[Greenbuilding] hotwater heat recovery

[Laren Corie]

From: "Richard Garbary" <richard6 at gmail.com>

> What's the downside of extracting every BTU of stored
> greywater in the bathtub:
 
> . excessive moisture

Hi Richard;

vJust cover the surface of the water with a plastic membrane.
You know! like the material for the liner that many of us already
have hanging in our bathtubs, that we call a "show curtain" Such
a plastic sheet can just hang on the curtain rod, or enclosure
towel rack, when not in use. 

> . mold and mildew

Not if you use the cover, that I mentioned above.

> . soap scum buildup

This is simply not true. There is no more soap scum
after the water cools, than there was before. Either
time, you need to rinse it off, as you drain the tub.
It take the same amount of work either time.

> . odors

Not if you use the cover, that I mentioned above.

> . unsanitary environment

Running out of thing to write, hey?
Just use the cover, that I mentioned above.

> . excessive use of cleaning agents,

No way.  It take just clean water to rinse, just like
if you are washing it away with all that valuable heat,
like you suggest.

> water,

It uses the identical amount of water

 time,

It uses the identical amount of time

> and energy cleaning the tub

It is the identical amount of work, either way

> more often.

The tub only need to be cleaned once per bath
no matter when you drain it.  

> . feeling like your living in the dark ages

That is your phychological issue, and
not a problem with being energy efficient.
 
> I think drainwater heat recovery is the better solution.

It simply does not work for a bathtub, except maybe
to warm the rinse water, while you rinse the soap
scum off the tub.  But, that can be done with cold 
water. A drain recovery system only works when
the water is running, and the water does not run
when the tub is being drained, so it is useless,
for a tub.

-Laren Corie-
Natural Solar Building Design Since 1975
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www.ThermalAttic.com

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