Besides helping the environment, an obvious reason for harvesting rainwater is to save money. Depending on the size of your house and the amount of rainfall in your area, you can collect a substantial amount of rainwater with a simple system. This extra water can have a significant impact on your water bill. Rainwater stored in rain barrels can be used for watering landscapes and gardens. Others find uses within the house as well. You can use it directly from your rain barrel on your garden. If you’re harvesting rainwater with rain barrels to use for watering your landscaping, the rainwater can help to improve the health of your gardens, lawns, and trees. Rain is a naturally soft water and devoid of minerals, chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals. The chemicals and hard water from many of our municipal water systems can produce an imbalance in the soil of your garden. Chemical fertilizers, fungicides, pesticides, and drought can also disrupt the balance and harmony of the soil. This imbalance causes trees and plants to weaken and makes them more susceptible to disease. For this reason, plants respond very well to rainwater. After all, it’s what plants in the wild thrive on!

LowCountry Rain Barrel is a conservation business located in Bluffton. We work with municipalities, conservation agencies and organizations interested in water conservation to make rain barrels available to the public at affordable prices. As LowCountry residents, we understand the importance of reducing storm water runoff in protecting our rivers.

Fraser Construction announced today that the J. Banks Design Building has been awarded LEED® Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The J. Banks Design building is the first LEED® new construction certified building on Hilton Head Island. LEED is the USGBC’s leading rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy efficient, and high performing buildings. “Our company is committed to building healthier and more energy efficient buildings. We also believe that the third party certification process is the best way for the building owner to be assured that they have a “green” building.” said Joe Fraser III, President, Fraser Construction Company. “Fraser Construction and the J. Banks Design LEED certification demonstrate tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, USGBC. “The J. Banks Design project efficiently uses our natural resources and makes an immediate, positive impact on our planet, which will tremendously benefit further generations to come.” LEED certification of the J. Banks Project was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include: lower operating costs, increased asset value, reduction of waste sent to landfills, conservation of energy and water, a healthier/safer environment for occupants and reduction of harmful greenhouse gas emissions.