Module 04 Water Efficiency

Question 1

Water Efficiency Goals

Answer 1

Reduce the quantity of water needed for a buildings and landscaping

Reduce municipal water use

Reduce the need for treatment of waste water

Question 2

Native plants

Answer 2

are those that grow naturally in an area or that have been in an area for many years. Native plants require less water, fertilizer, and pest control. These plants can be trees, shrubs, flowers, or grasses.

Question 3

Adaptive plants

Answer 3

are non-native plants that perform well in the local climate. Native and
adaptive plants require less water and are more disease resistant because they are suited to the region’s usual rainfall, soil, and temperature.

Question 4

invasive plants

Answer 4

plants that grow quickly and aggressively, spreading and displacing other plants and should be avoided

Question 5

Xeriscaping

Answer 5

Landscaping method that makes routine irrigation unnecessary by using drought-adaptable and low-water plants, as well as soil amendments to reduce evaporation

Question 6

Stormwater

Answer 6

(or reclaimed rainwater) can be collected in cisterns, barrels, or storage tanks. This approach is called rainwater harvesting

Question 7

Greywater

Answer 7

water is water that can be used twice. Graywater is untreated household waste
water which has not come into contact with toilet waste. Graywater comprises 50 - 80%
of residential wastewater. Like stormwater, graywater can be piped to storage tanks for
later use. Graywater can come from:
-bathtubs, showers, bathroom sinks
-washing machines and laundry tubs

Question 8

Reclaimed Water

Answer 8

Water that has been treated for reuse - has proved beneficial and economical in green building design.

Question 9

Process Water

Answer 9

water that is used in building systems to heat/cool air to maintain building temperatures

Question 10

Cooling Tower

Answer 10

A Structure that uses water to absorb heat from air-conditioning systems and regulate air temperature in a facility

Question 11

Full Time Equivalent (FTE)

Answer 11

The ratio of the total number of paid hours during a period (part time, full time, contracted) by the number of working hours in that period

Question 12

Building strategies used for water savings

Answer 12

Rooftop rainwater
Indoor reservoir
Low-flow toilets, waterless urinals, automated faucets
Groundwater cooling

Question 13

Baseline Water Demand

Answer 13

(or Baseline Case) Is where models and calculations are done to discover what a conventional building’s water use would be

Question 14

Energy Policy Acts of 1992 (EPAct)

Answer 14

created standards and laws to increase clean
energy use and improve overall energy efficiency in the United States. This act covers building codes, utilities, HVAC, lighting, renewable energy and water flow of fixtures

Question 15

Blackwater

Answer 15

Waste water from toilets and urinals