Water Efficiency - WE

Question 1

(WE - Outdoor Water Use Reduction Pre) What percentage reduction in irrigation from baseline for peak watering month must be achieved?

Answer 1

30% of irrigation water use

Question 2

(WE - Outdoor Water Use Reduction Pre) Option 1 - How does the project team show that no irrigation is required?

Answer 2

1) Show a site plan with vegetated areas.

2) Create a narrative for plant species and water requirements.

Question 3

(WE - Outdoor Water Use Reduction Pre) Option 2 - How does the project team prove that landscape water has been reduced by at least 30%

Answer 3

1) Use design to reduce irrigation needs. Select appropriate plants, use efficient irrigation methods.
2) Calculate landscape water budget. Use the EPA WaterSense Water Budget Tool

Question 4

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction Pre) What percentage reduction for all fixtures listed in Table 1 must be achieved?

Answer 4

20% of indoor fixture water use

Question 5

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction Pre) What label must all newly installed toilets, urinals, private lavatory faucets, and showerheads have?

Answer 5

WaterSense label

Question 6

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction Pre) What is the baseline usage for toilets?

Answer 6

1.6 gpf

Question 7

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction Pre) What is the baseline usage for urinals?

Answer 7

1.0gpf

Question 8

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction Pre) What is the baseline usage for public lavatories?

Answer 8

.5gmp @ 60psi

Question 9

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction Pre) What is the baseline usage for private lavatories?

Answer 9

2.2gpm @ 60psi

Question 10

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction Pre) What is the baseline usage for kitchen faucets?

Answer 10

2.2gpm @ 60psi

Question 11

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction Pre) What is the baseline usage for showerheads?

Answer 11

2.5pgm @ 80psi

Question 12

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction Pre) What Requirement must be met for residential clothes washing machines?

Answer 12

ENERGY STAR or performance equivalent

Question 13

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction Pre) What Requirement must be met for commercial clothes washing machines?

Answer 13

CEE Tier 3A

Question 14

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction Pre) What Requirement must be met for residential dishwashers?

Answer 14

ENERGY STAR or performance equivalent

Question 15

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction Pre) What Requirement must be met for pre-rinse spray valves?

Answer 15

< or = 1.3 gpm

Question 16

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction Pre) What Requirement must be met for ice machines?

Answer 16

ENERGY STAR or performance equivalent and use

Question 17

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction Pre) What Requirement must be met for the heat rejection and cooling process?

Answer 17

No once-through cooling with potable water for any equipment or appliances that reject heat.

Question 18

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction Pre) What Requirement must be met for Cooling towers and Evaporative condensers?

Answer 18

Must be equipped with:

• Makeup water meters
• Conductivity controllers and overflow alarms
• Efficient drift eliminators that reduce drift to a max of .002% of recirculated water volume for counterflow towers and .005% of recirculated water flow for cross-flow towers

Question 19

(WE - Building Level Water Metering Pre) How can one determine how much water a building is using?

Answer 19

• Install permanent water meters that measure the total potable water use for the building.
• Meter data must be compiled into monthly and annual summaries

Question 20

(WE - Building Level Water Metering Pre) How can one prove the water usage to earn the credit?

Answer 20

• Share the metering results with USGBC for 5 years
• 5 years begins on date that project accepts LEED cert, or typical occupancy (whichever comes first)
• Commitment must carry for 5 years or until building changes ownership.

Question 21

(WE - Outdoor Water Use Reduction) What must one show in order to achieve 2pts (1pt HC) for Option 1?

Answer 21

Show that no irrigation is required

- Show that the landscape does not require a permanent irrigation system beyond a two-year establishment period

Question 22

(WE - Outdoor Water Use Reduction) Option 2. Reduced Irrigation - What percentage reduction must be achieved from the project’s baseline?

Answer 22

50% - 1pt
100% - 2pt (1pt HC)

Any reductions beyond 30% may be achieved using efficiency, alternative water sources, and smart scheduling technologies.

Question 23

(WE - Outdoor Water Use Reduction) Option 2. Reduced Irrigation - What principles should water reduction use first?

