Waterscan has unveiled the latest technology for water reuse and flood resilience. Intellistorm uniquely combines rainwater harvesting, attenuation and intelligent data gathering into one system that once deployed, it is expected to drastically reduce site water consumption and discharge to drain. The technology enables a site to maximise water reuse
There is more pressure on today’s building technology and innovation than ever before: with climate change being forever the hot topic, there’s no doubt that the design and construction sector has had to make an extra effort to stay ahead of the trends and developments within the ever-changing industry. With
Nationwide Building Society suggested at the beginning of the year that the housing markets were beginning to move however the Registered Institute of Chartered Surveyors appeared not to agree with this stating that in fact the slowdown in the markets was showing no signs of improvement. Again, said Tom Roberts
Waterscan has unveiled the latest technology for water reuse and flood resilience. Intellistorm uniquely combines rainwater harvesting, attenuation and intelligent data gathering into one system that once deployed, it is expected to drastically reduce site water consumption and discharge to drain. The technology enables a site to maximise water reuse and reduce discharge to drain by intelligently storing and using collected rainwater for non-potable applications such as toilet flushing, irrigation, cooling systems and vehicle washing. Highly secure and customisable to control both the quality of water for discharge, and water for reuse, the possible applications for this system are extensive. “Designed to enhance flood resilience while reducing water consumption, this patented, attitude- changing technology is a major step forward in alleviating issues surrounding the widespread uptake of water reuse systems,” said Barry Millar, Operations Director at Waterscan, whose team developed the technology. “The concept was arrived at to mitigate the need for separate rainwater harvesting and attenuation systems. By combining two systems and using intelligent data, we can now offer developers considerable cost savings during construction, clients ongoing cost savings through water reuse, and wider environmental and social benefits by boosting flood resilience.” A significant flood risk in urban areas is represented by the overloading of drainage infrastructure and current sustainable urban drainage recommendations set limits on the discharge of water from developments to assist in mitigating this impact but more action is needed. Intellistorm has been designed in line with best practice sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) principles and ensures full compliance with stringent local planning and discharge requirements. It actively empties attenuation in accordance with weather forecast data, providing only sufficient space to receive incoming rainwater. Intellistorm requires no additional civil excavation or equipment footprint and it reduced the cost of integrating water reuse to a new build facility by approximately £100,000. Further savings are achieved as a result of using 40% less build materials and onsite labour costs.
There is more pressure on today’s building technology and innovation than ever before: with climate change being forever the hot topic, there’s no doubt that the design and construction sector has had to make an extra effort to stay ahead of the trends and developments within the ever-changing industry. With many existing buildings undergoing green or environmentally-friendly reconstruction, almost all new builds make considerable energy-efficient achievements. This is largely due to a combination of both client demands and strict regulations. In recent years, we’ve seen a number of highly impressive green building examples: One Angle Square in the UK makes use of rainwater harvesting and solar power; the Bamboo Skyscraper in Singapore impressed us all with its bamboo build; and BetZed, a wonderful community example of green architecture. Not only this, but there are also many people shaping cities worldwide and recording their stories while doing so, and countless communities and organisations for inspiration and assistance. Luckily, the industry is coming on in leaps and bounds. There are a number of new, cutting-edge technologies used to create products that have played a large role in this recent surge in green design: Textiles by Designtex Textile waste is gradually gaining more and more airtime – not only in terms of fashion, but construction too. The Designtex ecological fabrics are particularly well-suited to commercial use. Created with sustainable production in mind, the applied material company does a lot of interesting collaboration and partnerships that are paving the path in green design. Energy-Harvesting Wallpaper by Imperial College London A team from Imperial College London recently created an extra thin solar panel wallpaper by printing with cyanobacteria, which uses photosynthesis to create electric energy from sunlight. This astounding discovery could be used to power medical and environmental sensors. Legend Valve HyperPure Piping HyperPure is strong and resilient piping that is easy to install and, most importantly, is 100% recyclable. The potable tubes are made from bi-modal polyethylene and provide a cost-effective solution to water pipes. Best of all, they don’t leave any chemical tastes in your drinking water. SolaReflect Nippon Paint Despite the recent controversy surrounding the eco-friendly nature of specific paints, there are a number of paints serving eco-friendly purposes. SolaReflect Nippon Paint plays a very important role in how a building deals with the build-up of heat. Although this may not be a pressing problem in the UK, in places like Asia, it can certainly be. SolaReflect diverts infrared heat and therefore encourages savings on cooling energy costs. 