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	Design~Build~Live Brings Rainwater and Stormwater Harvesting Expert to Austin
	Here Comes The 2009 Cool House Tour

Design~Build~Live Brings Rainwater and Stormwater Harvesting Expert to Austin

Brad Lancaster's integrated, sustainable approach to harvesting and maximizing water for the home, landscape, garden, farm and community is eye opening. Brad has written and spoken extensively about maximizing the potential of our on-site resources - topsoil, sun, plants and WATER. Come to one or all events and learn how to turn water scarcity into water abundance!

The way you think of rainwater and stormwater will be forever changed!

Schedule of Events
(Subject to change.... Check the Design~Build~Live web site for registration and up-to-date schedule information)

Harvesting Rainwater & Stormwater to Create Amenities and Solve Problems
Friday, May 29
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Austin City Hall
Free
Brad will present simple, inexpensive rainwater and stormwater harvesting strategies and earthworks that hold great potential for replacing volume and runoff problems with amenities such as raingardens, shade trees, verdant landscapes and food.

Integrated Water Strategies for the Home, Landscape, Garden,
Farm & Community
Saturday, May 30
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
AMD Lone Star Campus
$15 in advance, $20 at the door
A dynamic slide presentation on how to integrate rainwater, greywater and stormwater harvesting to create water abundance in place of water scarcity.

Greywater Happy Hour
Saturday, May 30
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
The Great Outdoors Nursery
$5
An outdoor slide presentation under a canopy of beautiful ancient oak trees. Learn how you can maximize the use of recycled water in your landscape.

Nuts & Bolts of Water Harvesting for the Urban Homestead
Sunday, May 31
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
West Central Austin Residence
$40
Experience Brad in action! Analyze, discuss, and get your hands wet (and dirty) exploring several water capture systems for an urban homestead.

Resources

	Brad Lancaster Web Site
	City of Austin Rainwater Harvesting Rebates
	Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting

Here Comes The 2009 Cool House Tour
An artist's studio in Allendale, a historic remodel in Bouldin Creek, a custom home on Hamilton Pool Road. You can see all these and more on Sunday, June 28, at the 2009 Cool House Tour. All the homes on the tour feature energy-efficient, environmentally friendly design, construction and landscaping. The tour includes nine new construction and three remodeled homes, which range from small to large, very affordable to high-end, and are constructed with a wide variety of materials. Four homes have solar electric systems, one has solar thermal. Three of the homes are for sale. At all homes you will be able to talk with the owner, architect or builder, a Green Building staff member, or a TXSES volunteer.

Here's a sneak peek of a few of the homes.
All photos by Patrick Wong.

	This 1920's home is the first historical remodel ever rated by AEGB. Features include: Over 70% of construction waste was recycled Gas tankless water heater High efficiency toilets
	An urban infill home close to schools and mass transit. Features include: 3kW solar photovoltaic system No-VOC paints and water-based floor finish Vegetable gardens and chicken coop
	An urban infill home with innovative style and lots of natural light. Features include: Front porch minimizes heat gain from the west Well sized and placed windows for good daylighting 2"x6" walls and engineered floor joists
	This home stays cool using passive solar orientation, regionally appropriate design, and a solar chimney. Features include: 6kW solar photovoltaic system Spray foam insulation in attic and roof areas; cellulose insulation in walls Lumber scraps shredded for mulch
	A 5-star renovation/addition that protects on-site trees by incorporating them into the home design. Features include: Home design enables good cross ventilation Recycled glass countertops Folding glass wall opens to provide outdoor living space

Taking the Tour
The annual Cool House Tour is co-produced by the Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES) and Austin Energy Green Building. All proceeds benefit TXSES.

The Cool House Tour Guidebook, which serves as your ticket for entry into the homes, provides maps to each home and information about the homes' green features. It may not be possible to see all the homes. You might want to get your Guidebook early and map out a personalized route based on your interests! Guidebooks can be ordered online from www.txses.org beginning May 20 through June 17 and will be available after June 1 at both Austin Central Market locations. Guidebooks are $15. For those who are able to share a Guidebook, Companion tickets can be purchased for $15 at any the homes on the day of the tour.