Presentation at TN ASLA Conference

Last week, the New Norris House made an appearance at the TN Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects Annual Conference in Nashville, TN. The presentation was geared toward landscape architects, and focused on our landscape design and water harvesting and treatment systems.

We began with an overview of the original town plan, including the greenbelt that protects the community's watershed and the network of walking paths that link individual homes to the town center.

We then looked at the original Norris cottages and landscapes and discussed how we could re-interpret the efficient, technologically advanced homes and the productive, functional landscapes of the original Norris plan into 21st Century standards.

  

I showed the planting plan, and how we reflected the towns water-guarding greenbelt with our own site-scale native grass meadow, which is designed to capture and infiltrate storm water sheet flow.

 

We then looked at the locations and functions of our integrated rainwater harvesting and treatment and greywater treatment systems.

Now that we have a year's worth of data on the water systems, I explained what we are learning. Our data shows that we have been able to reuse about 1,990 gallons of greywater for landscape irrigation per month. Over the course of the previous year, we were able to infiltrate almost 24,000 gallons of greywater into the groundwater table, keeping that water out of a waste-water treatment facility. We are also monitoring the infiltration rates of our greywater. In the graph below the red, green, and dark blue lines represent data from pressure sensors located in the greywater bed. The spikes show an increase in atmospheric pressure, which indicates water entering the bed. Each spike represents an influx of water into the bed, so we are most likely seeing showers and loads of laundry here.

We also looked at data on the rainwater quality and quantity. Our monthly pre- and post-treatment rainwater samples are showing that our treatment system is able to produce water that is safe for human contact per EPA human health criteria.

In terms of rain water quantity, we have been able to provide over 800 gallons of treated rain water for use on the home each month. That's almost 10,000 gallons a year! However, due to the size of our cistern and weather and use patterns, we are only using about 40% of the rain water that falls on our roof in the home. The other 60% (about 15,000 gallons) is used for vegetable garden irrigation or is infiltrated into our terraced rain gardens.

With our low-flow water fixtures and rainwater supply, we have been able to reduce the New Norris House potable water consumption by 68.5%. If all of the approximately 700 homes in Norris were able to reduce their municipal water demand by New Norris House standards, we could save over 25million gallons of water a year. That's 34 Olympic-sized pools!

One question asked after the presentation was what I thought was the biggest lesson learned from our data analysis. I think that what we are learning about the successful infiltration in the greywater bed is most interesting. Due to our clay soils and location on a slope, I am very pleased to see how well this bed is performing. Also, the greywater bed is one of the least expensive landscape features we designed, so it could be easily reproduced on other properties. Way to go, greywater bed!

DIY Network features the New Norris House!

The New Norris House is featured on the DIY Network as part of a series on space-saving, sustainable design! Check it out!

Photo credit: Jason Kisner / diynetwork.com

Residency Year Two

It's hard to believe but August 2012 marked our one year anniversary of occupancy at the New Norris House! The upcoming year of residency and evaluation has just begun, and I'm excited to serve as the 2012-2013 resident. My name is Valerie Friedmann, and I have been part of the New Norris House team since the spring of 2010. I am a graduate of the University of Tennessee Graduate Landscape Architecture Program, and I am now teaching design studio in the UTK MLA program. My role at the New Norris House has mainly been in the design and implementation of the home's landscape and integrated water harvesting/reuse systems. During the evaluation phase, my role is to oversee the monitoring and evaluation of the water systems, monitor and maintain the landscape, and of course, blog about it!

Hey, that's me collecting some water to take to the lab!

For my first post as the new resident, I wanted to write about what I'm enjoying most since moving in. To me, seeing the native grass and perennial meadow take shape over the past few weeks has been astounding. Late summer is always beautiful in East TN, as the fields and roadsides turn golden and red and purple. Our design intent at the NNH was to bring the charm of a field left to meadow into our residential landscape. Aside from beautiful early fall color and texture, our meadow provides habitat and sops up stormwater runoff.

Broomsedge and Rudbeckia blooms

The late summer texture and color of Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) complement the colors of the home

As the meadow grows, the plinth is starting to feel like an outdoor "room"

Swale in May, just after plugging with grasses...

