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CISTA Rain Water Harvesting Concept A Potential DIY? |
4 Comments |
| By Michael d'Estries in Climate Change, Gardening, Green Products, Water | March 5, 2009 | ||
As we saw yesterday, there are plenty of clever ways to go about integrating your rain barrel into something a bit more in tune with nature. This beautiful new concept rain water harvester called CISTA from MOSS SUND and figlforty takes things a step further by essentially combining a vining plant and a vertical rain barrel in one. This grouping gives homes a sort of vertical garden — and its place in urban environments, where space is tight — would certainly be welcome. As Inhabitat writes,
It can collect up to 100 gallons of water at a time, creating enough water pressure to operate a soaker hose housed in a storage compartment at the base of the unit. A climbing plant like ivy is planted at the base and naturally winds its way up into the frame. The LED water-level indicator lets you know if the CISTA needs a little help, the system can be expanded both horizontally and vertically, and thanks to its nesting design it can be efficiently shipped.
What’s intriguing about this design is that it could easily also be done as a Do-It-Yourself project. Sans the LED water-monitoring, integrating a water bladder with a vetical structure conducive to vining plants might be something anyone could try. In fact, the CISTA plans for showing how all of this could come together is readily available in their PDF on the concept. I’m not saying it would be easy, but in terms of saving money, it would probably be worth it.
CISTA will be appearing next at the 2009 Green Living Show in Toronto as part of the Green-Ovations feature display from April 24 – 26 at the Direct Energy Centre.
David said,
This is a great product at a perfect place in time. Water is the next oil and we have to save it as if we will have none tomorrow. Water conservation will also be needed for this product to work. Less use of water in the home will balance out the water that has to be harvested. Products that can help would be: Low volume shower heads and low flow toilets of even dual flush retrofit toilet kits
Scott Messinger said,
I wonder if you could simply use 4″ PVC pipe as your container. It would be easy to attach to your house alongside the gutter, take up less space than a rain barrel, and should stand up to the water pressure.
Esther Lesperance said,
Love this new concept rain barrel! I’m interested in selling it on-line. Water is definitly the new oil, every home needs one of these.
Greg Hancock said,
Looks neat. We did the same kind of thing with 5 gallon buckets and strawberries.