Picture Courtesy of US Department of Energy

Civil Solutions Group is northern Utah’s leader in Renewable Energy Planning.  Renewable energy can be defined as producing replenishing electricity through natural sources and methods from which there is minimal environmental impact.  Energy produced by solar, wind, and water are considered renewable sources.  You have probably seen large wind farms in the desert and hydro-electric dams in the canyons, but did you know that renewable energy may be a viable option for your home?

Solar energy is the most widely available renewable energy source.  Solar energy captures the sun’s power and harnesses it into useable energy for your home through solar panels.  Solar panels are typically installed on roof tops with a solar aspect that maximizes the suns path through the day.  Solar panels are also installed in open yard areas on poles which track the sun’s rays throughout the day.

Ninety percent of solar panel installations are grid tie configurations, meaning that the home has a power source other than the solar panels.  Grid tie solar systems allow homeowners to offset power consumption with the power generated through the solar panels.  Most electrical companies (including Rocky Mountain) permit “net metering” with grid tied applications, which means that any power generated through solar panel systems is credited in behalf of the owner (thus minimizing the monthly bills).  A solar system could also be tied to a battery offering an even greater level of comfort allowing for continued power consumption in times of power outage or creating independent power of the grid.  According to the US Department of Energy photovoltaic panels when connected can create between 10 to 300 daily watts.

Hydroelectric energy is produced by harnessing the energy in flowing water.  Properties that have a flowing perennial stream or river have the potential to create hydroelectric energy.  Because streams and rivers flow 24 hours a day, 7 days a week the potential to create energy and the return on investment is very high.  With as little as 3-feet of elevation drop and a constant water source, the hydroelectric system could produce thousands of watts per day.  Civil Solutions Group has completed the design, planning, and management of grid tie and off the grid hydroelectric systems in northern Utah.

Renewable energy systems are eligible for Federal and State of Utah tax credits.  Solar, Wind and Hydroelectric systems are eligible to receive 25 percent of the project cost as a State of Utah tax credit ($2,000 limit).  Solar and Wind systems are eligible to receive 30 percent of the project cost as a Federal tax credit with no limit to the amount of the credit.  The State of Utah tax credit may be carried forward for four years and the Federal tax credit can be carried forward for one year.  Tax incentives are also available for commercial and business projects.

Renewable energy systems are important to reducing our energy footprint and play an essential role in the solution for improving our air quality.  The majority of residential properties have the potential for a renewable energy system.  Civil Solutions Group offers consulting and planning services to match the correct system for each unique homeowner’s needs.

Danny Macfarlane, P.E.

Civil Solutions Group

www.civilsolutionsgroup.net

danny@civilsolutionsgroup.net

435.213.3762

While the sunshine or snowy view from your window may change hour by hour we are certain that the process of spring is under way.  To kick off spring we’re pleased to share a recent Deseret News guest article on Garden Rooms written by our Landscape Architect – Jake Young.  You can read the article here or at this link on Deseret News.  We have added more pictures to this posting.

This week, we invited Jake Young to be guest columnist to discuss possibilities to be explored and developed in your own outside living spaces. If we keep talking about spring, maybe it will finally come.

Perhaps there is not a more enchanting place than a mid-summer botanical garden full of color, natural fragrance and vegetation. You can bring this same beauty to your back yard by applying some of the same design principles used in your home to create a garden room or an exterior gathering place.

The garden room can serve as a place for outdoor entertaining, a space for growing delicious fruits and vegetables or a sanctuary busy with humming birds or bees spreading pollen. If created and maintained properly, the garden room can be the treasure of any residential landscape.

What makes a garden room different than a conventional garden found in most typical residential landscapes? A conventional garden is often located in the back, low in priority and only visited while planting, weeding or harvesting. Conventional gardens are for utilitarian purposes only; while the harvest they grow can be enjoyed, their spaces often are not.If created and maintained properly, a garden room can be a treasure of any landscape.

