Research : Sustainable Systems

Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting is collect rain water from roof and saves underground . Order to do sustainable my project I am planning to add this system to roofs and reuse rain water for washing machines  (%15 ) , toilets (%35)  for the plants (%5)  on the structure . I decided to use this system to get advantages from United Kingdom Leicester rainy climate .

Regarding to my research about Leicester climate is oceanic and has rainy winters (www.climatestotravel.com, n.d.)  and wetter season lasts 8.6 months (weatherspark.com, n.d.) so this  climate is fulfil the do rainwater harvesting .

The advantages of the rainwater harvesting are reduce water bills , prevent flooding acts as Sustainable Urban Drainage system . (What is Rainwater Harvesting?, n.d.)

Because my blocks going to be five floors I decided to use indirect system (Gravity or Boosted)  .This system has two tanks for save to water small one located high places in the building and work as a backup tanker and while system works because of the gravity water come from small tanks made pressure to pipes and it will not require  power  than direct system (Rainharvesting Systems, n.d.). Each system costs around 2.300 to 4.000 Pounds in United Kingdom (Rainwater Harvesting, n.d.) .

Solar Panels

Solar energy is free and renewable  solar panels might be cost high but it is durable  has long lifespan 25-40 year usage and it is good choice for  long term investment  energy source for the project (M. Pearce, 2023) .

Solar panels can work winter and cloudy weathers however efficiency lower than sunny days . Leicester 1455 sunny hours per year (www.climatestotravel.com, n.d.) . According to Energy Saving Trust report when simulate the one of the block 3,750 kWh energy generate with solar panels (Energy Saving Trust, 2024) . I am going to use solar panels on the roof . I t will be cost 7.100 Pounds per block however the with the cost of energy savings panels can be paid themselves after 10 years .

Whole report can be accessed here . 

Wire System

 I am going to use stainless stells ropes for the green walls on the façade and main purpures e to use this system supports and allow  plant to growth ,easy to install and durable . Main reason for me to use this system on façade not only for design plants reduce the noise and they are greening the urban areas, providing cleaner air . This system suitable for my project sustainability purpose, durability, cost- effective and also can be shaped for any kind of design .

References :

Rain harvesting System 

Rainharvesting Systems. (n.d.). What is Rainwater Harvesting. [online] Available at: https://rainharvesting.co.uk/what-is-rainwater-harvesting/.

Rainwater Harvesting. (n.d.). Rainwater Systems Archives - Page 2 of 4. [online] Available at: https://www.rainwaterharvesting.co.uk/product-category/rainwater-systems/page/2/ [Accessed 26 Feb. 2024].

weatherspark.com. (n.d.). Leicester Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (United Kingdom) - Weather Spark. [online] Available at: https://weatherspark.com/y/41802/Average-Weather-in-Leicester-United-Kingdom-Year-Round.

What is Rainwater Harvesting? (n.d.). Available at: https://www.rainwaterharvesting.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/rainwater-harvesting-information.pdf.

www.climatestotravel.com. (n.d.). Leicester climate: average weather, temperature, precipitation, best time. [online] Available at: https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/england/leicester.

Solar Panels 

Energy Saving Trust (2024). Home | Solar Panel Calculator. [online] pvfitcalculator.energysavingtrust.org.uk. Available at: https://pvfitcalculator.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Results/SolarResults [Accessed 5 Mar. 2024].

M. Pearce, J. (2023). Solar panels - 10 things you need to know | GreenMatch. [online] Greenmatch.co.uk. Available at: https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/solar-energy/solar-panels/solar-panel-facts.

www.climatestotravel.com. (n.d.). Leicester climate: average weather, temperature, precipitation, best time. [online] Available at: https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/england/leicester [Accessed 5 Mar. 2024].

Unsplash (2021). Photo by Jeroen van de Water on Unsplash. [online] unsplash.com. Available at: https://unsplash.com/photos/black-and-white-solar-panels-aQOzmgcT6sI [Accessed 5 Mar. 2024].

Wire System

ArchDaily. (n.d.). Green Facades from Jakob. [online] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/catalog/us/products/12673/green-facades-jakob?ad_source=neufert&ad_medium=gallery&ad_name=close-gallery.

Jakob. (n.d.). Green Walls - Jakob Green Wall Solution from MMA. [online] Available at: https://jakob.co.uk/solutions/view/green-walls/.