Web Case Study--Estes, McClure & Assoc. Harvest the Rain
By harvesting the rainwater from the roof of the building and channeling this water into six on-campus storage tanks, enough rainwater can be collected to flush the toilets and irrigate the school's lawn areas. The rainwater collection and utilization system includes gutters to direct the water to the cisterns, cisterns to collect the rainwater and pumps to distribute the water. Features of the system include a piping loop for tank equalization, a circulation system for freeze protection, a booster system for flushing, and a tie-in to city water for make-up water and chemical treatment.
Another element of sustainable design is "eco education," which is a concept that incorporates sustainability into the curriculum so that students can understand the design and how it impacts the environment. By making this collection system visible, it is a very powerful teaching tool for students to learn about water conservation.