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Relevant Mandates and Rating Systems

Mandates Rating Systems

The HPSB Guiding Principles for New Construction and Major Renovations

The Guiding Principles for New Construction, as mandated by Executive Orders 13514 and 13423, address water with a number of key directives. As per EISA 2007, thirty percent of the hot water demand should be met using the installation of solar hot water heaters when lifecycle cost-effective. Section III of the Guiding Principles addresses the need to "Protect and Conserve Water" in the facility’s indoors, outdoors, and processes. Guidance sets an aggregate goal at a minimum of twenty percent and at a fifty percent reduction in potable water use for inside and outside the facility, respectively. The implementation of water-efficient products containing EPA’s WaterSense label are encouraged.

http://www.wbdg.org/references/fhpsb.php

Relation to Water: hot water energy, water harvesting, water protection and conservation, graywater, efficient plumbing fixtures, efficient landscaping, water metering

The HPSB Guiding Principles for Existing Buildings

For existing facilities, the Guiding Principles requires a twenty percent reduction in indoor potable water use compared to 120 percent of the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) 2006 baseline or the specific buildings water use data in 2003. Potable water for irrigation must be reduced by at least fifty percent of the 2003 baseline. The installation of water meters for building sites with significant indoor and outdoor water use is further encouraged. Deploying lifecycle cost effective water conservation measures and water-efficient products with EPA’s WaterSense or similar label is explicit.

http://www.wbdg.org/references/fhpsb_existing.php

Relation to Water: water protection and conservation, water metering, reduced irrigation, water-efficient products

Executive Order 13514 (2009)

Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance

Executive Order 13514 expands the water efficiency requirements of EO13423 and EISA 2007 by requiring Federal agencies to reduce potable water consumption intensity two percent annually through fiscal year 2020, or 26 percent relative to a FY 2007 baseline. EO 13514 further requires a reduction in agency industrial, landscaping, and agricultural water consumption by two percent annually or twenty percent by the end of FY2020 relative to a 2010 baseline. Agencies are also encouraged to identify, promote, and implement water reuse strategies consistent with state law that limits the need to consume potable water.

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/eo13514.pdf

Relation to Water: reduce potable water consumption, reduce landscaping water consumption, water reuse strategies, stormwater management

Energy Independence and Security Act (2007)

The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) requires facility managers, as defined by the act, to complete comprehensive water evaluations through retro-commissioning of 25 percent of covered facilities each year, so that each facility is completed at least once every four years. Water efficiency measures were specified, with the promotion of bundling measures into combined projects as a cost-effective strategy to reduce overall energy consumption per square foot by thirty percent by FY2015. Measuring and verifying water savings through metering is also made explicit.

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ140.110

Relation to Water: water commissioning, solar hot water equipment, water conservation, water cost savings

Executive Order 13423 (2007)

Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management

Executive Order 13423 requires Federal agencies to reduce water consumption intensity (measured in gallons per square foot) by two percent annually through the end of FY2015, which is equivalent to a sixteen percent overall reduction from the defined 2007 baseline. Federal facilities are further directed to conduct annual water audits of at least ten percent of facility square footage and to conduct these audits at least every ten years. EO1314 also promotes the purchasing of water efficient products and services as well as WaterSense labeled products.

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-374.pdf

Relation to Water: water audits, water-efficient products, reduce water intensity

LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (2009)

LEED Existing Building: Operations & Maintenance (LEED EB:O&M) dedicates certification credits to reducing the burden on potable water supply and wastewater systems through implementation of water-conserving indoor plumbing fixtures and fittings that meet or exceed the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) or International Plumbing Code (IPC) of 2006. Metering of irrigation, indoor plumbing fixtures, cooling towers, domestic hot water, and other process water uses is emphasized. Reducing the water demand for irrigation and indoor plumbing fixtures through water-efficient landscaping and fittings respectfully, is also explicit in LEED EB+OM. Credits are also available for utilizing fifty percent non potable water sources in cooling tower makeup water use.

