Water
NREL has made significant progress in systematically and cost-effectively reducing water use.
Efforts in this area focus on the continued implementation of the NREL Water Efficiency Plan. This plan is being updated in FY07.
Learn more about our:
Current activities
Past activities
Current Activities
The federal directive, the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Water Conservation Best Management Practices, requires the implementation of four Best Management Practices in 80% of facilities by 2008. NREL has implemented six Best Management Practices at 100% of its facilities.
These Best Management Practices include:
- Educating staff about water conservation
- Xeriscaping
- Low-flush toilets
- Waterless urinals
- Retrofitted faucets and showerheads
- Cooling tower management, distribution audits, leak detection, and repairs.
For more information, visit FEMP's Web site on Water Efficiency.
NREL's water use has been reduced by 19 percent as compared to the FY00 baseline. In FY04, there was a minor reduction in total water use. This was due in part to the unplanned outages of two chillers. FY05 water use represents a more accurate view of yearly water consumption at the Laboratory.
Science and Technology Facility Water Conservation Features
The use of storm water retention ponds is an "as constructed" feature of the Science and Technology Facility (S&TF) contributing to its documented Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Level rating. The storm water detention strategy involves the use of a series of detention ponds around the building, so the water irrigates the landscape prior to leaving the site.
The system was designed so that storm water collects on the butterfly roof over the office and then flows over the spout at the east end of the building as a means to "celebrate" rainfall in our arid climate. The water flows into a series of ponds to detain the storm water.
The ponds have sand filters to collect sediment and pipes, which allow the water to flow from pond to pond down the site. By detaining the water in this way, the water is cleaned before it leaves the site. The water flow rate is also slowed to the level it was prior to building being constructed. In addition to using a storm water detention system for irrigation water, the building contains low-water-consuming fixtures, such as ultra-low-flow (0.5 gallon per flush) urinals. The cooling towers operate at six cycles of concentration, reducing makeup water requirements compared to those of a tower operating at more conventional cycles of concentration.
Past Activities
NREL's past activities include:
- Campaign to educate NREL employees about ways they can save water while at work and at home
- Irrigation "best management practice" implemented, reducing excess water use
- Toilets and urinals replaced with low-flow toilets and waterless urinals
- Low-flow faucets and showerheads installed
- 175 acres in open space easement (wetlands preserved, trails available)
- Storm water retention ponds
