Liquid Gold: Harnessing Rainwater for a Sustainable Future  

Innovative approaches to conservation, efficiency, and climate resilience in contemporary architecture

Sponsored by WATTS Water Technologies, Inc. | Presented by G Edward Van Giesen III

Live Webinar Airing on October 16, 2025 at 02:00 PM ET

Discover how to approach rainwater harvesting as a complete system that maximizes performance and sustainability. This course highlights the key requirements for effective design, showing how each component contributes to water conservation and stormwater management. You will gain practical strategies to create systems that are efficient, compliant, and built for long-term impact.

Photo courtesy of Watts

 

Speaker

George Edward (Eddie) Van Giesen III is the National Sales Manager at RainCycle, a WATTS company. Eddie received his MLA at the University of Georgia in 1995, and his BA at the University of Georgia in 1984. He is an American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) accredited professional. He speaks regularly at conferences, universities and professional associations, including The American Institute of Architects, American Society of Plumbing Engineers, American Society of Landscape Architects, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials among others. He was co-author of Designing Rainwater Harvesting Systems (John Wiley 2014), and principal author of the Georgia Rainwater Harvesting Guidelines (Georgia Department of Community Affairs, in 2009). He has worked and is currently active at the state and national level in the development of codes and standards related to the rainwater industry since 2008 in association with the ICC, IAPMO, and the CSA.

Originally published in Architectural Record

Originally published in August 2025

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
  1. Describe the environmental, infrastructural, and sustainability benefits of integrated rainwater harvesting systems.
  2. Identify key components of rainwater harvesting systems and explain how integrated design enhances water and energy efficiency.
  3. Evaluate how codes, regulations, and site-specific conditions influence system design for residential and commercial applications.
  4. Assess storage tank options and site planning strategies to support performance, compliance, and architectural integration.