As with net zero energy, the concept of being ‘off the grid’ with water supply is a deceptively simple concept. Satisfying a building’s need with site-captured water entails a deep understanding of a building’s expected water demand and the same reduce-then-produce approach used with net zero energy. This session will discuss common and advanced water conservation strategies, show how to create a water budget, and provide details on rainwater harvest systems using specific case study examples. It will also discuss the appropriate scale at which rainwater harvest occurs.

• Water conservation strategies
• Creating a water budget
• Rainwater harvest systems overview
• Scale jumping with water harvest
• Regulatory barriers to water harvest and use
  
• Case studies

Recommended readings:

Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting

This session will be available Summer 2009.