Answer 23

• Selection of plant species

- Irrigation system efficiency

Question 24

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction) How many points are given by % of reduction?

Answer 24

25% - 1pt
30% - 2pts
35% - 3pts
40% - 4pts
45% - 5pts
50% - 6pts

Think of 25-50%, every 5% +1pt

Question 25

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction) What types of projects have to meet additional standards for indoor water use?

Answer 25

- Schools - Retail - Hospitality - Healthcare aka buildings that ALWAYS have many occupants

Question 26

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction) What types of projects can earn up to 7 points by meeting the requirements of two equipment tables?

Answer 26

- Schools - Retail - Healthcare

Question 27

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction) What standards are often referenced for indoor water use?

Answer 27

- EPAct of 1992 and 2005 - IgCC/ASHRAE 189.1 - ANSI UPC 1-2006 (IAPMO) - ICC, International Plumbing Code 2006, S 604 - ENERGY STAR - WaterSense

Question 28

(WE - Indoor Water Use Reduction) What percentage of water use reduction earns Exemplary Performance?

Answer 28

55%

Question 29

(WE - Cooling Tower Water Use) What parameters need to be measured when conducting a potable water analysis on a cooling tower or evaporative condenser?

Answer 29

- Calcium (as CaCO3), maximum level 1000ppm - Alkalinity, maximum level 1000ppm - SiO2 (silicon dioxide), maximum level 100ppm - Chloride Cl, maximum level 250ppm - Conductivity, maximum level 2000μS/cm

Question 30

(WE - Cooling Tower Water Use) How does one calculate the number of cooling tower cycles?

Answer 30

Divide the max allowed concentration level of each parameter (table 1) by the actual concentration level of each parameter found in the test. Limit cooling tower cycles to avoid exceeding max values for ANY parameters.

Question 31

(WE - Cooling Tower Water Use) How can a cooling tower earn 2pts for this credit?

Answer 31

- Achieve a minimum of 10 cycles by increasing level of treatment in condenser or make-up water - Meet minimum number of cycles for 1pt, then use a minimum 20% recycled nonpotable water

Question 32

(WE - Water Metering) What subsystems can be metered to achieve this credit? (two or more of these must be metered)

Answer 32

- Irrigation - Indoor plumbing fixtures - Domestic hot water - Boiler with 100,000gal+ or boiler with 500,000 BtuH+ - Reclaimed water - Other process water

Question 33

(WE - Water Metering) How can a project earn this credit for metering irrigation?

Answer 33

- Meter at least 80% of irrigated area | - Xeriscaping or native veg may be excluded

Question 34

(WE - Water Metering) How can a project earn this credit for metering Indoor plumbing fixtures and fittings?

Answer 34

- Meter at least 80% of all fixtures

Question 35

(WE - Water Metering) How can a project earn this credit for metering Domestic Hot Water?

Answer 35

- Meter at least 80% of all domestic hot water heating capacity (including tanks and on-demand heaters)

Question 36

(WE - Water Metering) How can a project earn this credit for metering Boilers?

Answer 36

- A single makeup meter may record flows for multiple boilers

Question 37

(WE - Water Metering) How can a project earn this credit for metering Reclaimed water?

Answer 37

- Meter reclaimed water, regardless of rate. - A reclaimed water system with a makeup water connection must also be metered so that the true reclaimed water component can be determined.

Question 38

(WE - Water Metering) How can a project earn this credit for metering Other Process Water?

Answer 38

- Meter at least 80% of expected daily water consumption for process end uses (humidification systems, dishwashers, clothes washers, pools, etc.)

Question 39

(WE - Water Metering) What additional areas must a Healthcare project meter, in addition to the two areas that other projects must meter? (at least five of these)

Answer 39

- Purified water systems (reverse-osmosis, de-ionized) - Filter backwash water - Water use in dietary dept. - Water use in laundry - Water use in Lab - Water use in Central Sterile & Processing - Water use in Physiotherapy, Hydrotherapy, and treatment areas - Water use in surgical suite - Close-looped hydronic systems makeup water - Cold-water makeup for domestic hot water systems