...and after 4 months

For more info on the techniques used to establish our native grass and perennial meadow see the previous post Meadow Planting Day and landscape photos.

On September 13 we gave a presentation of our first-year's data analysis to the City of Norris Recycling Commission. Look for next week's post for details on how much energy and water we saved last year!

Reflections

It’s hard to believe that our year of living in the New Norris House is over. During our time there, it was a bit like living in a lab; our energy and water usage were monitored, and we tested the design and systems installed in the house. Although we’ve moved out, there are several things we grew to appreciate while living there that will stay with us.

Natural light 
We loved the natural light that filled the house during daylight hours. The roller shades over all the windows block direct sunlight and help keep the house cool, but don’t block the light entirely like blinds or curtains would. Even on cloudy days, the skylight in the living area let in enough light so we didn’t need to turn on the kitchen or loft lights until dusk. The skylight and kitchen window are two features in the house I miss the most.

the windows, skylight, french doors all let in plenty of light (source)

Design
Initially, we weren’t sure how scaling down to 768 square feet would work—would we be able to fit our things in the house, and would it feel too small? We discovered that although the footprint of a living space may be smaller, it can be more functional than a larger space because of its design. The house’s layout provided small private areas (bedroom and bathroom) with a large open living space where most of our time was spent (the kitchen and swing space). The house has ample storage, with cabinets in all rooms and bookshelves in the swing space and loft. While the loft space didn’t make the footprint of the house seem larger, it provided a separate area for relaxation.

a small footprint of great design (source)

Rainwater use
The rainwater cistern and filtration/purification system was explained to us when we first moved in; rainwater is collected from the roof into a cistern, then purified and used in the house for washing clothes and filling the toilet tank. I was a bit skeptical about how well the purified rainwater would work in the washer, but it did the job just as well as fresh water. The washer water had a leaf-like smell to it, but was noticeable only when opening the washer door to transfer items to the dryer. After being in the house for a few months, I found myself looking forward to rain, knowing it would keep the cistern full and provide water inside. Before living in the house, I hadn’t given any thought to repurposing rainwater; the firsthand experience of being able to reuse water has made me more mindful about how much fresh water I use daily.

rainwater on the back porch railing (source)

After moving into the house, we were asked if we thought our quality of life would be affected by living in a smaller and energy efficient space. Living in the house affected us positively, with design and systems we wouldn’t have experienced otherwise. Much like the original residents of Norris who were introduced to electricity in their homes 75 years ago, we had the opportunity to experience the latest in energy efficient and sustainable systems, in the same community where electricity came to Tennessee. While the house looks a bit different than the first Norris cottages and the use of electricity has expanded to support computers and telecommuting, the experience we had there was educational, helping inform us about design and energy choices we can make wherever we might live in the future.

Greywater Monitoring Update

As part of our water system evaluation, monitoring efforts have recently been expanded to include a greywater (water from the bathroom sink, shower, and clothes washer) component. Here we will not be monitoring quality (as we are with rainwater), but rather soil saturation of the greywater bed. To state regulators, this is a primary concern. Discharged greywater must stay below the surface level, and this is what we seek to gain further insight about.

The greywater beds function by layering gravel, mulch, and soil around a perforated 5-gallon reservoir (bucket). As greywater enters the bucket, it is allowed to slowly saturate the sourounding bed. We have designed the bed to hold over 150 gallons of greywater.

Greywater bed (top, in green) accepts all greywater from the home. A section through the bed itself (below) provides details about how the bed is built up from the subsoil.

What we are interested to learn is how quickly the bed saturates and how quickly it will drain into the subsoil. 

This is where our friends in Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science come in. Working with Dr. John Buchanan we have recently installed a sophisticated monitoring system and have begun analysis of the data. The monitoring system consists of two components: 

1. Piezometers: Slotted PVC pipe cored 2' into the beds and surrounded with filter sand. Inside of the piezometer is a pressure sensor, which will tell us the water level as it moves up and down within the bed. 

2. A new datalogger: The system is wired to a datalogger that automatically logs water levels within the bed every 2 minutes. 

Initial Analysis:

As you can see from the graph below, the water level within the beds fluctuates quite a bit between the 3 testing locations. 