3D Printing A non-profit organisation called ICON is responsible for one of the latest and most ground-breaking developments in design and construction. By using 3D printing, the team aims to create affordable housing for the 1 billion plus homeless people in the world. The houses can reportedly be built in just 24 hours and ICON hopes to build them for less than $4,000. Spray-On Solar Cells With solar power and other renewable energy sources, the world can cut off the rising demand for electricity from traditional fuel sources. The continuous research on making solar power more affordable will pay off with cleaner air and environment for everyone. One of the ways to make solar energy more affordable is by adopting spray-on solar cells, which use the thin film deposition technique. According to Renewable Energy World, a “British company aims to have a thin-film perovskite solar cell commercially available by the end of 2018.” A perovskite is a type of solar cell that can be mixed into liquid solutions and can be applied to a number of surfaces. Spray-on solar cells have nanoparticles that are excellent for absorbing light and conducting electricity. Phosphorus and zinc make up these nanoparticles, wherein manufacturers combine them into a liquid. The liquid is then sprayed on solar cells. This technology is more cost-effective because it doesn’t use expensive silicone. Instead, spray-on solar cells are made of a plastic compound. Also, the installation is quicker than their traditional counterparts. Other thin film deposition methods are available to create innovative green buildings. You may learn more about thin film deposition for solar panels in this article by Korvus Technology. Conclusion Because of advancing green building technologies, it’s now possible to create residential and commercial infrastructures that generate less carbon. When everyone embraces these innovations, the positive environmental impacts are enormous. It’s time to rethink how property owners and contractors build modern houses and buildings by adopting the above green building technologies.
Nationwide Building Society suggested at the beginning of the year that the housing markets were beginning to move however the Registered Institute of Chartered Surveyors appeared not to agree with this stating that in fact the slowdown in the markets was showing no signs of improvement. Again, said Tom Roberts of FJP Investment, on the flip side Land Registry figures show that registrations of properties seemed to be on the increase again, as Tom Roberts says all of these reports differ and you chose to believe what you will, the media of course will have its own agenda. The simple fact remains there are just as not enough properties being built for the current housing shortage, of course this is not a new situation, we discuss it constantly, but do we try to change it – one wonders. Tom Roberts of FJP Investment says he believes action should be taken, miracles don’t happen overnight, however the government, whilst talking of taking this seriously and doing something about it, quite frankly they are doing nothing at the present time. So, what next you may well ask? It is quite simple to the layman, we build more houses, instead of debating the issues the government needs to implement action now ensuring the situation does not get worse than it already is. Of course we all have different needs and the importance here is that houses are built in areas where people want to live, such as areas that have good transport links, areas where there is employment to be had and of course in rural areas, where families want to stay within the family environment. It would seem that the brownfields versus the greenbelt areas is often debated to its end, whilst offering no solution and no development. Tom Roberts of FJP Investment suggests local councils should have a big say in how these areas can be given planning permission and maybe landowners should in some way be made to allow their land to be built on. It is such a waste that the land whether it be greenbelt or brownfield is there waiting to ease this housing crisis, yet no-one is doing anything about it, and if this is not addressed the housing crisis is simply going to get worse. Whilst the bodies concerned continue to “discuss “the ongoing crisis don’t they realise it is simply getting worse, families are suffering with the lack of available accommodation in whatever form it takes. New buyers are in a situation whereby they may have the funds in place for deposits but no properties available and not in areas which allow them to be able to travel to work whilst living in a community that they desire. Of course, as Tom Roberts of FJP Investment points out, the other problem is the council properties which were all bought under Margaret Thatcher’s government, meaning that for those who need council accommodation as they cannot afford to buy are left without the councils having any stock. Whilst this was great at the time to buy and own your own home through the councils allowing you to buy at such a reduced rate, I am afraid it has more than contributed to the situation we are in. Now, I am sure Mrs Thatcher during her days in office did not envisage that her buy your own home scheme was going to leave the country in such a mess many years on, and more importantly, showing no signs at all of improving, in fact quite the opposite, getting worse year on year. Again, it’s quite simply, free up the land, make funds available and let’s get those houses built! FJP Investment is a team of investment specialists sourcing a wide range of investment opportunities both in the UK and overseas. Products include the new release of care home investments throughout the United Kingdom.
