Which of the following is required for a cooling tower or evaporative condenser in Water Efficiency Prerequisite, Indoor Water Use Reduction?
Answer(s): D
. Makeup water meters, conductivity controllers and overflow alarms According to the Water Efficiency Prerequisite for Indoor Water Use Reduction, cooling towers and evaporative condensers must be equipped with makeup water meters, conductivity controllers and overflow alarms to reduce water consumption and prevent water waste. These devices help monitor and control the water quality, flow rate and level of the cooling system, and alert the operators of any malfunctions or leaks.
As per the LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED AP BD+C) V4 resources, the installation of makeup water meters, conductivity controllers and overflow alarms is a requirement for cooling towers and evaporative condensers under the Water Efficiency Prerequisite for IndoorWater Use Reduction. This prerequisite aims to reduce indoor water consumption by setting baseline and efficiency standards for fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment and processes. For cooling towers and evaporative condensers, the prerequisite also requires efficient drift eliminators that reduce drift to a maximum of 0.002% of recirculated water volume for counterflow towers and 0.005% of recirculated water flow for cross-flow towers. For more detailed information, you can refer to the web-based reference guide in the credit library at USGBC's official website.
A design team pursuing LEED for a new office building project calculated that with the water fixtures specified for the project, a 24% water reduction can be achieved compared to the LEED baseline. What does this mean to the team in terms of pursuing LEED?
Answer(s): B
According to the LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED AP BD+C) V4 resources, the Water Efficiency Prerequisite for Indoor Water Use Reduction requires the project to reduce aggregate water consumption by 20% from the baseline. Therefore, the project can meet this prerequisite with a 24% water reduction. However, to earn points under the Water Efficiency Credit for Indoor Water Use Reduction, the project needs to achieve a higher level of water reduction, ranging from 25% to 50%. The credit awards points based on the percentage of water reduction achieved, as shown in Table 1. Thus, the project may pursue this credit if it can further reduce its water consumption by installing more efficient fixtures and fittings, appliances, equipment and processes.
As per the LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED AP BD+C) V4 resources, the Water Efficiency Prerequisite and Credit for Indoor Water Use Reduction are based on an "efficiency first" approach to water conservation. The prerequisite sets a minimum standard of 20% water reduction from the baseline, while the credit rewards higher levels of performance up to 50% water reduction. The baseline water consumption of fixtures and fittings is based on the volumes and flow rates shown in Table 2. The credit also requires that all newly installed toilets, urinals, private lavatory faucets and showerheads that are eligible for labeling must be WaterSense labeled (or a local equivalent for projects outside the U.S.). For more detailed information, you can refer to the web-based reference guide in the credit library at USGBC's official website.
Sustainable Sites Credit, Site Assessment requires evaluation of
The Sustainable Sites Credit, Site Assessment requires the project to conduct and document a site inventory and analysis that evaluates the existing conditions and features of the site, such as topography, hydrology, human use, climate, vegetation, soils, and human health effects. The purpose of the site assessment is to inform the design and development of the site in a way that protects, restores, and enhances the environmental quality and performance of the site. The site assessment should include the following elements:Topography: The shape and elevation of the land surface, including slopes, drainage patterns, and erosion potential.Hydrology: The movement, distribution, and quality of water on the site, including surface water, groundwater, precipitation, and runoff.Human use: The current and planned use of the site and its surroundings, including zoning, land use, transportation, utilities, and cultural resources.Climate: The long-term weather patterns and conditions of the site, including temperature, humidity, wind, solar radiation, and precipitation.Vegetation: The types, distribution, and condition of plants on the site, including native, invasive, and endangered species, and their ecological functions and values. Soils: The physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil on the site, including texture, structure, organic matter, pH, fertility, and contamination. Human health effects: The potential impacts of the site conditions and features on the health and well-being of the occupants and the surrounding community, such as noise, air quality, water quality, and exposure to hazardous substances.
LEED Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction v4 Sustainable Sites Credit, Site AssessmentSite Assessment - SITESSite Assessment and Analysis - Whole Building Design Guide
What is the average flush rate for a dual flush toilet with a high flush rate of 1.6 gpf (6 lpf) and a low flush rate of 1.05 gpf (4 lpf)?
The average flush rate for a dual flush toilet is calculated by weighting the high and low flush rates according to the frequency of use. According to the LEED Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction1, the frequency of use for male and female occupants is assumed to be as follows:Male full flush: 1 time per dayFemale full flush: 1 time per dayMale low flush: 2 times per dayFemale low flush: 2 times per dayTherefore, the average flush rate for a dual flush toilet with a high flush rate of 1.6 gpf (6 lpf) and a low flush rate of 1.05 gpf (4 lpf) is:6(1×1.6)+(1×1.6)+(2×1.05)+(2×1.05) =1.19 gpf(4.5 lpf)
LEED Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction v4 Dual toilet flush rate average | LEEDuserDual Flush vs Single Flush Toilet: The Complete Comparison Guide What Is a Dual Flush Toilet? - The Spruce
A new commercial building is being designed to use small capacity air handling units. To meet the requirements of the Carbon Dioxide Monitoring strategy in the Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Enhanced Indoor EnvironmentalQuality Strategies, where would CO2 monitors need to be located?
According to the LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, the Carbon Dioxide Monitoring strategy requires CO2 monitors to be located in each densely occupied space, which is defined as a space with a design occupant density of 25 people or more per 1,000 square feet (93 square meters). This strategy is intended to provide feedback on ventilation system performance and indoor air quality12
1: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Indoor Environmental Quality Credit: Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies, Option 2: Additional Enhanced IAQ Strategies, Strategy 3: Carbon Dioxide Monitoring, page 704. 2: LEED v4 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, Glossary, page 1019.
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