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.

Other 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.

Sea Scouts Base photo courtesy of GuidryNews.com

Ken Blair

President at RainBank Rainwater Systems

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.