NOTES

-The values to the left indicate water level. Currently, the graph is displaying an electrical signal being output by the pressure transducer. This still needs to be analyzed and interepted to determine actual water level.

-To that same effect, each port needs to be adjusted for the physical elevation of each installed pressure transducer. They are at roughly equal levels, but this will certainly affect the numbers we receive. 

-Port #1 (dark blue line) see hardly any greywater at all (as it is on the upslope of the bed). 

-Port #3 (green line) shows a water level increase directly correlated to input (bucket- red line), but the space between the two lines clearly shows there is more saturation potential.

-Rainfall (light blue) indicates a possible relationship to the saturation within the bed, but not as much as initially suspected. This will need more data (and more consistent weather). 

More to come soon! Thanks for reading!

Heat wave

The past week in Norris has been sizzling hot, along with many areas of the country that have been experiencing excessive heat and drought-like conditions. We’ve had heat advisories almost every day for the past four days; temperatures have been in the low 100s, and humidity has hovered around 30% during the hottest time of the day. According to Norris Dam TVA rain gauge data, June has received only 1.9” of rain; typical rainfall is around 4” to 5” in June. (Click here for UT’s Climate Data resource page where you can explore links to weather information.)

hot temperatures and hot peppers from the garden

The heat and lack of rain have had an impact on some of the trees and shrubs that were planted last fall. The dogwood and witch hazel trees, along with the hydrangeas, are exhibiting signs of distress—signs that I didn’t pick up on, but can now see (thank you to Valerie for pointing them out). They’re getting extra water until temperatures reach normal levels again.  

witch hazel and hydrangeas

The meadow that was planted in May is holding up well. Some areas (like the sloped sections in the backyard) were a bit drier before the heat wave started, so I was already watering them. The rest of the meadow plants will be watered every few days for the next couple weeks. 

meadow in backyard (with Emmet chairs courtesy of Room & Board, and fire pit)

The garden soil is dry, but that hasn’t slowed the garden plants down at all. The tomatoes, peppers, and chard are healthy and producing quite a bit. Carrots are big enough to be pulled, there are several eggplants that will be ready soon, and zucchini plants are blossoming. Unfortunately, the cauliflower was overtaken by bugs that ate through all the leaves, so I had to pull those out. I’m guessing that the organically rich soil has made a difference in the garden; without such good soil, perhaps the garden wouldn’t be faring so well during the heat. 

eggplant

zucchini plant in bloom

abundance of tomatoes

The good news is there’s a 30% chance of thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Even if it only rains for a short time, it will bring relief to the dry earth and help replenish the cistern as well.

Turkeys and deer and snakes—oh my!

Not long after moving to Norris, we were driving around town and saw a rafter (or gang, if you prefer) of wild turkeys walking through a field. As a newcomer to the area, I did a double take—were we really seeing turkeys?? I’ve seen them again on several occasions and while it doesn’t come as much of a surprise anymore, it’s fun to spot them and their distinctive walk.

Norris is home to all kinds of wildlife; the city and the Norris Watershed area are considered a wildlife sanctuary (see map). An aerial view of the city shows how much green space there is throughout the town; this remnant of early city design provides space for animal habitats to coexist with the people who live here. We’ve noticed at the house that as the grasses are filling in and the garden is growing, there are more butterflies, dragonflies, and bees in the backyard.

many trees and green spaces in the city of Norris

In addition to the wild turkeys, we’ve seen deer, rabbits, squirrels, opossums, raccoons, hawks, bats, snakes, and vultures. We’ve smelled skunks, and have heard frogs, crickets, cicadas, and many songbirds. This is only a small sampling of area wildlife; the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Watchable Wildlife Information site has links to different wildlife types, wildlife programs, species lists, and publications.

eastern bluebird (source)

The trees around the house are full of birds that start their singing early in the morning and continue until the evening. The time of day could be tracked by the singing and chirping of the birds alone. The early hours are bursting with song, midday is a quieter yet constant chatter, and late afternoon the cawing of crows almost drowns out anything else. From the kitchen window, I’ve seen Eastern bluebirds (they have the most brilliant blue coloring), cardinals, blue jays, robins, hawks, crows, house finches, pileated woodpeckers, sparrows, and wrens. This list is short since it’s limited to the birds I can identify; there are many more species in the area.

hawk with snake, seen from kitchen window

The Norris Dam recreation area is close by and a good spot for watching birds or wildlife. Because the Clinch River flows through here, different types of birds and wildlife live in the area; you might see herons, ducks, kingfishers, trout, and turtles. The 2.5 mile Songbird Trail follows the river, and is a good place for an easy and peaceful walk close to many birds. We’ve always enjoyed the trail on the walks we’ve taken there; it’s a bonus to have a protected area like it practically in our backyard.