Relation to Water
Credit ID Credit Name
SSc6 Stormwater Quantity Control
WEp1 Minimum Indoor Plumbing Fixture and Fitting Efficiency
WEc1 Water Performance Measurement
WEc2 Additional Indoor Plumbing Fixture and Fitting Efficiency
WEc3 Water Efficient Landscaping
WEc4.1 Cooling Tower Water Management - Chemical Management
WEc4.2 Cooling Tower Water Management - Non-Potable Water Source Use
http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=8876

LEED for Commercial Interiors (2009)

LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEED CI) employs a number of sustainable water system best practices in its certification process. A twenty percent reduction in overall building water use compared to the tenant space baseline is required, while reductions between thirty and forty percent are rewarded with more credit points. LEED CI guidance recommends using WaterSense-certified fixtures coupled with using alternative on-site sources of water such as rainwater, stormwater, graywater, and air conditioner condensate. Commissioning the domestic hot water systems is made explicit as part of the whole building commissioning process, as well as monitoring and verifying the performance of indoor water risers and outdoor irrigation systems.

Relation to Water
Credit ID Credit Name
SSc1 Site Selection: Path 7 Water Efficient Landscaping – Reduce 50%; Path 8 Water Efficient Landscaping –No Potable Water Use or Irrigation; Path 9 – Innovative Wastewater Technologies; Path 10 – Water Use Reduction – 30% Reduction
WEp1 Water Use Reduction
WEc1 Water Use Reduction
EAp1 Fundamental Commissioning of Building Energy Systems: Domestic hot water systems
EAc3 Measurement and Verification
http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=8874

LEED for New Construction (2009)

LEED for New Construction (LEED NC) addresses components of a sustainable water system in a number of ways. Projects are required to employ strategies that in aggregate use twenty percent less water than the building water use baseline. Integrating water-efficient landscaping that reduces potable water consumption by 50 to 100 percent is also identified. Additionally, reducing the quantity of potable water use for building sewage conveyance or treating fifty percent of wastewater on-site to tertiary standards assists in achieving LEED NC project certification.

Relation to Water
Credit ID Credit Name
SSc6.1 Stormwater Design – Quantity Control
SSc6.2 Stormwater Design – Quality Control
WEp1 Water Use Reduction
WEc1 Water Efficient Landscaping
WEc2 Innovative Wastewater Technologies
WEc3 Water Use Reduction
http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=8868

Green Globes New Construction

A sustainable water system is directly addressed in Green Globes New Construction certification system in the categories of project management, site, and water. Water performance goals can be set between 10-35 gallons/ft2/year, with credit given to ongoing performance verification and documentation. Sub-metering is rewarded, as well a minimal use of water for cooling towers. Outdoor water use for irrigation is discouraged. Emphasis is further given to implementing on-site wastewater treatment systems where practical.

Example Survey Questions
Questions
Is there a commitment to minimize the water consumption of the building and associated site activities, and to establish a water target?
Is there a commitment to minimize the demand for potable water in the building and on-site?
Is there a commitment to minimize the need for the off-site treatment of water?
For each proposed site, has an investigation been done to determine whether the site and proposed development are appropriate for collecting rainwater?
If local codes allow it, has each site been evaluated in terms of whether there is sufficient land area on the site to construct a wetland or graywater infiltration system integrated with the landscape design?
If cooling towers are to be used, will they have water-conserving features?
Will the principles of xeriscaping be applied?
Is a separate system for the supply of graywater being considered?
http://www.thegbi.org/green-globes/new-construction.asp

Green Globes Continual Improvement of Existing Buildings (CIEB)

Green Globes CIEB encourages cognitive implementation and metering of water heating equipment for energy efficiency measures. With regards to water conservation, low flow toilets and urinals that use less than 1.6 and 1.0 GPF respectfully are made explicit. Green Globes CIEB rewards thoughtful water management and written policies to discourage the use of once-through cooling units and landscaping necessitating a plentiful water supply while ensuring proper maintenance of the water system is upheld.

Example Survey Questions
Questions
Does the building have high-efficiency water heating equipment?
Is there a written policy intended to minimize water use, and encourage water conservation?
Is water consumption being monitored?
Are there the following water-conserving fixtures: low flow toilets that use less than 1.6 GPF? Ultra low flush urinals that use less than 1.0 GPF? Automatic valve controls and/or proximity detectors? Low flow or laminar flow faucets (2.2 GPM)?
Does the landscaping minimize the need for irrigation? Are other sources of water used for irrigation such as: Rainwater? Graywater?
Does the building use once-through water-cooled units?
Are there regular procedures for checking and fixing leaks?
http://www.thegbi.org/green-globes/continual-improvement-for-existing-buildings.asp