Garden rooms are designed with a vision of people, plants, and space intermingling in beauty and harmony. Garden rooms have edges, borders, alignment, pathways and specific entrances. They range in size and scale, depending on space and land availability.

Rooms can be large and rambling over an acre of space or compact and cozy, with size more similar to a room at home. Regardless of size, a beautiful and tranquil space designed for both people and plants can be created.

The location of the garden is a key to its success. Common vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and beans need at least eight hours of direct sunlight, and leafy greens require four to six hours. Another variable to consider in the location equation is what the main function of the space will be.

Will it be primarily for entertaining or used as a place to retreat to with a book and a hammock?

The further the garden room is placed from the home, the more likely it will be a tranquil getaway. Conversely, a garden room nearer your house will create a natural flow of movement to outdoor dining and entertaining. Another advantage of placing the garden near your indoor or outdoor kitchen is to make access to harvesting fruits and vegetables very convenient.

Morinda Gardens - Provo UT - Photo by Jake Young

A garden room’s entrance welcomes visitors into the magic. An ornamental trellis or gate with a flowering vine is a popular entrance feature. Even the material under your feet can define the entrance, such as a change from grass to a band of brick pavers or stone. There are many great options for a magical and welcoming garden entrance.

For a home garden room, creating a unique and natural experience is critical, and part of that experience is the journey to and from the space.

James van Sweden said, “By creating layers of experience, these tangible and intangible screens deepen the garden’s effect, even if the total space is actually small. Such screens also endow the garden with an exciting sense of mystery; you can’t help wondering what is beyond that wall, trellis, hedge or fence and what you’d find at the end of that path disappearing around the corner.”

The most common medium for separating spaces is hedges, but other options may include masonry walls, fences or trellis structures. The height of your hedge or wall will depend on the level of privacy desired for each space. When choosing your wall type and height, consider the availability of direct sunlight for needy vegetables. You may want to grow leafy vegetables on the north-facing sides and regular sun vegetables on the south facing sides of the garden room.

A garden room uses the elements of comfort and atmosphere to draw people in. Plenty of comfortable seating is a necessity.

One method for creating functional seating is building raised planter beds into benches by placing seat boards on top. Raised planter beds can be made from wood, stone or composite plastic materials such as Trex. A comfortable seating height is 16-21 inches high. Carefully placing benches, chairs and small tables can also add to the comfort of the space.

Creating a unique atmosphere may involve blending vegetables of choice with flowering annuals, vines and unique specimen plants. An ornamental flowering tree or a small fruit tree makes a fantastic focal point. The early bloom of many flowering trees brings a seasonal highlight and fragrance to the garden.

Morinda Gardens - Provo UT - Photo by Jake Young

Combining many different plant types creates a sense of wonder and a break from ordinary life.

The centerpiece of the garden room could be a water fountain or a masonry fire ring. Small details such as bird houses, bird baths and feeders can keep the garden busy with activity. Garden rooms are great places to display sculpture. When the garden is laid out properly, the rows of flowering plants will enhance the artistic experience.

While the main purpose of a garden room is to create a place to relax, explore and entertain in your own landscape, it will also add value by enhancing the emotional draw to your property. Who knows, your next dreamy escape could be in your own backyard.

Jake Young is a Landscape Architect with Civil Solutions Group.

Rainwater Harvesting by Jake Young

Ben Franklin said “when the well is dry, we learn the worth of water” (Richard’s Almanac, 173).

Source: Rodger Pickett

Rainwater harvesting is like our water management system in Utah.  Essentially precipitation comes mostly as snow, which is held as snowpack.  In the spring much of the runoff in many of our watersheds flows to mountain reservoirs where it is stored and later used in a controlled manner.  Rainwater harvesting follows this same pattern of storing water and using it later as needed.  While 2010-2011 winter snowpack is near an all time high the last one hundred year water history in Utah shows that drought conditions will repeatedly affect our climate and water supply every few years (see Palmer Drought Index Chart for Utah).

