Introducing The Waterfall House
Prelude
Introduction
Q: Is a waterfall house possible?
1. Is it physically possible?
2. Is it economical?
A: Yes.
The escalating global energy crisis, and resulting climate crisis, is a problem worth solving. My preference would be nuclear fusion; however, the scientists have told me it is many years away. In fact, it may not ever be possible on Earth. It just seemed crazy to me that we could not use that giant nuclear fusion plant we call the Sun.
What if I designed and engineered a living environment that:
1) was fun to live in
2) overcame some of the negative impacts of global warming
3) helped create a positive impact against further climate change
In general, what if my living environment was healthy for humans, as well as, contributed to Earth’s sustainability.
A vision came to me:
Recycle rain water and wasted “gray” water to irrigate my roof.
The Original Idea
1. A perforated hose is strung along part of a black asphalt shingled roofline. On sunny / hot days water trickles down over the roof.
2. An existing gutter is used to collect water. A hose with a special fitting over the end (funnel and filter combination) is placed either inside the spout or outside its bottom. When it rains, the system fills with water. Once the system has filled, excess water runs off through the existing drainage.
3. On days when the system is in use, a solid black hose carries the water around the existing water heater. The hose is wrapped around the heater like an insulating blanket.
4. A holding tank(s) stores the water.
5. A pump starts the flow of the water.
Summary:
Evaporation cools the house. The hot water is used for heating. A more sophisticated design would capture the by-product, steam, and convert it to stored energy.
Detail For Water Tower
A five gallon bucket sits on top of the roof. A feeder hose brings in water to store in the five gallon bucket. As water is needed, it is released through a bleeder or sprinkler hose.
Five Gallon Bucket Watertower
Detail For Pumping Station
A large trash can is used as a safety net. Inside the safety container is a 5 gallon bucket filled with a pump and water. When the 5 gallon bucket fills with water, it pumps it to the water tower. The water released from the water tower is then recycled back through the pumping station.
Pumping Station to Pour Water Over the Roof (or Against the Exterior Walls)
The Dream Sketch
The Original Vision of the H2O Fusion Climate Control System
When it rains, additional water is collected through the rain spouts and stored in rainbarrels for use on hot, sunny days.
The On-going Experiment
About Waterfall Homes and Aqua Living
Cooling System Formulas
Economics Of Alternative Energy Consumption