Course on rainwater harvesting system design to be offered

By THE STAR STAFF

A course on designing a system for harvesting rainwater is to be offered by architect Fernando Abruña, FAIA, at a time when the island is facing a potential drought that threatens the water supply.

The course, titled “¡YA!, ¡YA MISMO LLUEVE!: Diseño de Sistemas de Cosecha de Aguas de Lluvia” (It’s Time! Rain Is Coming Now: Rainwater Harvesting System Design) will take place on Thursday, Aug. 13 at 6 p.m. at the headquarters of the Puerto Rico Architects and Landscape Architects Association in San Juan.

Recognized for decades as the “Father of Green Architecture” in Puerto Rico, Abruña will discuss fundamental concepts for designing rainwater harvesting systems to foster water resilience and autonomy in Puerto Rico’s buildings.

The course will include demonstrative calculations and presentations of projects applying the concepts discussed by the expert, who is a professor emeritus at the University of Puerto Rico School of Architecture and the creator of landmark projects such as “La Casa Ausente” in Vega Alta (Puerto Rico’s first eco-home) and the island’s first public eco-school in Culebra, which is LEED Gold certified.

Abruña noted that participants will learn key water conservation strategies during the course. They include conducting a water consumption audit, calculating rainwater harvesting potential based on the installation site, and determining the appropriate size for a rainwater harvesting cistern based on user needs and the specific location.

Besides being a well-known conservationist, Abruña is the architect behind the “Enlace Resiliente” (Resilient Link) house, a sustainable housing prototype designed for victims of Hurricane Maria, the inventor of the BrightShade eco-friendly window and the designer of Campus Rider, a solar-electric vehicle prototype. The author of numerous books on sustainability, his work has been the subject of articles, documentaries, and design awards -- including the Henry Klumb Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Puerto Rico Institute of Architects and Landscape Architects. He is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects and a partner at the firm Abruña & Musgrave.

More information on the course can be obtained by visiting www.caappr.org or calling 787-724-1213.