Do you know the average annual precipitation for your city?  This may help: Richmond 19.05”, Logan (USU) 17.70”, Brigham City 17.64”,  Ogden 17.12”, Bountiful 23.44”, Salt Lake City (downtown) 17.64”, Salt Lake City (zoo) 22.86”, Draper (point of mt.) 15.82”, and Spanish Fork 19.14.  On average a Utah landscape needs about 30” of  water a year, so you’re probably thinking you just need an extra 12-15 inches of rain, not true.  Much of the precipitation comes during the months plants need it the least ( late fall, winter and early spring).  As the Utah population continues to grow water will become even more scarce.

Rainwater harvesting has a long history dating back to ancient Native Americans.  Recent technologies and innovative methods have made it a viable solution in many situations.

In 2010 the Utah Legislation passed a new bill legally permitting the collection of rainwater on private properties (both owner occupied or leased).  The first step is to register with the Utah State Division of Water Rights.

Image Source: RainSaverUSA.com

The bill allows for two types of rainwater harvesting.  Above ground you may have (2) containers with the maximum size of 100 gallons each on-site.  The typical practice is placing a rain barrel at the base of a down spout.  Rain barrels typically come in sizes of 40 gallons to 100 + gallons and cost in the range of $80 to $200.  With rain barrels you want to make sure the water entering the container is filtered (to remove leaves and sediment), has a safe overflow option or path, and contains a tap at the base to easily attach a garden hose for distribution.

The second method is for underground storage and the law permits up to 2,500 gallons in one container.  The most common below ground containers may include fiberglass, polyethylene (plastic), galvanized metal, or constructed concrete vaults.  Fiberglass must be sited on a very smooth surface and is light weight.  Polyethylene is one of the commonly used and readily available.  Metal has a high risk rusting and losing waterproofing capabilities over time.  Constructed concrete vaults are commonly used, but as always concrete is susceptible to cracking and leaking.  The pros to concrete includes its ability to serve as a retaining wall, support above ground parking or walks, and can be designed into any size or shape.

Before purchasing a container it’s important to determine the appropriate size for your project.  There are two major

Image Source: Eco Home Magazine

factors when deciding on the right size they include 1) water supply and 2) planting needs or demand.  First to determine the supply you need times the area of runoff or impervious surface by the surface coefficient (asphalt, concrete, grass and etc) and then you look at the monthly rainfall intervals for your area.  Besides knowing how much water you can expect to receive on a given 1 inch storm you will want to look at the average monthly rain schedule for your area.  This will help you plan for and manage your water needs throughout the year.  The second important factor is understanding your landscape’s water requirements.  To do this you take the evapo-transpiration rate (ET) times the plant factor (drought tolerance) times the planting area times 0.623.  The evapo-transpiration rate is “an estimate of the water lost when a plant transpires or “sweats” through its leaves plus the water evaporated from the soil surface”.  These important steps help you know exactly your water needs for your area and specific plant types.

Once you have calculated the water supply potential and the landscape water needs, you will be able size the rainfall storage container.  It is important to understand that rarely is a storage container sufficient for irrigating your landscape throughout the growing season, most likely you will need to connect to a supplemental sprinkler system either potable or non-potable.  Most rainwater harvesting systems connect to irrigation systems anyway.

When developing a rainwater harvesting system to filter the rainwater correctly and sufficiently before entering your storage container.  Rainwater can be filtered mechanical through metal screens, biologically through bio-swales or wetland type plantings or through UV screening.  Once the water is collected, screened and stored in the container it is ready for distribution.  This is best done using a pump in the container or vault.  The water will be pumped from the container into your irrigation system.

Everyone knows that water is important, but often we forget that it is a fluctuating resource with a fixed potential.  In the future our water usage habitats for homes and landscapes will have to adapt to conservation in order to accommodate population growth.  Just like using mountains and reservoirs for storing water it is important we consider alternatives such as water harvesting and rain gardens.  Please feel free to contact Civil Solutions Group with any questions or needs you have.