Sponsor Spotlight: Room and Board

We've been looking for the perfect chairs to make the gravel plinth more inviting, and we finally found them! 

Thanks to our gracious sponsors at Room and Board, we are getting two Emmet Lounge Chairs! These chairs are made in America by Loll Designs. The chairs are 100 percent recycled high-density plastic, making them a perfect fit for the sustainable goals we strive for at the New Norris House. Check back soon for pictures of the chairs in use!

For more than 30 years, Room & Board has focused on the simple idea that good design should be beautiful, affordable and long-lasting. We work closely with American artisans to offer furniture and accessories-even custom pieces-that fit the needs of modern life. We're proud that more than 90 percent of the products we sell are handcrafted in the U.S. to give customers the best combination of quality and price. www.roomandboard.com

How does your garden grow?

The garden was planted a little over a month ago, and I’m amazed at how fast things have grown. Since this is the first garden I’ve ever had, I don’t have a point of reference for plant growth patterns; I suppose they’re growing at typical rates that just seem fast to me.

The arugula is ready for harvesting, so last week we had a peppery arugula salad with pear, prosciutto, goat cheese, olive oil, and honey. It was great to be able to pick a few dollars worth of produce that started out from a $2.00 seed packet.

The red cabbage and cauliflower leaves are as big as my hand; they’re in the front of the first box. Carrots and rainbow chard, also in the first box, will probably be ready in two to three weeks.

There are five tomato plants, and one has about six tomatoes growing on it. The others are starting to bud and should be bearing fruit soon. One of my favorite scents is a tomato plant (or a tomato fresh off the vine); I find myself lingering by the tomatoes when I water the garden, and will rub one of the leaves to help release the scent.

I’m excited about the fennel. A single organic bulb is around $4.00 at the grocery store, so growing it in the garden saves money. The fronds look like a miniature forest right now.

The cucumber plants are flowering, and one of the pepper plants has flowers and the start of a promised mammoth jalapeno, according to the plant name tag.

The zinnias are getting taller, and are even more vibrant than ever.

I use a watering can and water from the cistern at the bottom of the raised beds to water the plants. Reusing rainwater in the garden means less fresh water is used outside (as long as the cistern contains water; the hose has been used as backup a couple times). I’ve come to enjoy being outside watering and tending to the garden--it’s calming and has made me pay attention to the soil, the progress of plant growth and the condition of leaves/vegetables, and insects that inhabit the raised beds. It's a whole new ecosystem to learn about and explore!

Meadow Planting Day and landscape photos

This weekend we planted the first half of our native grass meadow. The plan goes like this: 1) to suppress weeds, spread cardboard and staple to the ground with landscape staples 2) mark the plant locations on 2' centers 3) dig, dig, dig 4) plant, water and wait.

This is a slightly experimental meadow project. We are in a residential area, so the typical preparation of burning the plot of land to be planted with meadow grass seeds was out of the question. We will keep you posted on the (hopeful) success of this project!

Digging through the cardboard. It rained that morning which helped make the cardboard easier to cut through.

We are planting the meadow on the steeper parts of the site to help control erosion.

The volunteers are making great progress installing River Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) in the shadier parts of the site. Isn't the cabbage getting big?

River Oats planted along the shady plinth edge.

Before leaving for the day we made sure to water everything, including the vegetable garden we planted a few weeks ago. Phil is using harvested rainwater to fill up the watering can.

The tomatoes in the raised vegetable beds are doing great.

The plants in the greywater bed are HUGE and it is only May. I think they must be happy.

Thank you so much to all the volunteers that came out to help this weekend! We planted over 400 plants and couldn't have done it with out you!