STORAGE/ HARVEST

APENDIX

Timber frame construction has traditionally proven a popular choice for people interested in sustainable building for a variety of reasons, not least because of its ability to reduce environmental impacts compared with traditional concrete-based construction: less embodied energy, a lighter carbon footprint and, in its prefabricated forms, arguably less waste on

site.

In Britain, timber frame manufacturing has doubled since the turn of the century, with industry turnover up 10% from 2007. Experts predict that the method will continue to grow in popularity in England and Wales, catching up on the 75% market share it currently enjoys in Scotland.

Ensuring breath-ability is crucial in a timber frame construction. Most build-ups become more breathable, i.e. more vapour open, towards the outside of the construction.

So, an airtightness and vapour control layer toward the inside and a more open breather membrane towards the outside of the build up, allows vapour and any moisture absorbed during the building phase to diffuse out of the construction.

Bio-based Renewable Materials

Materials are renewable, Locally sourced, durable, and carbon sequestering. Bio-based Renewable Materials

Materials are renewable, Locally sourced, durable, and carbon sequestering.

Passive Environmental Systems

Architectural design optimizes passive systems to reduce the units operational energy demands for energy, heating, and cooling Passive Environmental Systems

Architectural design optimizes passive systems to reduce the units operational energy demands for energy, heating, and cooling

Prefabrication and Shipping

Prefabricated wall panels can be set in place by hand, creating a readily assembled, high performance building envelope Prefabrication and Shipping

Prefabricated wall panels can be set in place by hand, creating a readily assembled, high performance building envelope

Windows

Prefabricated wall panels can be set in place by hand, creating a readily assembled, high performance building envelope Windows Prefabricated wall panels can be set in place by hand, creating a readily assembled, high performance building envelope

https://passivehouseplus.ie/magazine/guides/the-ph-guide-to-structural-timber One of the biggest selling points of timber frame construction amid growing environmental awareness and the demand for sustainable methods of building is that it is low-carbon – as long as the forests from which the timber comes are well-managed and replanted.

Timber frame can help to reduce the embodied energy of construction, for a couple of reasons: timber products tend to be less energy intensive to manufacture than steel or concrete, and the material itself acts as a carbon sink.

RAINWATER HARVESTING

Rainwater harvesting is also used in the building with grey water capture and use. The building uses an NC 15 UGWT tank supplied by Titan Pollution Control, with a working capacity of 15,000 litres.

Before fine-tuning your rainwater collection system for your tiny house, you will need to first crunch some numbers to determine exactly how much water your home is capable of harvesting.

The determining formula will need to be done monthly as rainfall amounts vary: catchment area (square feet) x rainfall depth (inches) x 0.623 conversion factor = harvested water (gallons).

Typical water consumption amounts in a tiny home measuring 8 feet by 24 feet would use 15 gallons of water/day, requiring four inches of rainfall/month.

The roof and gutters are going to be the main source of catching water. A 40 foot by 25 foot roof will divert close to 600 gallons of water per hour, with an inch of rainfall. If you have two downspouts off of your roof, you could easily collect 300 gallons of water from each.