S.8 Building Water Efficiency

Intent
Minimize municipal potable water or harvested groundwater (well water) use in buildings to conserve water resources and minimize water and wastewater treatment infrastructure impacts and cost.

Required Performance Criteria

1. Reduce municipal potable water or harvested groundwater use in building by 30% compared to code (1992 Energy Policy Act requirements) for any fixture types referenced by those requirements. The criteria may be met by any combination of: selection of low or no flow fixtures, use of alternatively sourced water, or other strategies. Major Renovation Path projects, may limit performance criteria application to the number of fixtures included in the renovation scope, however, even if no fixture replacement was planned in renovations scope, for any plumbing fixtures within the renovated area: faucets in the renovated area shall be upgraded with low-flow faucet aerators, and showerheads shall be upgraded with low-flow showerheads. In order to verify compliance with this guideline during operation of the building it is necessary to sub-meter indoor water consumption separately from irrigation.

Recommended Performance Criteria

2. Reduce municipal potable water or harvested groundwater use in building by 50% compared to code (1992 Energy Policy Act requirements) for any fixture types referenced by those requirements. The criteria may be met by any combination of: selection of low or no flow fixtures, use of alternatively sourced water, or other strategies. Major Renovation Path projects, may limit performance criteria application to the number of fixtures included in the renovation scope.

Compliance Tools and Resources

• Use Worksheet S-8 Building Water Calculator to calculate building water use for base and design. This also shows EPA required flow and flush fixture rates, and example fixture performance values.