Continuing Education: 1.5 GBCI CEUs for LEED GA and LEED AP+, Category II, Water Management

This program is appropriate for architects, professional engineers, specifiers, building owners, building managers, city officials and planners, corporate accounts and building inspectors. This program is basic and meets the needs of professionals at every experience level.

This course will provide an overview of design of rainwater harvesting systems.  The course begins with a description of the benefits of rainwater harvesting including water supply, runoff reduction and energy savings from decentralized water systems. Next, the course will walk attendees through the development of a rainwater harvesting system from the roof to the end use.  The course will present basic design guidelines to create a low-maintenance rainwater harvesting system.  These design guidelines can be used from small residential to large institutional projects.  Finally, the course will include case study examples of rainwater harvesting systems.

Presenters:  Sarah Lawson and Benjamin Sojka from Rainwater Management Solutions

Sarah Lawson joined RMS while completing her PhD in environmental sciences at the University of Virginia in 2008. Sarah's interest in water quality and conservation began during her college years at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL, where she studied environmental studies and public policy with an emphasis on international relations. Sarah's interest in water quality led to graduate research on the effects of sediment transport on shallow coastal systems. She has presented this work through oral and poster presentations and publication in an international journal. Sarah has also gained coursework and teaching experience in geology, hydrology and fluid mechanics while at UVA. Since joining RMS, Sarah has designed over fifty rainwater harvesting systems and frequently written magazine articles on rainwater harvesting. These articles have appeared in Stormwater Solutions, Plumbing Engineering and other media outlets. Sarah has also presented in-person and through webcasts to designers, regulators and contractors on rainwater harvesting, in addition to being the first author on the second edition of the Virginia Rainwater Harvesting Manual.

Benjamin Sojka is a partner in Rainwater Management Solutions and holds the position of Vice President of Design/Engineering.  A graduate of The University of Virginia’s school of Architecture under the tenure of Dean William McDonough, Benjamin has assisted in the design and overseen construction of multiple McDonough projects. Still an active partner in the family cattle farm, Cliffdale, Benjamin’s agriculture background reinforces the common sense approach evident in all RMS designs and projects. Benjamin’s strong site work and utility background, spanning fifteen years, insures that RMS is able to take any project from conception to reality.

Lunch will be provided at the event.  Registrations must be received by noon on May 11th to provide an accurate lunch count. Please email any questions to Donna Wilgus, HRGBC Administrative Assistant, at admin@hrgbc.org .