Engineers Harvest Rain and Save Gorillas

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund knew its new facility in Rwanda needed to be “green”; as a conservation organization, it works to protect the planet.

Together with architects and engineers, team members decided  one way to do that is  to harness the rain. The gorilla habitat gets 10 inches of rain a month, so green roofs, swales and infiltration basins will harvest all that water.

Harriet Kirk, the project’s senior engineer, estimates rainwater harvesting will save 145,295 gallons of water annually. It reduces operating costs and energy use, and demonstrates how sustainable techniques can save money while protecting the environment.

– Donna Scaramastra Gorman, The Engineering 100