Section 4: Water Efficiency Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

In the U.S, the operation of buildings, including landscaping, accounts for approximately what percentage of the total water usage?

A

12%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

In regards to water, what do submeters do?

A

Submeters report how much water is being used by systems and fixtures and alerts managers to leaks or other inefficiencies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Name three strategies for reducing indoor water usage

A
  1. Install efficient plumbing fixtures
  2. Use non potable water
  3. Install submeters
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is graywater?

A

Wastewater from bathtubs, showers, bathroom sinks 􏰀 washing machines and laundry tubs

This water has not come into contact with toilet waste according to the International Plumbing Code (IPC)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What could be considered as blackwater?

A

Wastewater from toilets and urinals.

Kitchen sink, shower, and bathtub wastewater is also considered sources of blackwater due to what it could contain.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

High-efficiency fixtures use less water than specified by which policy?

A

Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is process water?

A

Water used for building systems and industrial purposes, such as:

  • Heat and cooling air
  • Chillers, cooling towers, and boilers
  • Washing machines, ice machines, and dishwashers
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Using only site’s precipitation for both indoor and outdoor water needs is called what?

A

Water balance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is Xeriscaping?

A

The use of drought-tolerant native or adapted plants along with rocks, bark mulch, and other landscape elements

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Name five strategies for reducing outdoor water use

A
  1. Choose locally adapted plants
  2. Use Xeriscaping
  3. Select efficient irrigation technologies
  4. Use non potable water
  5. Install submeters
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is drip irrigation?

A

Drip irrigation minimizes the use of water and fertilizer by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, either onto the soil surface or directly onto the root zone, through a network of valves, pipes, or tubing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Conventional irrigation has an irrigation efficiency of about what percent?

A

65%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Drip irrigation has an irrigation efficiency of what percent?

A

90%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

In addition to rainwater, the typical suburban lawn consumes an estimated of how much water per year?

A

10,000 gallons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are invasive plants?

A

Plants that grow quickly and aggressively, spreading and displacing other plants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Why are perennial flowers are preferred to annuals?

A

Because perennials will come back year after year and will require less watering

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Flowers which come back year after year and will require less watering are known as what kind of flower?

A

Perennial flowers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

How much of residential wastewater is graywater?

A

50-80%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

A dual flush toilet could save what percentage of water?

A

67%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Under the EPAct of 1992, new toilets must not use more than how many gallons per flush (gpf).

A

1.6

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Name three goals of the water efficiency credits?

A
  • Reduce the quantity of water needed for a buildings and landscaping
  • reduce municipal water use
  • reduce the need for treatment of waste water
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Name a program that help identify water efficient products and services?

A

WaterSense

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Replacing a standard urinal with a waterless urinal could save an average of how many gallons per year?

A

40,000

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

A low-flow water closet uses what percentage less water than a conventional water closet?

A

30%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Flush fixtures, such as toilets and urinals, are measured by what metric?

A

Gallons per flush (gpf)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Flow fixtures, such as sink faucets, showerheads, and aerators, are measured by what metric?

A

Gallons per minute (gpm)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Name two water efficient strategies for an existing building with a limited budget

A

Aerators and flush valves

These are the two most economically feasible options if fixtures cannot be replaced.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What accounts for the primary use of outdoor water usage?

A

Irrigating landscaping

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

The amount of water delivered by sprinkler heads is measured by what metric?

A

Gallons per minute (gpm)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Cleaning dishes and clothes is best with which kind of water?

A

Potable water

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What does HET stand for?

A

High Efficient Toilet

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What is another name for drip irrigation?

A

Micro-irrigation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Which landscape design technique could potentially remove the need for irrigation?

A

Xeriscapping

34
Q

What code refers to standard plumbing fixtures?

A

Energy Policy Act (EPA)

35
Q

High Efficient Toilets could have a flush rate as low as what?

A

0.05 gpf

36
Q

What is tertiary water?

A

Waste water that has been treated to the highest quality standard

37
Q

What is the water baseline for conventional urinals?

A

1.0 gpf

38
Q

What is the water baseline for a conventional toilet?

A

1.6 gpf

39
Q

What is the water baseline for conventional kitchen/bath faucets?

A

2.2 gpm

40
Q

What is the water baseline for conventional shower heads?

A

2.5 gpm

41
Q

In commercial buildings, which fixture uses the most water?

A

Toilets

42
Q

For LEED calculations, how many times does one FTE use the bathroom per day?

A

3

43
Q

Waste water that has been treated to the highest quality standard is known as what?

A

Tertiary water

44
Q

Municipally supplied reclaimed water is considered what?

A

Non-potable water

45
Q

What does IPC stand for?

A

International Pluming Code

46
Q

What does UPC stand for?

