Solar Thermal Heating in 2012

As we move into the new year we think about how we can start it off right. One way is to think about ways we can conserve money in regards to our utility bills. Your PG&E bill is already high and there is no end in sight for the amount it could raise. Best nip it in the bud by installing solar thermal technology in your house which will greatly reduce your dependence on PG&E by creating self sustaining energy. Check into your local city government for rebate programs on Solar and you might just be surprised with what they have to offer.

Don't forget that installing solar water in your business or home will not only increase the value, but the cost payback for investment is much better than just throwing your money in a bank savings account.

Two things you should remember in Solar Thermal technology is that there are basically two kinds:

Evacuated tubes: Newer technology, more hi-tech, rapidly improved in recent years, already dominant in most European and Asian markets. *Shown in the picture to the right.

Flat Plates: Older technology, moderately improved in the past 40 years, largely phased out in most European and Asian markets but still dominant for swimming pools, in lagging markets, including the U.S.

In the end, its all about reducing our carbon footprint to help pave the way towards a more sustainable and environmental friendly future. One of the easiest and least impact to your budget is to start with solar thermal technology today.

Check out some of our newest products by Solar Depot, distributed by US Hydrotech Environmental Solutions:

http://www.solardepot.com/

And call us about how solar thermal technology can benefit you.

Storm drain Inserts to help our communities

Contaminants flowing into the storm drain are very hazardous to the ecosystem and should be avoided and prevented as much as possible. One way to greatly reduce the amount of harmful materials that are flowing to the storm drains is to filter it and or block it completely with some of the technologies that US Hydrotech Provides. One technology that works very well with storm drain filtering applications that are not as permanent as others are the Ertec products. These are portable and reusable filtered storm drain covers that allow water to pass but catch most of the dirt and can filter down to 300 micron.

Another option is the Triton Storm Drain insert. This is a more permanent structure that is installed under the storm drain grate. It is essentially a heavy duty catch basin with a filter in the middle that allows water to flow into the basin and as it fills up, it filters the water through the filter media and then proceeds to the sewer. If the drain needs to be completely sealed off, then the Triton also comes with a cap that can easily be put into place to take the place of the filter media.

These are just a few ways to help mother nature keep her beauty for years to come and US Hydrotech can and will continue to help make that happen.

Please visit our website for more information!

Willard's Water study

One company that we are partnering with is Willard's Water. They have just completed a study titled:

New Clinical Study Shows Drinking Willard Water® Significantly Increases the Body’s Ability to Absorb Vitamins

you can see the study at http://drwillard.com/blog/

This is a very interesting study and we are glad to support a group such as this who's goals are in line with ours in improving the lives of others.

Zebra Mussels: An invasive species

There is a very invasive pest contaminating our oceans, lakes and rivers. It attaches itself to boats and then uses that as a host to infest other waters. Of course, we are talking about Zebra Mussels. This invasive mussel is a major problem because it chokes the life of other species in the water and can build up clogs in pipes and drains to restrict flow and cause even more problems. One way to help stop the spread of Zebra Mussels is to decontaminate any vessel that enters or leaves the water by spraying it down with a high pressure, high temperature (around 160 degrees) pressure washer and capturing all the wash water on a containment pad so it can be pumped to a secure holding tank and disposed of properly. US Hydrotech provides heavy duty pressure washers that are more than sufficient to meet the required temperature and pressure needed to remove these pests. We also provide the Porta-Mat. A portable wash pad system that is designed for just these purposes of keeping wash water contained and pumping it to a safe disposal area. Join US Hydrotech in the fight to take back our water from this invasive pest, because they do more bad than good!

Sonoma Vermiculture food waste recycling article

Sonoma Vermiculture is a client of ours of whom we consult to help them with their water reuse program. This article explains what they are doing to pave the way to a new form or recycling and helping the environment by working towards a more sustainable future.

http://petaluma.patch.com/articles/worms-the-way-to-a-zero-waste-future

West Nile Virus found in Petaluma article in Press Democrat

We found this article via the Press Democrat in Rohnert Park and thought it needed to be shared. An adult mosquito was tested positive in Petaluma CA for West Nile Virus. Make sure to eliminate any standing water by dumping over buckets and barrels and either pump water out of ponds or keep the water flowing.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20111026/ARTICLES/111029645/1350?Title=Mosquito-with-West-Nile-virus-found-in-Petaluma

Cleaning Gutters and Ditches

This year be prepared for the rainy season by cleaning out your gutters and ditches. When cleaning your gutters, make sure if you have a bypass for rainwater to go when not collected, that you direct all the excess from cleaning the gutters down that bypass instead of into your rainwater collection tank. While you are up there, inspect your gutters for clogs in the drain area, cracks in the gutter and fix any leaf guards that might have been damaged over the season. This will ensure that you have easy flow of rainwater and less contaminants going to your rainwater tank.

Cleaning ditches can be very dirty work, but its necessary to prevent mosquitoes and yellow jackets from flourishing in stagnant water, overflow from slow flow rate, and erosion from blockage of water.

Simple measures can be taken in order to have an easy clean flowing winter.

Changing filters

One of the most important things a person can do to stay healthy is to change their water filters on a regular basis, its surprising how often people forget to do this simple task.

Filters build up microbes and bacteria over long periods of time and can clog up systems to shorten the life span of the total system and if you don't change those filters, its sometimes worse than having no filter at all. Simply writing the date on your filter and changing it on time will help save the life of the filter, your water system and you.

