Rainwater Harvesting System Efficiency and Economic Assessment for Different Residential Building Typologies

Abstract

The focus of the paper is the evaluation of the water saving efficiency and the payback period of domestic rainwater harvesting (DRWH) systems. The study was carried out with reference to different residential building typologies (flat and condominium) in sub-coastal Italian climate regime. The buildings are characterized by different rooftop area, number of building floors and inhabitant number. The economical assessment is provided by comparing, along the design life span of the building, the capital costs and the savings due to the replacement of the water supply with the rainwater. In the present analysis the rainwater is used for both indoor and outdoor non-potable consumption.