Architecture / Engineering / Construsction
Architecture / Engineering / Construsction
Architecture | Engineering | Construction
Press & Awards
Press
Net Positive Water: The Hafer Urban Frontier House
Tristian Bounds, P.E. Randy Hafer,
FAIA, LEED AP BD+C
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The Urban Frontier House near downtown Billings, Montana, is an off-grid, net positive water home that provides an excellent illustration of how energy and water efficiency can be optimized when designing sustainable homes in urban settings. Billings averages 13.7 inches (348 mm) of rain annually and has temperatures in the teens during winter months. With the minimal rainfall and cold temperatures common in this high-desert climate, designing the Urban Frontier House to be comfortable and sustainable presented many challenges.
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Nitrogen-reduction treatment systems
for long-term operations
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Tristian Bounds, P.E.
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A proper analysis of nitrogen-reduction systems is critical to finding the most effective treatment process for specific locations. Tristian Bounds of Orenco Systems illustrates how a nitrogen-reduction treatment system was evaluated for a recreational vehicle (RV) resort project in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States (US).
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The need for nitrogen-reducing wastewater treatment systems has become more common in the past few decades due to various environmental concerns, including eutrophication, oxygen depletion, and toxicity to aquatic organisms in lakes and streams. The addition of nitrogen removal to any wastewater treatment plant – new or existing – typically increases the costs of the project significantly. When evaluating suitable technologies, it is critical to properly identify processes that can not only prove the best upfront capital value but also provide the most sustainable long-term functionality.
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Responsible water recycling
Decentralized solutions for water reuse
Tristian Bounds, P.E.
Real-world decentralized water reuse strategies provide additional water supplies to increasing communities worldwide. Tristian Bounds and Jeff Pringle of Orenco Systems, Inc. and Pete Munoz of Biohabitats report on three projects in Australia and the United States that provide inspiring examples of what can be achieved.
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Increasing demands on the planet’s limited fresh water supply are a source of immediate concern. In many places, demand exceeds supply. By implementing effective treatment technologies and reuse strategies, the effects of drought and population growth on water supplies can be alleviated. Decentralized water reuse solutions can play a pivotal role in water conservation and management. Properly treating wastewater – both blackwater and greywater – at or near the point of generation relieves pressure on potable water resources and provides many other environmental and economic benefits. Decentralized systems also minimize environmental footprints, increase opportunities for public education and awareness, and provide for a more sustainable future.
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Wastewater Treatment goes Solar
Tristian Bounds, P.E.
Wastewater treatment systems powered by wind and solar go off the grid for power and sewer. Tristian Bounds, PE, of Orenco Systems Inc. explains how the system achieve the triple bottom line of sustainability.
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