Pressure Washers

It's time to start thinking economically and environmentally friendly about how you use your wash water, and how much is wasted. The reality of how much water you use to wash one car will amaze and even shock you...

If you used a good pressure washer (Mi-t-m pressure washer pictured here) you can expect to use 30 to 60 gallons of water at 4 to 5 gallons per minute to wash one car. A low flow hose nozzle uses 45 to 90 gallons of water and a standard garden hose with no nozzle uses 100 + gallons of water per car! As you can see, a pressure washer makes a world of difference. Your pocketbook and your backyard will thank you for it.

Erosion Control

Erosion Control...Yes its almost that time of year again. US Hydrotech has plenty of technologies that deal directly with erosion control such as Ertec ProWattle shown in the picture here at a well known winery in Sonoma County. ProWattle provides the same benefits of a traditional straw wattle but with the added benefits of being able to pick it up, clean it off and use it again. Ertec ProWattle is not just a erosion control fence, its also has filter media built into the technology that allows maximum filtration where other traditional straw wattles fail. This will allow you to drastically lower your erosion control costs and your waste costs at the same time. Feel free to check out more of our erosion control technologies on our website:

http://www.water4reuse.com/

Graywater Raffle Winner Habitat For Humanity

US Hydrotech is proud to announce the winner of the Aqua2Use Graywater Diverter System raffle from this years Sonoma County Fair. Scott Santiago of Santa Rosa won the prize and has chosen to display it at Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Santa Rosa off of Piner road where he volunteers. Feel free to check it out and support Habitat for Humanity and environmental awareness. US Hydrotech donated the Aqua2Use as the raffle prize for the Sustainable Sonoma tent which was spearheaded by Paul Keiran. Picture shown from left to right: Scott Santiago, Jodie Silberman (ReStore Manager), Paul Keiran (Regional Water Quality Control Board), Ed Bertain (US Hydrotech, President)

Santa Rosa International Film Festival

US Hydrotech is sponsoring the Hospitality Lounge at this years Santa Rosa International Film Festival at #1 Santa Rosa Avenue. Come and enjoy all the fun in watching films and socializing with the community.

Visit the website for more details:

www.sriff.org

Stop Water Pollution

Rainwater capture and reuse

Prepare yourself for this season of rainwater harvesting with technologies from US Hydrotech such as Aquadra rainwater harvesting tanks and Contain rainwater harvesting tanks. These tanks are an environmentally and economically efficient way to harvest plenty of gallons of water from the sky to water your plants and gardens.

Rainwater harvesting tanks are not just a great way to reduce your water bill and dependency on city water or a well but they also provide a great sound barrier. The tanks are modular, which means that they can be installed in line with each other to create a fence that will reduce traffic sounds for example. Feel free to learn more about this great technology by visiting out website or sending us an email!

http://www.ushydrotech.com/default.asp

info@ushydrotech.com

Goff's Curtain Walls

Hello all,

We just finished installing Curtain Walls at a major food manufacture here in Sonoma County. Curtain walls are great for separating different processes within a larger area to avoid cross-contamination. Curtain walls are durable too, they can be used to separate processes such as painting and welding, for example. Feel free to visit our website or send us an email for more information on this wonderful technology that helps save the environment, and your wallet.

info@ushydrotech.com

Rainwater capture

Aquadra Rainwater Harvesting tanks are perfect for capturing the rainwater coming off of your roof. This can save you hundreds of gallons of water per year and reduce your city water bill. feel free to visit our website for more information on this wonderful technology!

www.ushydrotech.com

Hello everyone out there in water conservation land! We would like to announce that US Hydrotech will be a sponsor at the Santa Rosa International Film Festival from September 14th through the 20th. Over 100 films from across the world will be presented during this week long extravaganza of film, art and fantastic food.

US Hydrotech will be sponsoring the Hospitality Lounge at 1 Santa Rosa Avenue in downtown Santa Rosa where people can come to relax and socialize during the week long celebration.

Please join US Hydrotech along with all the other participants at this once in a lifetime event that will surely be the talk of the town.

Feel free to visit the Santa Rosa International Film Festival's website for more details:

www.sriff.org

Hope to see you all there!

Hey everyone! We would like you to participate in an event we are spearheading. If you have a Graywater System, (of any kind) we would like you to post a picture of it so we can make a photo gallery with all different types of Graywater Systems to show that there is not just one way to do it! Then we'll have a third party person from the Regional Water Quality Control Board pick a winner for the best Graywater system out there and will feature your System on our blog and Twitter! Send them by either commenting on our blog or via email at info@ushydrotech.com

Storm drain Inserts for Conservation Corps North Bay

We love providing technologies to our non-profits like Conservation Corps North Bay http://www.conservationcorpsnorthbay.org/f/

Some of the technologies we provide are storm drain inserts

http://www.ushydrotech.com/rem.asp

follow us on twitter!

Hey follow us on twitter! @UShydrotech you'll find helpful information on water conservatioin!

US Hydrotech Environmental Solutions had a great time at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds taking part in the Sustainable Sonoma tent along with other great businesses. We also had a fantastic turn out at the Water Expo at the Downtown 4th street market last week! Lets keep up spreading the word of water conservation!

Welcome to the US Hydrotech Environmental Solutions Blog

Welcome to the US Hydrotech Environmental Solutions Blog this blog will have detailed and informative information about our technologies.