Point Reyes Bird Observatory and the US Fish and Wildlife Service aim to have the buildings on the Farallon Islands as self sufficient as possible. There are two buildings in use; one houses the resident scientists, and the other is used for office and laboratory space.

Gray water tank, Farallon Islands

Because there is no fresh water on the island, drinking water was shipped from the mainland. Captured rainwater is used for washing, bathing and for flushing the toilets. This was formerly collected in a concrete tank that was contaminated by seabird guano. FIF‘s grant purchased, transported and installed a large plastic tank to collect rainwater from gutters to augment the old concrete tank.