Durham CVB unveils new underground rain water harvesting system
22 May, 2008 LM Direct!DURHAM, NC — Durham has emerged as a “green” leader with the most LEED-certified buildings in North Carolina (ranking in the top five per capita nationally,) so it’s no surprise that the Durham CVB has gotten into the rain-harvesting business.
Workers with Sustainable Building Solutions transform black crates into a new underground rain harvesting system at the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Durham-based Sustainable Building Solutions installed the 3,000-gallon underground rain harvesting system and the recent rainfall was the first use of the new product, which will be used to irrigate the landscape.
The system will harvest 70,000 gallons annually from just half of the building’s roof.
“What better demonstration of how rain harvesting can work in small, unobtrusive spaces than with the organization that promotes our hometown,” said Bobby Ferrel of Sustainable Building Solutions.
Click here to view a slideshow of the complete installation of the new rain harvesting system.
“Thanks for DCVB’s leadership in protecting our valuable water resources,” said Durham City Councilman Mike Woodard. DCVB estimates that under the new tiered system for Durham water, its new rain harvesting system will recoup its cost in three years.
“Durham is known as ‘green’,” said Reyn Bowman, DCVB president and Chief Executive Officer pointing to Durham’s recent rankings by Country Home magazine as the #2 best green City for Lifestyle and Quality of Life and #16 best green place overall in America. “DCVB has been committed to leading the way for Durham’s 3,000 visitor related businesses and organizations to conserve water during the passing drought, and our new rain harvesting system is our latest effort.”
Durham is home to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Pollution Research and Regulation center and the grass-roots organization, Clean Energy Durham. It now has the nation’s only LEED-certified waste-water administration building, one of the first LEED-certified restaurants in North Carolina, and as these projects are complete, expects to have two of the first handful of hotels in the state to be LEED-certified and the state’s first LEED-certified grocery store. In all, Durham has 11 LEED buildings with two dozen more that are registered to become certified.
Terry Sanders of The Brickman Group, DCVB’s landscaper and consultant on the new rain harvesting project, said, “Brickman applauds DCVB’s efforts to help the environment and water conservation efforts. The green industry often gets a bad reputation during droughts so we are eager to show we are working with our clients towards a positive solution. “
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