Galleries

Assorted rainwater harvesting images gallery

Collaborating with rainwater’s potential…

Rainhead screen image gallery

Good and bad examples of downspout inlet screens…

Lancaster residence image gallery

How we’re harvesting, cycling, and playing with multiple, free, on-site waters and what they grow…

Drought-deciduous plants before and after the rain

Drought-deciduous plants have adapted to drop many or all of their leaves in dry seasons and/or drought to conserve water. Then revive with a quick, vibrant growth of leaves upon arrival of the rains, followed by flowers.Thus they can be an inspiration for us to similarly conserve in times of scarcity, then celebrate/share in times of abundance. They show us the seasons.

Street-side water harvesting image gallery

Utilizing street runoff to grow and enhance life along the street…

In-street water-harvesting traffic-calming image gallery

Utilizing street runoff to grow and enhance life within the street…

Ancient Passive-Solar Design

These photographs were taken at various ancient sites on the summer and winter solstices to illustrate these cultures’ wise use of passive-solar design and practice of solar rights.

Modern Passive-Solar Design of Willow Bend Environmental Center

This is one of my favorite buildings because of how well—and how simply—it has been designed in relationship with the sun’s seasonally changing path in the sky. I’ve always found it to be very comfortable inside without any mechanical heating or cooling. The photos were taken at noon on the summer and winter solstice to illustrate how well the sun is harvested in winter, and shade is harvested in summer.

Sun- and Shade-Harvesting Mirror

These images illustrate how a mirror on hinges on the interior of my garottage’s west wall carries out multiple functions: letting us direct the winter sun where we want it, protecting books from sun bleaching, and doubling the view through the window in the adjoining south wall’s door, all while avoiding the unwanted heat gain that would result from a window installed facing the hot afternoon sun in the west. These photos were all taken within one minute of each other on a late morning in winter.

Sun- and Shade-Harvesting Cisterns

How rainwater cisterns can be placed to harvest the warmth and light of sun in cool/cold times, while harvesting cooling shade in hot times…

Passive-Solar Retrofit to Enlarge Winter-Sun-Facing Window

These images illustrate a simple retrofit on an existing building to enhance its free passive-solar performance.

Passive-Solar Ventilation Retrofit: Interior Transom Windows

These images illustrate a simple retrofit of an interior wall within an existing building. The installation of transom windows enhances the free harvest of daylight, while improving free cross-ventilation from cooling summer breezes or the heat from a wood stove in winter.