Jordan: American Experts Promote Water Harvesting and Green Buildings

In celebration of Earth Day 2009, the American Embassy is hosting Mr. Brad Lancaster – a writer and self-publisher of the award-winning, best-selling book titled “Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond” – and Mr. David Eisenberg –  co-founder, past president, and executive director of the Development Center for Appropriate Technology in the U.S. state of Arizona.

During their visit to Jordan, the two environmental experts are scheduled to meet with government officials and civil society professionals.  At the invitation of the Hashemite University, Al Hassan Science City, and Jordan University for Science and Technology, Messrs. Lancaster and Eisenberg will deliver presentations on the topics of “water harvesting” and “green buildings.”

Water scarcity affects many countries, including parts of the United States.  Low-cost water collection methods such as water harvesting have been practiced for centuries.  Today, these methods are receiving new attention from scientists and policymakers seeking to develop new sources of fresh water.  International experts agree that more investment in water-related infrastructure and research is needed to achieve world food security and poverty reduction objectives.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as the environmental impact of buildings becomes more apparent, a new field called “green building” is gaining momentum in the United States.  Green buildings are designed with the environment in mind, using recycled materials and natural resources such as sunlight, wind, and rainwater to minimize a building’s effect on the environment and its energy consumption.  Developing green office buildings is just one of the many ways that some U.S. corporations are embracing more environmentally friendly ways of doing business.

Earth Day is observed on April 22 each year.  It started on April 22, 1970 as a day of national environmental recognition in the U.S., but has evolved into a worldwide campaign to protect our environment. Today, Earth Day is celebrated annually across the world.