Jake Young, ASLA

Landscape Architect

Civil Solutions Group

American Society of Civil Engineers, Logan City Renewable Energy Board, Bridgerland Applied Technology School Energy Conservation Seminar and Utah State University Engineering School have invited Danny Macfarlane to provide a presentation about his experience with hydroelectric energy design and planning.  All four presentations occurred during the past five months.  The presentation focused primarily on the recent planning, design, and installation of a 4 kW hydroelectric facility in Smithfield Canyon.  A copy of the presentation can be made available upon request.

The Herald Journal highlighted Civil Solutions Group’s efforts in designing and managing the installation of a 4 KW micro hydroelectric project in Cache Valley, Utah.  The article appeared in the paper on Thursday June 17, 2010.  Please read the article a the following link…The Herald Journal News.

Civil Solutions Group is licensed as a professional corporation to practice Civil Engineering in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming.  The owner Danny Macfarlane is licensed to practice Civil Engineering in all three states and most recently received his license to practice in the State of Idaho.

Civil Solutions Group will be holding a drawing for two tickets to the July 31st REAL Salt Lake vs. DC United soccer game.  The game will also feature a firework show at the conclusion of the game.  All those interested in the tickets please submit your contact information below for a chance to win the tickets.  The drawing will take place on July 23rd at which time the winner will be announced.

Part of Civil Solutions Group’s commitment to being the Leader in Sustainable Engineering and Planning is offering a full pallet of planning tools.  One such tool is wetland delineation consultation.  Civil Solutions Group has the necessary training and experience to complete wetland delineations for a variety of properties and situations.  Civil Solutions Group is listed as an approved Wetland Consultant with the Army Corps of Engineers.  Civil Solutions Group views wetland delineations as an opportunity to accurately define the boundaries of wetlands within a property to allow for proper planning of a given property.

The process of delineating a wetland and coordinating the effort with the Army Corps of Engineers does not have to be a painful process.  The Army Corps of Engineers has outlined a process to delineate wetlands, which requires that a site have three characteristics to determine the area as a wetland: hydrology, wetland plant types, and hydric soils.  These three criteria must be present to accurately determine if an area is a wetland.

Civil Solutions Group embraces the wetland delineation process as a necessary step in the proper planning of a property.  It is recommended that property owners contact a wetland consultant in the preliminary planning stages of a property to adequately address wetland issues.  It is also recommended that prospective buyers contact a wetland consultant prior to purchasing land to identify possible wetlands on the subject property.  As the Leader in Sustainable Engineering and Planning Civil Solutions Group is prepared to assist property owners with all their wetland consulting needs.

During the past few months Civil Solutions Group has been administering the contract negotiations and completing the contract procurement process for the owner of the Micro Hydroelectric project located in Smithfield Canyon, Utah.  An earlier post on the Solutions Blog described the details of the 4 Kilowatt Micro Hydroelectric project that was designed by Civil Solutions Group.  During the last two weeks Birch Creek Landscape and Excavation has been completing the pipe and excavation portion of the project according to the direction of Civil Solutions Group.  This work includes roughly 500 feet of 24″ PVC PIP pipe, a concrete vault, valves, steel wyes, and a concrete diversion wall placed in the stream.  The concrete diversion wall was installed with a stainless steel diversion screen capable of diverting 4,000 gallons per minute through the micro hydroelectric system.  The following pictures illustrate the construction progress to this point:

Concrete Diversion and Stainless Steel Screen

Installation of Concrete Vault and 24" PVC Pipe

Installation of 24" Pipe

The Solutions Blog on the website of Civil Solutions Group was recently recognized as one of the “Top 50 Engineering Blogs” according to Blogineering.  The article can be found at http://onlineengineeringprograms.org/2010/top-50-engineering-blogs/.