Pre-consumer (also called “post-industrial”) recycling refers to the reuse of industrial by-products, as distinguished from material that has been in consumer use. The iron-ore slag used to make mineral wool insulation and the fly ash used to make concrete are examples of post-industrial recycled materials. While post-consumer recycled content is preferable, a product that uses pre-consumer content or recycles a seldom-used waste product, especially in an area where recycled products are hard to find, can be considered green.
Excluded from this category, by FTC definitions, is the use of scrap within the same manufacturing process from which it was generated—material that would typically have gone back into the manufacturing process anyway.
The Rainwater HOG
The Rainwater HOG is a modular rainwater storage tank for use in tight spaces such as under decks, against houses, or even within walls.
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Stormwater runoff from the built environment, often mixed with contaminants, has a damaging effect on local and downstream ecosystems. Porous paving products and vegetated roofing systems result in less rainwater runoff and thereby reduce surface water pollution. Stormwater treatment systems reduce pollutant levels in any water that is released. Again, quantifiable benefit and a strong track record are important determinants here of “green.”
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Equipment and products that enable us to use renewable energy instead of fossil fuels and conventional electricity are highly beneficial. Examples include solar thermal systems, solar electric (photovoltaic) systems, and wind turbines. Other power generation equipment, such as fuel cells and some energy storage systems (like batteries) are included here because they help us accommodate varied energy sources so that we may eventually move beyond fossil-fuel dependence.
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All toilets and most showerheads today meet the federal water-efficiency standards, but not all of these products perform satisfactorily. With toilets and showerheads, we include products that meet or exceed WaterSense standards, which includes performance requirements—although we go beyond WaterSense where there are issues not adequately addressed by the program. We also look for other products that conserve potable water, such as rainwater catchment and graywater recovery and reuse systems.
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While resilience—the ability to weather natural disasters and maintain livable conditions in the aftermath of disruptive events—is mostly an issue of building design and community preparedness, certain products can help. For example, almost all heating systems require electricity to operate even if their primary fuel is oil, gas, or wood pellets; systems that allow operation even if grid electricity is not available are more resilient in the event of power outages. Rainwater harvesting, water storage, composting toilets, and waterless urinals contribute to resilience not only in drought-prone areas but also during power outages in any home dependent on well water. Solar water heating systems that can operate without utility power, and back-up power systems that are more energy-efficient than standard generators, may have this attribute.
The Rainwater HOG is a modular rainwater storage tank for use in tight spaces such as under decks, against houses, or even within walls. Made from food-grade virgin polyethylene, each module holds 47.6 gallons of water for use in gardening, irrigation, toilets, and laundry, or as potable water (after proper filtration). If not being installed—or likely to be adapted—for potable water, tanks can be ordered made from non-food-grade polyethylene that includes 15% recycled content. When installed within a building envelope, the tanks can serve as thermal storage for passive solar heating systems. These 71" x 19.5" x 8.5" tanks can be installed horizontally or vertically, and they can be ganged in series. They come with inlet screens, elbow vents, and overflow valves. Rainwater HOG is available as a stand-alone tank that is plumbed into the downspout or as part of a complete rainwater harvesting system called Rainwater Rescue, which combines the Rainwater HOG tank with GLI Systems’ RainTube roof-level water collector. Standard colors include bronze or olive green, but other colors are available for orders of 20 or more units. Rainwater HOG comes with a one-year guarantee.
33 10 05: Rainwater Harvesting Systems and Components
Rainwater harvesting is the practice of collecting and using rainwater, most commonly from roofs. Use of collected rainwater can provide building owners with high-quality soft water for irrigation and potable uses, reduce pressure on water-treatment plants, and reduce stormwater runoff and flooding. To use as potable water, filtration and purification are necessary.
GreenSpec includes a wide range of rainwater harvesting systems and components, including storage tanks and filtration systems for rainwater collection or treatment.
In addition to looking for products that meet your functional requirements, look for products with other environmental features such as recycled content, recyclability, and other materials-related benefits. Many rainwater products are formulated with performance in mind, and don't include recycled content, but GreenSpec hopes that will change and we will highlight such products in the future.
LEED Credits
MRc4: Recycled Content
SSc6: Stormwater Quantity Control
SSc6.1: Stormwater Design—Quantity Control
WEc1: Water Efficient Landscaping
WEc1: Water Use Reduction
WEc1.1-1.2: Water Efficient Landscaping
WEc3: Water Use Reduction
WEc3: Water Efficient Landscaping
WEc3.1-3.2: Water Use Reduction
WEp1: Water Use Reduction—20% Reduction
WEp1: Minimum Indoor Plumbing Fixture and Fitting Efficiency
WEp1: Water Use Reduction
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Manufacturer Information
Rainwater HOG
402 Redwood Ave.
Corte Madera, CA
Toll-Free: 888-700-1096
www.rainwaterhog.com
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