We completed installing our CUDO cistern by 2:30 pm today.  The pile of dirt is covered and we’re ready to celebrate the arrival of 2010!

Completing the System

We needed the material to complete wrapping the exterior of the CUDO frames and that was being shipped from Los Angeles via UPS.  Gary Jones was on site first thing in the morning, preparing the folds in the material so the last piece would fit on perfectly when delivered.

After the material arrived, Doug Allard wrapped the three CUDO frames that sit on top of the cistern (for the inlet, irrigation pump, and outlet).  These three frames, once wrapped, will sit on the other 64 frames making up the cistern.

Once Gary and Doug were finished, the system then was put together.  We sealed the joints with the prescribed tape and our Graniterock mix arrived.

We ordered a one-sack mix of controlled density fill (CDF) with a four-inch slump.  This mix goes around the perimeter of the CUDO system - between the membrane material and the earth.  Using the CDF allowed us to avoid compacting the earth with a jumping jack and reduced the amount of soil we had to remove.  We ordered 4.0 cubic yards of CDF and used the remainder on top of the CUDO cistern.

As we put the CDF in, we went around the perimeter several times, filling the void partially on each pass.  This was so the pressure would be even and not push the CUDO frames to one side without it being anchored in place.

Once the CDF was around the entire perimeter, the remainder went on the top.  Then, Jose, in the excavator, started sprinkling some soil on the top until we had a layer of approximately 6 inches.  Then, we used shovels and a vibra-plate compactor to spread the soil and compact the dirt evenly over the CUDO cistern.  Then, Jose spread more soil in six inch lifts and we continued compacting.

When we reached the top of the three CUDO frames on top of the cistern, we removed the circular covers and used caulking to put the vertical pipes that will go to the surface.  Jose spread more dirt in six-inch lifts and we continued compacting with the vibra-plate compactor.

Done!  Our underground cistern is in place.

Cleaning Up

The Kristar team left and Jose continued to clean up the site with the excavator.  The moved the remaining dirt into a neat pile so it can be used to backfill the remaining voids at the front of the house and will be easily accessible with a Bobcat.  Also, he moved the stump to the front of the yard so it can be removed.

We’re ready to celebrate the arrival of 2010 - cheers!

Gary completing the wrapping of the top of the CUDO system. These are the two layers of 4x8 CUDO frames that will hold the water that we will irrigate our landscaping with.

Gary is taping one of the three wrapped CUDO frames that sits on top of the main CUDO cistern. This frame is for the pump that will provide the water to irrigate our landscaping.

A completed CUDO frame - taped and ready to be covered.

The inlet (right) and pump (left) CUDO frames are on top of the CUDO cistern. We're ready for the controlled density fill (CDF). The CDF will fill the void between the CUDO frame and the earth.

Our 4 yards of CDF (Controlled Density Fill) arrived and Jose (right) stopped the excavator to supevise the pour.

Starting to pour the CDF around the perimeter of the wrapped CUDO frames.

Carlos Torres directed the pour while Bryan (left) and Manuel (right) ensured the CDF dropped down into the void between the CUDO and the soil.

The CDF was a one-sack mix of cement and sand, with a four-inch slump. There was no aggregate (rocks) in the CDF.

Bryan is using a piece of rebar to ensure there are no air pockets in the CDF.

We ordered enough material to cover the entire CUDO system with three inches of CDF.

CDF covers the CUDO system - now we use the original soil as backfill over the excavation to bring it to grade.

We used six-inch lifts of soil and then a vibra-plate to compact the soil.

Jose, operating the excavator, deftly distributed soil over the excavation in six-inch lifts. With a 1-3/4 yard bucket and Jose's expertise, this went quickly.

Jose had sufficient reach to distribute soil over the entire CUDO system.

After bringing the soil to the top of the three CUDO frames, we removed the covers so we could attach extensions to bring the soil to grade.

Gary uses caulking to seal the joint to the CUDO frame.

We're done! The extension on the left is where the inlet (supply) pipes will be located; the extension on the right is for the irrigation pump.

Looking South (towards Via Sereno) - the third extension is where the overflow outlets will be located that will take water in a six-inch pipe under the sidewalk to the back of the storm drain on Winchester Boulevard.

We were surprised to see FSC lumber at The Home Depot today.  While many say ‘building green’ is costly, due to the higher cost of ‘green’ materials (e.g., FSC lumber), it is comforting to see FSC materials at a low-cost supplier, such as The Home Depot.

