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Latest News
AccuRATE V1.1.3.0
The latest version of 2nd Gen BTP
Assessment tools has been released.
DoP agree to a new Pilot to
commence early February 2007.
BASIX (DIY)
Review
ABSA instrumental in securing DoP
DIY Sustainability Tool - DoP Review...not independent but a starting point
Visit the ABSA Site for further
details.
DIY found to lower the standard of
Residential Building BTP in NSW - varies between 200% to 400% below Simulation
Method when compared with NatHERS and far more variation expected to AccuRATE.
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ESD Rain WaterAustralia is described
as the driest continent on this planet.
That suggests that
this land area is poorly resourced with naturally occurring water sources;
be they artesian (below ground), stationary or flowing (ground level
streams, dams, lakes) or airborne (rain).
Most streams in the region
flow seasonally only, ground water bodies are subject to high evaporation
rates in summer, and rain falls predominantly over a short winter season
only.
In this situation, capture, retention and potability of naturally
occurring waters is a high priority in development and settlement decision
making for remote locations.
Parts of NSW encompass a substantial portion of
the plains which in geological times were covered with ocean. The soil's
high salinity content thereby contaminates both below ground and on-ground
water sources.
Rain water becomes a desirable source of unpolluted waters; however air
pollutants and pollutants on run-off surfaces particularly in urban areas
further contaminate this water source. Low rainfall levels in the region
becomes one of the natural land capacity limits where in the past
development of greater density now depends on importation of waters from
elsewhere.
Major watershed diversion schemes and pipeline distribution
have been undertaken in the past to make large portions of the region
habitable.
In addition to their energy and recurrent maintenance
demands, there is doubt about the sustainability of this approach to land
settlement in the long term.
Already large areas of irrigation abutting
rivers has increased held salinity levels; and areas cleared for grazing
abutting riparian zones of some streams have become salt logged and unusable.
Abutting urban areas waste and stormwater pollutant
discharge has measurable detrimental effects on swamp and ocean areas.
Environmentally Sustainable ProjectsLimit the use of land to within occupancy
levels where local resources, particularly water supply, will
suffice. This includes allowing for poor rainfall periods, drawing on
on-ground and in-ground sources only to the extent where replenishment
from local good season rains is then possible.
Water use strategies within developments become integral
in such
regional development philosophy, in particular low water use appliances,
waste water treatment and re-use, and disposal of waters to avoid land
damage.
This particularly includes development design to avoid changes to
in-ground water flows (underground courses), avoid concentrations of
stormwater flows and nutrients and contaminants in waste
waters.
Development creates roof and pavement areas where previously
natural soil absorption dissipated water flows. Concentrations from such
hard surfaces need to be dealt with to avoid damage to land
elsewhere.
Conventional stormwater systems usually pipe such drainage long distances from collection points in concentrated and high flow speed
form.
Environmental projects therefore consider water in categories
including:-
- potable waters - from unpolluted collecting surfaces or where basic
treatment including UV filter suffices
- stored waters - from mains or on-ground sources where carbon filter
restores potability
- stormwater - from trafficked surfaces, where treatment even with
carbon filter may not restore potability
- grey waters - waste waters from bathroom, kitchen, laundry where
grease trap and biological treatment achieves standards suitable for
garden watering
- black waters - septic waste waters unsuitable for human contact and
requiring disposal segregated.
With seasonal water
generation, rain water too becomes a stored water, though usually in
covered tanks limiting contamination by salinity or pollutants; although tannin
from Australian native vegetation retained on collection surfaces
can colour and taint taste.
Development practice therefore includes:-
- screens to gutters
- maintenance obligations to clear collection surfaces
- 'first rain' diversion piping and syphon delivery piping diversion
and cleaning pipes
- filters
Sizing water storage is limited by available rainfall and roof area.
Some calculations allow for top up by out of seasonal rain thereby
reducing storage volume required. This approach doesn't allow for
storing opportunity water from higher than average seasons against use in
drought conditions.
Rain water systems will include mixtures of
delivery/storage/ supply infrastructure complete with gravity feed and
pumped sections. These need to be matched to other development features as:-
- There is limited size to DC electrical motor pumps suitable to
operate from renewable energy systems without inverter
- various appliances have varied pressure requirements
- while
pressure hot water services will operate at low pressure (<20psi)
some low flow shower heads (particularly with aerating heads) require
high pressures (>60psi) - a compromise between delivery pressure
and water saving can be made (removing some of the water flow restrictors
in such a showerhead).
- water saving strategies includes the use of pressure balancing tap
systems, dual plumbing to allow connection by separate rain water and
bore water supplies
- waste water
treatment and re-use is described on the separate page.
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