Products For The Green Contractor

Staff Report - Photos courtesy of manufacturers

As the ''green'' trend continues its upward climb, opportunities for the savvy landscape contractor are everywhere. From water saving irrigation technology to pavers that return water back to the earth, the greening of the green industry is a booming growth industry.

What exactly is the green industry? This category means different things to different people. In a nutshell, a product or process that can be considered green is one in which the end result means less water is used, less energy is used, or less or less-toxic chemicals are used.

Another aspect is products that capture or divert water to be used later under control, rather than taking that water from municipal water providers and/or letting water drain down the sewer system. An example of this would be rainwater capture systems, collection ponds, or pervious hardscape that allows water to reenter the water table.

As part of the Green Issue, LC/DBM has assembled examples of the products contractors need when building a ''green project.'' While not a comprehensive list, the groups do represent the big categories contractors will most likely be involved with.

Reclaiming Water With Permeable Hardscape

Permeable paving encompasses a range of materials that allow water to seep down into the ground (a process traditional impervious materials like concrete do not allow.) Although some porous paving materials appear nearly indistinguishable from nonporous materials, their environmental effects are qualitatively different. Whether pervious concrete, porous asphalt, paving stones or bricks, all these pervious materials allow water to percolate and infiltrate through areas that would traditionally be impervious to the soil below.

Pavestone Company - The Eco-Venetian Stone?EUR??,,????'?????????????? by The Pavestone Company combines modular square and rectangle shapes with an attractive cleft surface for a non-industrial looking treatment.

Xeripave???????(R)???? - Xeripave???????(R)???? Super Pervious (SP) Pavers offer traditional hardscape and landscape benefits with pervious attributes. These pervious pavers have more than a 35-percent void capacity allowing a flow-through rate of more than one gallon per second per square foot. They are composed of natural aggregates, bonded together with a high-strength, clear polymer.

Nicolock Paving Stones - Eco-Ridge pavers combine the look of natural stone with the function of a permeable pavement. Eco-Ridge has a profiled surface texture with Paver-Shield?EUR??,,????'?????????????? surface protection. Offered by Nicolock Paving Stones.

Perma Turf - These porous pavers offered by Perma Turf, Inc. are a 4-sided interlocking panel designed to provide wall-to-wall ground reinforcement. They offer natural drainage for fire lanes, driveways, parking lots and more.

Permeable paving surfaces have been demonstrated as effective in managing run-off, which can lead to erosion. Also, permeable hardscapes give adjacent trees the rooting space they need to grow to full size, as it admits vital air and water to the roots. Also, permeable hardscape can be part of a water harvesting system.

Presto Products Company - Presto Geosystems' porous pavements include the GEOPAVE???????(R)???? system, a structure designed to contain aggregate infill. Ideal for frequent traffic areas. These are offered by the Presto Products Company.

Boddingtons, Inc. - BodPave???????(R)???? 85 porous paving grids allow natural grass or gravel surfaces, while offering heavy-weight stabilization. The cellular grids allow full natural rainwater infiltration. These are offered by Boddingtons, Inc.

Soil Retention - DRIVABLE GRASS???????(R)???? is a permeable, flexible and plantable concrete pavement system that offers a simple and reliable solution to storm water management through bio-filtration, infiltration, and storage, while not loosing valuable site area. These are offered by Soil Retention.

Quick facts - the contractor can cite when specifying permeable hardscape.
1. Lower the water bill (as more water reaches the root zone)
2. Feeds the owner's landscape automatically (by returning water to the water table)
3. Can mitigate erosion issues

Smart Irrigation Controllers

What is a smart controller? Smart Controllers are controllers that automatically update the watering schedule to water needs that change throughout the year. The controller will automatically reduce the watering times as the weather gets cooler and less water is needed, and vise versa.

DIG Corporation - The LEIT (pronounced ''light'') Control Systems are powered by a unique, energy management system that collects ambient light and then stores this energy in internal super-capacitors. This exclusive, innovative design allows for the controllers to be installed almost anywhere with no direct sunlight, AC power, or external solar panels required. Models available from 4 - 28 stations with remote capability.

Irritrol - three components: A wireless transmitting weather sensor for installation outdoors, a receiver module to attach to the Irritrol controller and an SD card with the 40-year, historical weather information by zip code. The system monitors weather data, transmits them to the module then alters the controller's program based on the weather. As for compatibility, the Climate Logic weather system works with the Irritrol Rain Dial???????(R)????-R, Total Control???????(R)????-R, KwikDial???????(R)???? and new generation MC-E ''blue'' commercial controllers.

