All posts by Ken Blair

A rainwater collection systems designer and consultant, Ken has designed and installed residential and commercial systems, primarily in the northwest United States for more than 10 years and, in 2014, began consulting and managing builds in other states. Ken is an accredited ARCSA Professional Designer / Installer and Life Member, the Northwest Regional ARCSA representative and advisor to its education committee and is available to speak about Rainwater Collection Systems design and builds. Ken is a United States Navy veteran, having served on active duty during the Vietnam War era. A career entrepreneur, Ken created a new business focus with a commercial dive company in Hawaii in the mid 1980′s to respond to and clean up oil spills, oil spill equipment training, service and maintenance for the oil co-op service industry. Ken is passionate about having a positive impact on the environment and is also a founding director of BANK-ON-RAIN (2011-2014), whose mission is to create grassroots solutions for rainwater collection for consumption and agriculture in developing areas of the planet.
Rainwater Catchment

Big Box Stores Embrace Rainwater Harvesting

CONDENSATION COLLECTION TANKS – HOME DEPOT LOCATIONS WORLDWIDEIn the June ARCSA newsletter, Dr. Hari J. Krishna, ARCSA Founder & Past President, Austin, Texas writes:

“My mission for the past 25 years has been to help people become aware of the benefits of rainwater harvesting, and to make the technique as popular a practice as possible. It is with that intent that I founded ARCSA and have been pleased with all the progress we have made, thanks to the efforts of many others who have followed me at ARCSA and contributed greatly over the years.

In 2010, I met with managers of several local big box stores such as Home Depot, Lowe’s and Sam’s to encourage them to start selling rain barrels. Most of them did not know what I was talking about, so it was more of an educational process to make them aware, but it still did not yield the desired results. I was told that there was plenty of city water available, and that there was no need to collect rain water. Then shortly thereafter, we got hit with a crippling multi-year drought in Texas, and when water restrictions were imposed, folks began recognizing the value of rainwater. So ironically, the drought helped bring rainwater harvesting into focus. I see a sharp increase in big box stores selling rain barrels. “

Read more about rainwater news from ARCSA here.

Rainwater Catchment

Construction Starts on Bainbridge Island’s Heron Hall

Heron HallRainBank Rainwater Systems of Seattle is excited to begin building the rainwater collection system for Heron Hall, on Bainbridge Island.

Heron Hall is the creation of Jason McLennan, who’s bio describes him as: Considered one of the most influential individuals in the green building movement today and the recipient of the prestigious Buckminster Fuller Prize, Jason F. McLennan’s work has made a pivotal impact on the shape and direction of green building in the United States and Canada and he is a much sought after designer, presenter and consultant on a wide variety of green building and sustainability topics around the world. McLennan serves as the CEO of McLennan Design and is the Founder and Chairman of the International Living Future Institute – a leading NGO that focuses on the transformation to a world that is socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative.

An Ashoka Fellow, Jason is the founder and creator of the Living Building Challenge, widely considered the world’s most progressive and stringent green building program. He is the author of five books; The Philosophy of Sustainable Design, The Dumb Architect’s Guide to Glazing Selection, The Ecological Engineer, Zugunruhe and Transformational Thought.

RainBank worked with 2020 Engineering’s Mark Buehrer, PE on design of the rainwater collection system, which will be the sole source of water for this residence, designed to be one of the world’s greenest homes.

Please watch the video below, and follow along with RainBank’s and Jason’s blogs on the construction of this magnificent home that will be a standard of the Living Building Challenge.

Commercial Rainwater Harvesting, Sustainability

Rainwater Harvesting With Architectural Design

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SeaScoutBase_Galveston_RainBank_projectIt’s important to know how to incorporate the best components into an architectural design while also building an affordable, sustainable rainwater harvesting system.

Here’s what we talked about in Rainwater Collection Can Be Part of Architectural Design:

Rainwater collection can be part of architectural design, adding distinction to a building, bringing awareness to conservation, and letting others learn about the responsibility of green building practices.

Many new commercial construction projects are implementing stormwater management into their architectural designs, rather than simply meeting new regulations. Building designers and owners are showcasing their commitment to conservation, and incorporating functionality with aesthetics, in turn, this practice furthers customer and general public interest in conservation and rainwater collection, creating even more public awareness of the need for conservation and sustainable living practices.

“Lead by example”, my father used to say, “and it will inspire others to do the same.” Good advice when trying to do the right thing. Seattle and many other cities are recognizing the importance of rainwater collection as a method of controlling stormwater and are seeing the benefits associated with doing so. 

Goodwill Project Seattle_RainBankLLC_webOther projects that RainBank Rainwater Systems has been involved with include:

  • Sea Scouts building in Galveston, TX (top, left)
  • The Goodwill Building, Seattle, WA (right)
  • Edith Green Federal Building in Portland, OR
  • Federal Way School District, WA
  • Paul Allan’s project, South Lake Union, Seattle
  • Kirkland Safety Building, WA
  • Wallingford Fire Department, Seattle
  • Federal Aviation Building Neah Bay, WA
  • Tacoma School District Tacoma, WA
  • Seattle Arts Academy
  • Puget Sound Energy Seattle
  • Port of Gray’s Harbor, WA
  • Mill Creek Shopping Center, WA
  • Orcas Island School District, WA
  • Fort Lewis (Joint Base Lewis-McChord), WA – and more.

To recap, don’t wait to bring a rainwater harvesting professional into your project. We will work closely with your architect at the outset, to ensure a functioning and affordable water system.