FSC Certification

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) established set of criteria that are used to review and certify wood products that meet their standards.  The following is from the ‘About FSC’ page on the Forest Stewardship Council’s web site:

FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not for profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC is a certification system that provides internationally recognized standard-setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services to companies, organizations, and communities interested in responsible forestry.

The FSC label provides a credible link between responsible production and consumption of forest products, enabling consumers and businesses to make purchasing decisions that benefit people and the environment as well as providing ongoing business value.

FSC is represented in more than 50 countries around the world.

FSC is an international association of members consisting of a diverse group of representatives from environmental and social groups, the timber trade and the forestry profession, indigenous people’s organizations, responsible corporations, community forestry groups and forest product certification organizations from around the world. FSC has a unique governance structure that is built upon the principles of participation, democracy and equity.

Here is a link to a consumer brochure published by the FSC.

Why FSC?

If we were not participating in the LEED for Homes program (LEED-H), we probably would not understand the importance and value of cerification of wood products by the FSC.  And we most certainly wouldn’t pay a premium price for their certification.

As we went through the LEED-H criteria, we noted that using FSC certified wood is only a prerequisite for tropical wood, and not for other wood products (e.g., framing lumber).  MR 2.1 is the prerequisite that states:

2.1 FSC Certified Tropical Wood: Meet the following two requirements, as applicable:

a) Provide all wood product suppliers with a notice containing all of the following elements:

i.) a statement that the builder’s preference is to purchase products containing tropical wood only if it is FSC-certified;

ii.) request for the country of manufacture of each product supplied; and

iii.) request for a list of FSC-certified tropical wood products the vendor can supply.

b) If tropical wood is intentionally used (i.e., specified in purchasing documents) use only FSC-certified wood products. Reused or reclaimed products are exempt.

Note: A species of wood is considered tropical for the purposes of this prerequisite if it is grown in a country that lies between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

LEED-H Points for Environmentally Preferable Products

Under the LEED-H program, we can receive points for using ‘environmentally preferable products’ so this is where we are incented to use FSC certified lumber in our framing.  There are 8 points available, with up to 4 additional points for exemplary performance.  There are 0.5 points available for meeting the criteria set forth in Table 1 under MR 2.2.

MR 2.2 states:

2.2 Environmentally Preferable Products (0.5 point each, maximum 8 points).  Use building component materials that meet one or more of the criteria below. Except as noted in Table 1, a material must make up 90% of the component, by weight or volume. A single component that meets each criterion (i.e., environmentally preferable, low emissions, and local sourcing) can earn points for each.

a) Environmentally preferable products (0.5 point per component). Use products that meet the specifications in Table 1.

Note: Recycled content products must contain a minimum of 25% postconsumer recycled content, except as noted in Table 1. Postindustrial (preconsumer) recycled content must be counted at half the rate of postconsumer content.

AND/OR

b) Low emissions (0.5 point per component). Use products that meet the emissions specifications in Table 1.

AND/OR

c) Local production (0.5 point per component). Use products that were extracted, processed, and manufactured within 500 miles of the home.

So, drilling into Table 1, we find the relevant ’components’ include exterior wall framing/wall structure, flooring, floor framing, interior wall framing, trim, roof framing, and roof, floor and wall sheathing.

We will receive 0.5 points by using recycled, FSC-certified, or reclaimed material in in each of these components of our home.

FSC-certified lumber at The Home Depot.

FSC certification label.

Priced competitively at The Home Depot.

With the excavator in place yesterday, Bryan met the operator, Jose, on site at 8:00 am to dig the hole for our CUDO underground cistern.  We had a small window of time between storms so we wanted to get the CUDO cistern in place before the New Year.

Importance of Retaining Water on Site

As our population grows, the demand for fresh water continues to increase.  One of the key areas that needs to be addressed is reducing the demand for water.  This can be done through low-flow fixtures and toilets, landscaping that requires less watering, recycling water through greywater capture, and harvesting rainwater from the roof and non-permeable hardscape.

We worked with Casey Carlson, with Bowman & Williams, to design a system that would harvest 100% of the rainwater from our roof and the water from our hardscape.  In addition, we are on a ’seasonal perched water table’ and must pump water from under our foundation for part of the year.

A key element of the system is our underground CUDO cistern.  It is 512 cubic feet and will hold 3,677 gallons of water.  A pump inside the cistern will connect to our irrigation system to use the water we collect for our landscaping.  If the cistern is full, the excess water will then go to the storm drain.

