THIS EVENT IS DELIVERED BY THE CANADA GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL AND TORONTO AND REGION CONSERVATION AUTHORITY.

CaGBC and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority are delivering a course for anyone interested in learning about the design, installation and management of rainwater harvesting systems, including contractors, builders, designers, architects, and regulators.

This event will be delivered in the Earth Rangers Centre for Sustainable Technology, which was awarded LEED® New Construction Gold Designation in 2006 and is targeting LEED Platinum for Existing Buildings in 2011.

COURSE LENGTH: 1 day
DATE: Thursday, February 9th, 2012
TIME: Registration begins at 8 am. Course runs from 8:30 am to 4 pm.
LOCATION: Earth Rangers Centre for Sustainable Technology, 9520 Pine Valley Drive, Woodbridge, ON

LEVEL / CEUs: Level 200, 6 GBCI CE Hours
COST: from $300

REGISTER NOW!

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This one-day course focuses on the regulatory and technical aspects of rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems for both residential and ICI (Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional) buildings. Learners discover the keys to effective rainwater catchment and conveyance, tank selection and sizing, rainwater treatment, make-up (“top-up”) water system and backflow prevention, and handling overflows from rainwater storage tanks. Regulatory frameworks are addressed for each of these topics and each participant receives a copy of the Guidelines for Residential Rainwater Harvesting Systems.

ABOUT THE FACULTY:
Chris Despins
M.Sc., P.Eng., President: Connect the Drops
Chris Despins is the founder and president of Connect the Drops, a business offering rainwater harvesting (RWH) consulting services. Chris is the lead author and editor of the Ontario Guidelines for Residential Rainwater Harvesting Systems and the Alberta Guidelines for Residential Rainwater Harvesting Systems, the first comprehensive guidelines on this topic in both provinces. Chris is also the developer of the Rainwater Harvesting Design & Costing Tool, a computer program that assists engineers, contractors and others with sizing rainwater storage tanks, sizing pump & pressure systems and providing comprehensive cost estimates of residential and ICI RWH systems.

Before founding Connect the Drops, Chris received a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering & International Development in 2008 from the University of Guelph. His Master’s thesis, Building Capacity for Rainwater Harvesting in Ontario: Rainwater Quality and Performance of RWH Systems, was part of an Ontario Centres of Excellence- and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation-supported project that focused upon building capacity for rainwater harvesting in Ontario. Chris has a passion for sustainable buildings and water conservation, and has participated in numerous green home building workshops and water conservation & efficiency conferences in Canada and the United States.