Smart Rainwater Guttering  

TreeHugger has a post up about a new design for roof guttering that is optimised for the capture of rainwater into rainwater tanks. Given the need to conserve water here (especially with water prices increasing and water restrictions in place in most major cities), household rainwater tanks (like these) have become quite popular - a lot of states (such as NSW and WA even have rebate schemes to encourage the purchase of them. Some areas are even looking at mandating that they be included in new housing developments.

Our recent Eco-Tips on saving water has readers reaching for their personal best and there were some beauties. With Australia currently in the grip of what is being termed ‘a hundred year drought’ such discussions are now everyday conversation. It has focused attention, like never before, on household rainwater tanks.

Smartflo have developed an innovative form of guttering to direct rainwater to tanks. As this blueprint image indicates, the gutter in profile has an integral cover, which is specifically curved to allow wind to blow leaves clear of the gutter. This has two immediate benefits. It eliminates 94% of debris and pollutants from rainwater. And it reduces the accumulation of leaf matter, which is a major cause of combustion in the advent of a bushfire.