Consulting-Specifying Engineer - October 2008 - (Page 52)

Although the LEED standards do an adequate job of addressing some of the major water conservation concerns, the disproportionate distribution of accreditation points is a cause for concern. According the April 2008 LEED standards, only 10 out of a possible 92 accreditation points are dedicated to water efficiency. David DeBord, CPD, LEED AP, vice president of technical services of Environmental System Design, Chicago, believes in increase is necessary now, but inevitable for future guidelines. “The standards should be higher and it will surely increase every time the standards are revised or new standards are written,” he said. “For new construction, water credit points are doubling for 2009. A 20% reduction in water use is a prerequisite and will receive no points, but the other points are increased to a total of 10 points. Other changes are included also, which represent a shift toward water and energy use reduction, and away from materials credits.” In the future, there may be an opportunity for additional credits. Currently, there are only credits for a 10% and 20% water use reduction, but if additional incentives are given for the reduction of water use by 30%, 40%, or 50%, existing buildings are more likely to implement more aggressive water reduction strategies. National programs: FEMP The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) works to reduce the cost and environmental impact of the federal government by advancing energy efficiency and water conservation, promoting the use of distributed and renewable energy, and improving utility management decisions at federal sites. A major area of concern for FEMP is wateruse efficiency. The federal government uses an estimated 244 to 256 billion gal of water annually. To process and use water, the federal government uses an estimated 138.3 billion Btu of energy annually; 98% of this energy is used to heat water. With moderate efficiency efforts, the federal government could conserve approximately 40% of its water and related energy use, or 102.4 billion gal of water annually. Working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense office, FEMP updated its Best Management Practices (BMP) to reflect the changes in water use technology. In accordance with Executive Order 13423, “Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management,” the updated BMP provide guidelines for water-use efficiency in federal buildings including how to develop a successful water management plan, water-efficient irrigation techniques, cooling tower management, and the effective use of non-potable water from alternative sources. Future of water metering The future of water metering involves improved water use practices in all types of facilities. In the future, commercial buildings, hotels, restaurants, and residential properties need to address water conservation and metering in ways that will force the occupants to change their behavior. Input #233 at csemag.com/quickResponse 52 Consulting-Specifying Engineer • OCTOBER 2008 http://www.onicon.com http://www.onicon.com http://www.csemag.com/quickResponse

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Consulting-Specifying Engineer - October 2008 Contents Viewpoint Letters News M/E Roundtable Cities Under One Roof Eight Design Tips for Integration Is 'Green' Really New? Down the Drain Product of the Year Awards Codes & Standards Case Study New Products Equipment Lifecycles Advertiser Index Green Space

Consulting-Specifying Engineer - October 2008

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