TriSports, the triathlon retailer based in Tucson, AZ, completed their massive rainwater harvesting system on the TriSports.com building in the Butterfield Business Park.
The system, designed by Rob Paulus Architects and installed by Thomas Drexler of T-Drex Construction, will capture rainwater, HVAC condensation and evaporative cooler runoff. The two giant stainless steel collector tanks, positioned prominently at the front of the building, have the capacity to hold a combined 36,000 gallons of water and in an average rainfall year, the system will collect in excess of 100,000 gallons. TriSports.com was awarded a grant from the City of Tucson Conservation Program to help off-set the cost of installation.
The company said its decision to install rainwater harvesting was an easy one for the company to make. TriSports.comâ€s business model is run by a set of core values that highlights sustainability at the top of its list.
“Our rainwater harvesting system is a really great complement to the rest of our lesser seen sustainability efforts,” Claggett said. Other sustainable programs the company has in place include utilizing natural day lighting in all areas of the building, re-using over 95% of inbound order packaging and rewarding employees for bicycle commuting.
“The next step,” says Claggett, “is solar power.”
TriSports.com's rainwater harvesting system is said to be the largest private commercial system in the Western United States. As a stop on Tucson Waterâ€s Rainwater Harvesting Tour, the site is open to the public daily. A video is available on the TriSports Video channel on You Tube.
About TriSports.com: TriSports.com is an industry leader in triathlon, swim, bike and run retail, starting out of the home of Seton and Debbie Claggett in April 2000. Eleven years and two moves later, TriSports.com occupies 32,000 square feet of retail, warehouse and office space with 50+ employees. TriSports.com is more than just a retail presence, however; the company is also very involved with growing the sport through partnerships with races, clubs, teams and other endeavors, as well as being actively involved in the local Tucson community. TriSports.com has been recognized as one of Outside Magazines Best Places to Work (April 2009 & 2010), by Triathlete magazine as one of Triathleteâ€s Best Places to Work (2010), as one of the top 100 bike shops in the US by the National Bicycle Dealers Association (2010), as a top 10 triathlon store by Triathlon America (2011), by Comerica Bank as one of Arizonaâ€s 50 Companies to Watch (October 2008), Seton and Debbie Claggett were recognized as one of BizAZâ€s Top 35 Entrepreneurs Under 35 (June 2008), and by Wells Fargo with their Copper Cactus Award for Business Growth (October 2005). Learn more about TriSports.com online at www.trisports.com/info.html.
