Rainwater harvesting system using a non-parametric stochastic rainfall generator

Fulton, Lawrence V.; Bastian, Nathaniel D.; Mendez, Francis A.; Musal, R. Muzaffer

doi:10.1177/0037549713479037

Cited by 7 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The simulation provides the user the opportunity to select rainwater, well, or municipal water options. More information about RWH system design and quality is available from these resources: [5,[34][35][36]].…”

Section: Selection Of Water Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Publicly Available Cost Simulation of Sustainable Construction Options for Residential Houses

Fulton¹,

Beauvais²,

Brooks³

et al. 2020

Sustainability

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A major consideration for consumers and the residential construction industry is the cost–benefit and break-even of various sustainable construction options. This research provides a publicly available simulation that allows users to compare baseline construction options versus sustainable options and evaluates both break-even costs as well as environmental effects. This R Shiny Monte Carlo simulation uses common pseudo-random number streams for replicability and includes options for solar, rainwater harvesting, wells, Icynene foam, engineered lumber, Energy Star windows and doors, low flow fixtures, aerobic/non-aerobic/city waste treatment, electric versus gasoline vehicles, and many other options. This is the first simulation to quantify multiple sustainable construction options, associated break-even points, and environmental considerations for public use. Using user default parameters, coupled with a 100% solar solution for a baseline 3000 square foot/279 square meter house with 2 occupants results in a break-even of 9 years. Results show that many of the sustainable options are both green for the environment and green for the pocketbook.

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Section: Selection Of Water Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Publicly Available Cost Simulation of Sustainable Construction Options for Residential Houses

Fulton¹,

Beauvais²,

Brooks³

et al. 2020

Sustainability

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show abstract

“…Design of an RWH capable of meeting the needs of an entire household required simulation modeling, so that the distribution of the minimum in the cistern (order statistic) would be strictly greater than zero over all supply and demand considerations and all simulation runs. Details of the simulation are available from [5,25] . The final system selected included 4000 square feet of capture space and a 40,000 gallon cistern.…”

Section: Rainwater Harvestingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Net Zero construction may even power user transportation [4]. Rainwater harvesting removes the stress on below-ground and ground water sources for both residential and business construction (including hospitals) [5,6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Green for the Environment and Green for the Pocketbook: A Decade of Living Sustainably

Fulton¹,

Beauvais²,

Brooks³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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he question of building sustainable in a geographical locality is inexorably linked to cost. In 2011, one of the authors built a sustainable house that was (at the time) the highest certified sustainable home based on the National Association of Home Builder’s standards for sustainable construction. This Texas house has been used for residential and research purposes for the past decade. In this case study, the authors evaluate components of the construction and their effectiveness as well as unseen secondary and tertiary effects. Some of the specific components discussed are home site placement; rainwater harvesting (100% of residential requirements); aerobic septic system; grid-tied solar array power; electric car charging; geothermal heating and cooling; reclaimed wood framing; spray foam installation; selection of windows, fixtures, and appliances; on-demand electric water heaters for guest areas; generator backups; and use of local items. Electric bills and water system improvements are discussed in detail, as improvements were made as part of residential and research requirements. This case study suggests that the financial outlay is worth the extra up-front costs if residents in this geographical area and climate will occupy the residence 7 years.

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“…Rainwater harvesting systems (RWH) date back at least 4000 years [4], yet their adoption as a primary or tertiary water source is now gaining traction in the United States and other countries [5]. Several authors have explicated the methods and requirements for building domestic-use rainwater harvesting in the United States [6][7][8][9] as well as abroad [10,11]. In the United States, considerations for county-wide adoption of RWH systems have been investigated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Simulation of Rainwater Harvesting Design and Demand-Side Controls for Large Hospitals

Fulton

2018

Sustainability

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Inpatient health buildings in the United States are the most intensive users of water among large commercial buildings. Large facilities (greater than 1 million square feet) consume an average of 90 million gallons per building per year. The distribution and treatment of water imposes a significant electrical power demand, which may be the single largest energy requirement for various states. Supply and demand-side solutions are needed, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions where water is scarce. This study uses continuous simulations based on 71 years of historical data to estimate how rainwater harvesting systems and demand-side interventions (e.g., low-flow devices, xeriscaping) would offset the demand for externally-provided water sources in a semi-arid region. Simulations from time series models are used to generate alternative rainfall models to account for potential non-stationarity and volatility. Results demonstrate that hospital external water consumption might be reduced by approximately 25% using conservative assumptions and depending on the design of experiment parameters associated with rainfall capture area, building size, holding tank specifications, and conservation efforts.

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Rainwater harvesting system using a non-parametric stochastic rainfall generator

Cited by 7 publications

References 19 publications

A Publicly Available Cost Simulation of Sustainable Construction Options for Residential Houses

A Publicly Available Cost Simulation of Sustainable Construction Options for Residential Houses

Green for the Environment and Green for the Pocketbook: A Decade of Living Sustainably

A Simulation of Rainwater Harvesting Design and Demand-Side Controls for Large Hospitals

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