While there are other types of underground cisterns available, Casey recommended the CUDO cistern as it was compact and efficient in terms of underground space, modular so it would be easy to design, and flexible so it could address any unexpected issues during installation.  Importantly, it would be easy and fast to install.

The CUDO system is comprised on various modular components, which is designed on a 2 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft cube.  Our system was 2 units deep, by 4 units wide and 8 units long (4 ft deep, 8 ft wide and 16 ft long).  The system was placed three feet below grade.

We confirmed the location of our underground utilities on December 22, 2009 so we are good to go.  Also, we will receive nine LEED points under various aspects of the LEED-H program.

Removing the Stump

As part of our project, we removed a large Canary Island Pine tree.  This tree was at the southeast coner of our property and was planted in 1969 by the developer, Eichler and Associates.  This fast-growing tree had served its purpose and was now blocking sunshine in the winter, when we require solar heat gain, and didn’t provide any shadown during the summer, when we have too much solar heat gain.  Cold in the winter and hot in the summer.

We removed the tree on December 13, 2008 but did not remove the stump since we planned to do so when installing our CUDO cistern.  Since the CUDO was going in, the stump had to go.

Jose assessed the situation and dug down on each side of the stump, removing the roots.  Then, he deftly pulled the front, and then the back, of the stump.  Within 18 minutes, the stump was sitting on the driveway.

Excavating for the Cistern

Having cleared the area, Jose then excavated the hole to width and depth, as we had staked it earlier.  We used 16 ft studs to meaure the length, and 8 ft studs to measure the depth and width as we excavated.  Jose distributed the soil around the machine, placing it so he could backfill the hole quickly after the CUDO cistern was in place.

Assembling the CUDO Sytem

As Jose was excavating the hole, our friends from Kristar arrived with the CUDO system.  Don Allard, the CEO arrived with Gary Jones, VP Field Operations (Sue Lillo, our sales representative for Northern California was enjoying a vacation and couldn’t be on site).

Don and Gary were here to ensure the system was installed as planned and to document the installation procedures for this new product.

While Bryan was working with Jose on the excavation, Don and Gary unloaded the 67 individual 2 ft x 2 ft CUDO cubes and snapped them together.  The CUDO system was staged on the street so it would be ready to position in the hole when Jose completed the excavation.

Installing the CUDO System

After the excavation was completed, we put down sand to form a level base for the CUDO cubes.  After marking the centerlines with washable paint on the soil and waterproof membrane, we placed the membrane in the excavation and folded it so the bottom level of 32 CUDO cubes could be installed.  With the foundation level in place, we put the second level of CUDO cubes on and then wrapped the waterproof membrane over the top of the CUDO system, just like wrapping a present. 

Given the forecasted rain for tomorrow, we decided to take a break and complete the installation on Thursday, December 31, 2009 (and finish early!).

The location of the underground CUDO cistern was staked and marked, and double cheded for accuracy. Note the stump under the 2x4 in the center of the photo.

To make the measuring easier and faster while we excavated, we used 16 ft studs and 8 ft studs to identify where we needed addtional excavating.

This is the first 'bite' at the stump, which must be removed so we can excavate for the CUDO underground cistern.

Jose is taking the second 'bite' at the stump, severing the root system on either side of the stump so he can remove it.

With the roots severed on each side, Jose was able to lift the stump and shake the dirt from the root system.

After starting 18 minutes ago, the stump is now sitting on the driveway.

The frames for the modular CUDO system arrived so they could be unloaded and assembled on the Jose is taking the second

With the stump gone, Jose started digging on each side of the hole, to the limits of where we needed to excavate.

Jose, operating the excavator, makes it look easy. He was the operator that excavated the lower level in December 2008.

We measured the dimensions of the excavation periodically.

Doug Allard (left), Carlos Torres (center) and Gary Jones (right) with the assembled CUDO system on the street.

After the excavation was to the correct depth and dimensions, we put a layer of sand at the bottom to make a flat and level base for the CUDO frames.

A surprise inspection!

After the waterproof membrane was in place, we installed the two layers of 16 CUDO frames in each layer and then wrapped the waterproof fabric over the top. This photo is looking South, towards Via Sereno.

This is the view looking North, towards the house. The supply lines will go in the CUDO frame on the left and the pump will go in the CUDO frame on the right (so we can irrigate our landscaping with the water in our cistern).