather.
Any guesses as to what is the thirstiest part of the typical yard?? If you guessed grass, or turf, you would be right!
We are going to have a bit of grass in our landscape. The grass is called "Tall Fescue" and I have been using it for a couple years where I live now. I have not, once it was established, watered it in two years.
Besides using this drought tolerant grass, most of the yard will be Xeriscape. Very little water will be required by this landscape once the new plants have become established.
Indoors
Speaking of heating water, this is one aspect of the house I am very much looking forward to.
For our domestic hot water, we are planning on a system that uses geothermal energy.
More details on that coming soon!
Inside the house, we make extensive use of low flow faucets.
By using less water per minute, a hot shower uses less energy as not as much water needs to be heated.
This is most useful at faucets such as showers, vanity sinks and such.
At other faucets, such as a kitchen faucet, low flow faucets are not so useful as typically you are looking to fill a pot or glass of water. You use the same amount of water, the low flow faucet would just make that take longer.
For our domestic hot water, we are planning on a system that uses geothermal energy.
More details on that coming soon!
Inside the house, we make extensive use of low flow faucets.
By using less water per minute, a hot shower uses less energy as not as much water needs to be heated.
This is most useful at faucets such as showers, vanity sinks and such.
At other faucets, such as a kitchen faucet, low flow faucets are not so useful as typically you are looking to fill a pot or glass of water. You use the same amount of water, the low flow faucet would just make that take longer.