A

Uniform Pluming Code

47
Q

In the United States, what is the annual water deficiency in gallons?

A

3,700 billion gallons

48
Q

In the United States, how many gallons of potable water do buildings use each day to flush toilets?

A

5 billion

49
Q

List two ways a water end-use profile help a project team

A
  • Identifies the projects largest users of water

- Evaluates cost-effectiveness of conservation strategies

50
Q

What standard for high-efficiency fixtures specifies fixtures that use less water than those specified by the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992?

A

WaterSense

51
Q

Projects using a strategy that does not require a permanent irrigation system for all landscaping must remove any temporary irrigation within what time period?

A

Two years

52
Q

WE Prerequisite Outdoor Water Use Reduction requires all projects to reduce the landscape water requirement from baseline by what percentage?

A

30%

53
Q

What is used to calculate the project’s landscape water requirement and reduction from baseline for WE Prerequisite Outdoor Water Use Reduction?

A

WaterSense Water Budget Tool

54
Q

WE Prerequisite Indoor Water Use Reduction requires that all newly installed toilets, urinals, private lavatory faucets, and showerheads that are eligible must have what label?

A

WaterSense

55
Q

What standard for fixture performance must be used to calculate the Baseline Case for Water Use Reduction credits?

A

EPAct

56
Q

What standard must residential clothes washer meet for WE Prerequisite Indoor Water Use Reduction?

A

ENERGY STAR

57
Q

What period of time must projects commit to share with USGBC the whole-project water usage data for WE Prerequisite Building-Level Water Metering?

A

Five-year

58
Q

Besides biodiversity what are the other benefits of using native & adapted species?

A

Reduced irrigation, fertiliser, &; pesticide needs

59
Q

What is necessary for projects using automatic sensors or flow valves?

A

Calibration

60
Q

What should be performed to determine which plants will adapt best to the site and specify the most suitable plants?

A

Soil and climate analysis

61
Q

Define the density factor as it applied to water efficiency

A

The density factor accounts for the number of plants the total leaf area of a landscape

62
Q

Define scheduling as it relates to efficient irrigation practices

A

Scheduling is watering the landscape during cooler, less windy parts of the day

63
Q

What removes heat from the machinery via water circulation & steam

A

Cooling towers

64
Q

What does a water analysis compare?

A

Water analysis compares the cost of adding rainwater cisterns, other storage for reclaimed water, or advanced irrigation technologies with the cost of savings from reducing potable water

65
Q

Full Time Employees + Transients =

A

Peak building users

66
Q

Motion detectors that automatically turn lavatories, sinks, water costs, and urinals on and off are known as what?

A

Automatic fixture sensors

67
Q

Define nonwater toilet systems

A

Nonwater (or composting) toilet systems are dry plumbing fixtures and fittings that contain and treat human waste via a microbiological process

68
Q

Which kind of roofing materials are ideal for rainwater harvest?

A

Metal, clay, or concerte-based roofing materials

69
Q

What transforms waste into resources that can be used on the building site?

A

On-site biological treatment

70
Q

What must be developed for the cooling tower that addresses chemical treatment, bleed-off, biological control, and staff training?

A

Water management plan

71
Q

What enables a comparison of trade-offs for water conversation strategies and evolution of the impact of water infrastructure on other systems

A

Water budget

72
Q

These are examples of what?

  • Water early or late in the day to minimise evaporation
  • Develop and follow a seasonal maintenance schedule for a healthy and maintained landscape
  • Commission irrigation systems and controllers
A

Efficient Irrigation Practices

73
Q

Name three Efficient Irrigation Practices?

A
  • Water early or late in the day to minimise evaporation
  • Develop and follow a seasonal maintenance schedule for a healthy and maintained landscape
  • Commission irrigation systems and controllers
74
Q

A reduction in overall water quality due to an increase in the concentration of chemical nutrients is known as what?

A

Hypertrophication

75
Q

What indicates the volume of water lost via evapotranspiration and varies with plant species, microclimate and planting density?

A

Landscape coefficient

76
Q

What is the evapotranspiration rate?

A

A measurement of the total amount of water needed to grow a reference plant (such as grass or alfalfa), expressed in millilitres or inches

77
Q

The amount of water used by conventional irrigation in the region is known as what?

A

Baseline irrigation water use

78
Q

Natural, inanmiate elements of the landscape are known as what?

A

Ecologically appropriate features

79
Q

The water management plan that has to be developed for the cooling tower must address what four issues?

A
  • Chemical treatment
  • Bleed-off
  • Biological control
  • Staff training
80
Q

Name two types of roof material which are no good for harvesting rainwater

A
  • Asphalt

- Lead-containing materials

81
Q

What kind of plants can survive on natural rainfall qualities after initial planting

A

Climate-tolerant