Water Efficiency

Question 1

What are the Prereq’s for the Water Efficiency Category?

Answer 1

1) Outdoor Water Use Reduction
2) Indoor Water Use Reduction
3) Building-Level Water Metering

Question 2

What are the Credits for the Water Efficiency Category?

Answer 2

1) Outdoor Water Use Reduction (2 points)
2) Indoor Water Use Reduction (6 points)
3) Cooling Tower Water Use (2 points)
4) Water Metering (1 point)

Question 3

What Water Efficiency Prereq’s and Credits qualify for Exemplary performance?

Answer 3

1) WE-C Indoor Water Use Reduction

Question 4

What are the Options and points associated with WE-R Outdoor Water Use Reduction?

Answer 4

1) Option 1: No Irrigation Required

or

2) Option 2: Reduced Irrigation

Question 5

What are the guidelines to meet “Option 1: No Irrigation Required” of WE-R Outdoor Water Use Reduction?

Answer 5

Project landscape will not need irrigation beyond the maximum 2 year establishment period.

Question 6

What are the documentation requirements for “Option 1: No Irrigation Required” of WE-R Outdoor Water Use Reduction?

Answer 6

1) Map showing vegetated areas.
2) Narrative on plant species and water requirements.

Question 7

What are the guidelines to meet “Option 2: Reduced Irrigation” of WE-R Outdoor Water Use Reduction?

Answer 7

1) Reduce water consumption by 30% from baseline calculated during peak watering month.
2) Calculate water consumption using EPA Water Sense Water Budget Tool.
3) Can’t use non-potable water sources to establish 30% reduction.

Question 8

What are the documentation requirements for “Option 2: Reduced Irrigation” of WE-R Outdoor Water Use Reduction?

Answer 8

1) Map showing location and size of each landscape zone.
2) Water Sense Water Budget Tool report

Question 9

What are the guidelines to meet WE-R Indoor Water Use Reduction?

Answer 9

1) Reduce aggregate water consumption of fixtures in table by 20%
2) Newly installed fixtures should be WaterSense
3) Appliances and processes must meet Energy Star requirements

Question 10

What are the water fixtures referenced in the water consumption table for WE-R Indoor Water Use Reduction?

Answer 10

1) Toilet (1.6gpf)
2) Urinal (1gpf)
3) Public Lavatory Faucet (.5gpm)
4) Private Lavatory Faucet (2.2gpm)
5) Kitchen Faucet (2.2gpm)
6) Shower head (2.5gpm)

Question 11

What are the documentation requirements for WE-R Indoor Water Use Reduction?

Answer 11

1) Fixture and fittings cutsheets
2) Indoor water use calculations
3) Appliance cutsheets

Question 12

What are the guidelines to meet WE-R Building Level Water Metering?

Answer 12

1) Install permanent water meters to measure total potable water use.
2) Project should commit to sharing meter data with USGBC on a monthly basis for 5 years.

Question 13

What are the documentation requirements for WE-R Building Level Water Metering?

Answer 13

1) Meter declaration describing location of all water meters.
2) Sharing commitment.

Question 14

What are the Options and points associated with WE-C Outdoor Water Use Reduction?

Answer 14

1) Option 1: No Irrigation Required (2 points)

or

2) Option 2: Reduced Irrigation (2 points)

Question 15

What are the guidelines to meet “Option 1: No Irrigation Required” of WE-C Outdoor Water Use Reduction?

Answer 15

Project landscape will not need irrigation beyond the maximum 2 year establishment period.

Question 16

What are the documentation requirements for “Option 1: No Irrigation Required” of WE-C Outdoor Water Use Reduction?

Answer 16

No documentation needed. Will be submitted under WE-R Outdoor Water Use Reduction.

Question 17

What are the guidelines to meet “Option 2: Reduced Irrigation” of WE-C Outdoor Water Use Reduction?

Answer 17

1) Reduce landscape water consumption by 50% (1 point) or 100% (2 points) from baseline calculated during peak watering month.
2) Calculate water consumption using EPA Water Sense Water Budget Tool.
3) Additional reduction beyond 30% can be achieved using alternative water sources.

Question 18

What are the documentation requirements for “Option 2: Reduced Irrigation” of WE-C Outdoor Water Use Reduction?

Answer 18

1) Alternative water source and controls calculations.

Question 19

What surfaces are excluded from water use calculations in “Option 2: Reduced Irrigation” of WE-C Outdoor Water Use Reduction?

Answer 19

1) Non vegetated surfaces
2) Athletic fields
3) vegetated playgrounds
4) food gardens

Question 20

What are the guidelines to meet WE-C Indoor Water Use Reduction?

Answer 20

1) Further reduce indoor water use beyond the prerequisite 20%. 1 point per every 5% reduction. Can use alternative water sources.
2) Install equipment fulfilling the minimum LEED requirements for any of the 4 categories.
3) Healthcare can earn an extra point for a second category.

Question 21

What are the 4 LEED appliance categories for WE-C Indoor Water Use Reduction?

Answer 21

Category 1: Commercial Washing Machine

Category 2: Commercial Kitchen Equipment

Category 3: Laboratory and Medical Equipment

Category 4: Municipal Steam System

Question 22

What are the documentation requirements for WE-C Indoor Water Use Reduction?

Answer 22

1) Alternative water source calculations and narrative.
2) Cutsheets and manufacturers’ information for all LEED category appliances used.

Question 23

What are the Exemplary Performance requirements of WE-C Indoor Water Use Reduction?

Answer 23

Achieve 55% Indoor water use reduction.

Question 24

How many points can you get for the WE-C Indoor Water Use Reduction credit?

Answer 24

6 points

Question 25

What are the guidelines to meet WE-C Cooling Tower Water Use Reduction?

Answer 25

1) Conduct one time potable water analysis for cooling tower to find actual values of Ca, alkalinity, SiO2, CI and conductivity.
2) Divide maximum allowed levels by actual levels to get number of cycles that cooling tower can be run before meeting maximum levels.
3) Limit cooling tower cycles to never exceed maximum levels.
4) Use 20% non potable water for additional point.

Question 26

What are the documentation requirements for WE-C Cooling Tower Water Use Reduction?

Answer 26

1) If earning 1 point, submit potable water analysis results and narrative, and cycles of concentration calculations.
2) If earning 2 points, include non potable water source calculations, water treatment calculations and non potable water analysis.

Question 27

How many points can you get for the WE-C Cooling Tower Water Use Reduction credit?

Answer 27

2 points

Question 28

What are the guidelines to meet WE-C Water Metering?

Answer 28

Install permanent water meters for at least two of the following:

1) Irrigation that serves 80%
2) Indoor plumbing fixtures that serve 80%
3) Domestic Hot Water for 80%
4) Boilers using 100,000 gallons per year
5) Reclaimed Water
6) Other processed water up to 80% of end uses

Question 29

What are the documentation requirements for WE-C Water Metering?

Answer 29

Narrative about water metering strategy

Question 30

How many points can you get for the WE-C Water Metering credit?

Answer 30

1 point

Question 31

What are the Healthcare metering guidelines to meet WE-C Water Metering?

Answer 31

Meter at least 5 of the following:

1) purified water systems
2) filter backwash water
3) laundry water
4) laboratory water
5) dietary department water
6) central sterile and processing department water
7) physiotherapy/hydrotherapy treatment areas water
8) surgical suite water
9) cold water makeup for domestic hot water systems
10) closed-loop hydronic system makeup water