EasyPro Pond Products - The HermitCrab?EUR??,,????'?????????????? by ETwater?EUR??,,????'?????????????? plugs into the remote port on most conventional controllers, converting them to powerful ETwater Smart Irrigation. Via the HermitCrab unit's wireless modem, the controller receives a weather-adjusted schedule to eliminate overwatering. Remote management with a computer or smartphone means savings in labor and better customer service. A typical HermitCrab retrofit has a payback of less than one year. The HermitCrab is SWAT listed and eligible for rebates in many areas. And thanks to compatibility with most controller brands, including Hunter, Irritrol, Rain Bird and others, you can efficiently manage various controller brands at multiple sites - all with the award-winning ETwater Manager system.

There are different methods used to determine how much to reduce the watering time. Some controllers may allow for use of more than one method. Here's a list of the common methods used by smart controllers to determine the watering time:

Historical - Uses historical weather and water-use data for the area to determine what amount of water is required.

Historical With A Sensor - Uses historical data to determine an initial reduction in watering time, but then further adjusts the time based on a sensor.

Off-Site Data - Uses water and/or weather data provided by a remote provider. The controller uses a radio, Internet, or phone connection to obtain the data from either a central data provider, or from a local weather station.

Weather Station - This controller has its own weather station that is installed with it. It uses real-time data from the weather station to adjust the watering times.

Moisture Sensor - Moisture sensors are placed under the irrigation system to measure the actual amount of moisture in the soil. The irrigation time is based on the amount of moisture present.

What Kind Of Results Can One Expect?

According to the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation, the City of Bend, Oregon conducted a WaterWise Program Smart Controller Study that found that the average water savings were 41 percent, with a range of savings from 2- to 86 percent for the individual sites. It included installation of weather-based controllers at 29 city-owned and partner-owned commercial sites.

Quick facts - the contractor can cite when specifying a smart controller.
1. Assures that plants are getting the water they need, no more, no less
2. Lower the water bill
3. Is automatic

Water Harvesting

In its broadest sense, rainwater harvesting is the capture and storing of rainwater for reuse. The most common harvesting method is to capture rainwater from rooftops and drain it to a storage unit via gravity. Water collected from the ground from areas especially prepared for this purpose, is classified as storm water harvesting.

EasyPro Pond Products - These systems capture and store rainwater for later use in irrigation or water feature replenishment. Available in four standard sizes, or custom sizes, the systems come with pump, pump vault, res-cubes, liner, underlayment and a controller. These are offered by EasyPro Pond Products.

EcoRain Systems, Inc. - EcoRain offer a modular underground water tank that can be inspected from one end to another underground. These are offered by EcoRain Systems, Inc.

KriStar Enterprises, Inc. - Integrated with a subsurface water storage system, the Filter-Pod Media Filter is designed for use where landscape based treatment isn't practical. Select appropriate quantity of modules to set flow capacities. These are offered by KriStar Enterprises, Inc.

Rainwater harvesting systems can be as simple as rain barrels plumbed to roof gutters, to complex underground cisterns with meters, pumps and water purification technology added.

Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. - These green roof and cool roof drains are adaptable to built-in-place design, modular tray design, pre-vegetated mat system design, and/or cool roof design applications. These are offered by Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.

Atlantis Water Management - Atlantis Water Management manufactures myriad products for green building design, including rainwater recycling, green roof, rain garden and living wall construction.

How Green Is It?

In parts of India, rainwater harvesting was made compulsory for every building to avoid ground water depletion. It proved excellent results within five years. Since the implementation, Chennai experienced a 50 percent rise in water level in five years and the water quality significantly improved.

When speaking with potential clients, here are a few numbers that can be cited in regards to rainwater capture; One inch of rain on one square foot of roof area produces 0.52 gallons of water (One millimeter of rain on one square meter of roof area produces one liter of water)

Loomis Tank Centers - Loomis Tank Centers offer rain harvesting and irrigation tanks from 40 factory direct locations and over 80 distributors. The company offers nationwide delivery.

Rainwater Collection Solutions - Rainwater Collection Solutions offers their Original Rainwater Pillow. This rainwater harvesting system is designed to be stored in horizontal wasted space. They offer custom pillow sizes up to 200,000 gallons.

The total amount of water that can be collected from a roof depends on two things:
1. The annual rainfall in the home's area.
2. The size of the roof (the area measured as the horizontal plane under the roof including overhangs).

The collection efficiency of a roof is based on factors such as evaporation loss from prevailing winds, tree cover, type of roofing, and the sizing of the pipes for storm events, etc. Well-designed systems can capture 75-85 percent of the total rainfall.

Quick facts - the contractor can cite when specifying rainwater harvesting systems:
1. Lower the water bill
2. Captured rainwater is not subject to irrigation ordinances
3. Can mitigate erosion issues