Building Water Solutions

Certifications

We have reviewed the LEED Rating System Addendum for New Construction, as published by the Canadian Green Building Council for areas where implementation of an advanced water treatment system will gain credit for LEED points.

Rather than concentrating on reduction of flow by use of low-flow appliances, our philosophy is to conserve water by shifting the consumer’s use patterns and perception of water quality. The prolific use of alternate sources of drinking water, such as plastic bottles and reverse osmosis, while giving the perception of higher quality, are actually providing water of questionable quality while wasting vast amounts of water.

LEED Credit #

Intent

Solution

Sustainable Sites
OPTION 1G

Water Efficient Irrigation: Reduced Potable Water Consumption: (1/2 point) A building that employs high-efficiency irrigation technology, OR uses rain or recycled site water to reduce potable water consumption for irrigation by 50% over conventional means.

A storage tank is used to collect backwash water to be pumped back into the irrigation system. System is metered to verify water usage. This solution is available as an option.
Effluent can also be reused in chillers and other building equipment to reduce costs.

Sustainable Sites
OPTION 1H

Water Efficient Irrigation, No Potable Use or No Irrigation: (1/2 point in addition to Prior requirement) A building that uses only captured rain or recycled site water to eliminate all potable water use for site irrigation (except for initial watering to establish plants), OR does not have permanent landscaping irrigation systems.

In addition to the above, rain water is captured and diverted to top-up collection tank, insuring NO potable water is required for irrigation. System is metered to verify water usage. This solution is available as an option.

Sustainable Sites
OPTION 1J

Water Use Reduction, 20% or 30% Reduction: (1/2 point for 20% and 1 point for 30%) A building that meets the 20% or 30% reduction in water use requirement for the entire building and has an ongoing plan to require future occupants to comply.

Data certified by Green Order on behalf of GE show that;

For residential,
the average person consumes 365-one liter bottles of water per year. The plastic in these bottles represents a total of 13.5kg of plastic with a carbon footprint of 40.5 kg GHG emissions, and 2,335L of water are wasted in the manufacturing of the plastic.

For commercial,
A 500-worker office/factory consumes 250,000 bottles per year, and is responsible for 9,250 kg year plastic disposal, with corresponding GHG emissions of 27,750kg. In addition, 1,850 m3 of water are wasted in producing this quantity of plastic.

StatsCan reports that 30% of households rely on bottled water, 14% of households use under-the-counter RO systems, and 21% use tap filters.

Reverse osmosis wastes 2 to 5 liters of water for every liter produced. An average family requires 16L per day of water for drinking and cooking. This means that this family wastes 11,680 – 29,200 liters per year. There is also the additional burden on landfills from the replacement cartridges.

Tap filters must be changed on a regular basis for optimum performance. Four changes per year is typical.

Our membranes do not need replacement therefore diversion from landfills is 100% for first 10 years for membrane use.

Sustainable Sites
OPTION 1L


Other Quantifiable Environmental Performance: (1/2 point) A building that had in place at time of selection other quantifiable environmental performance, for which the requirements may be found in other LEED rating systems.


Water Efficiency
CREDIT 1.1

Intent: maximize water efficiency within tenant spaces to reduce the burden on municipal water supply and wastewater systems. Requirements: Based on tenant occupancy requirements, employ strategies that in aggregate use 20% less potable water than the water use baseline calculated for the tenant space (not including irrigation) after meeting the Energy Policy Act of 1992 fixture performance requirements listed. (1 point)

Water Efficiency CREDIT 1.2

Intent: maximize water efficiency within tenant spaces to reduce the burden on municipal water supply and wastewater systems. Requirements: Based on tenant occupancy requirements, employ strategies that in aggregate use 30% less potable water than the water use baseline calculated for the tenant space (not including irrigation) after meeting the Energy Policy Act of 1992 fixture performance requirements listed. (1 point in addition to above for increase to 30%)

Materials & Resources CREDIT 1.1

Intent: Encourage choices that will conserve resources, reduce waste and reduce the environmental impacts of tenancy as they relate to materials, manufacturing and transport. Requirements: Occupant commits to remain in the same location for not less than 10 years. (1 point)

By providing a tested, certified and best in class quality water product all tenants are now able to reduce their purchase of other water products thereby reducing cost, waste and water used substantially for each building

Innovation & Design Process CREDIT 1

Intent: Provide design teams and projects the opportunity to be awarded points for exceptional performance above the requirements set by the LEED Canada-CI Green Building Rating System and/or innovative performance in Green Building categories not specifically addressed by the LEED Green Building Rating System. Requirements: Credit 1.1 (1 point) Identify the intent of the proposed innovation credit, the proposed requirements for compliance, the proposed submittals to demonstrate compliance, and the design approach (strategies) that might be used to meet the requirements; Credit 1.2 (1 point) Same as Credit 1.1; Credit 1.3 (1 point) Same as Credit 1.1; Credit 1.4 (1 point) Same as Credit 1.1

We provide a novel solution that reduces net water consumption by addressing the water quality of the building. We also provide significant measurable environmental benefits, as follows;

By eliminating plastic bottles, we provide an annual reduction in plastic to landfills of 13.5 kg, a reduction in water consumed to make this plastic of 2,335 liters, and a reduction in GHG emissions of 40.5 kg PER PERSON.
Elimination of tap filters reduce landfill waste.
Elimination of under the counter RO reduces water usage by eliminating the inefficiency of the process and reduces volume to landfills of replacement cartridges.

LEED Credit #

Intent

Solution

Water Efficiency CREDIT 1.1

1 point for using recycled site water to reduce potable water consumption for irrigation by 50% over conventional means

A storage tank is used to collect backwash water to be pumped into the irrigation system. System is metered to verify water usage. This solution is available as an option.

Water Efficiency CREDIT 1.2

1 point in addition to Credit 1.1 - for a building that uses only captured rain or recycled site water to eliminate all potable water use for site irrigation.

In addition to the above, rain water is captured and diverted to top-up collection tank, insuring NO potable water is required for irrigation System is metered to verify water usage. This solution is available as an option.

Water Efficiency CREDIT 3.1

1 point for 20% reduction in water use requirement for the entire building and has an ongoing plan to require future occupants to comply.

Data certified by Green Order on behalf of GE show that;

For residential,
the average person consumes 365-one liter bottles of water per year. The plastic in these bottles represents a total of 13.5kg of plastic with a carbon footprint of 40.5 kg GHG emissions, and 2,335L of water are wasted in the manufacturing of the the plastic.

For commercial,
A 500-worker office/factory consumes 250,000 bottles per year, and is responsible for 9,250 kg year plastic disposal, with corresponding GHG emissions of 27,750kg. In addition, 1,850 m3 of water are wasted to produce this quantity of plastic.

StatsCan reports that 30% of households rely on bottled water, 14% of households use under-the-counter RO systems, and 21% use tap filters.

Tap filters must be changed on a regular basis for optimum performance. Four changes per year is typical.

Water Efficiency CREDIT 3.2

1 point for 30% reduction in water use requirement for the entire building and has an ongoing plan to require future occupants to comply.

Innovation & Design Process CREDIT 1

Intent: Provide design teams and projects the opportunity to be awarded points for exceptional performance above the requirements set by the LEED Canada-NC Green Building Rating System and/or innovative performance in Green Building categories not specifically addressed by the LEED Green Building Rating System. Requirements: Credit 1.1 (1 point) Identify the intent of the proposed innovation credit, the proposed requirements for compliance, the proposed submittals to demonstrate compliance, and the design approach (strategies) that might be used to meet the requirements; Credit 1.2 (1 point) Same as Credit 1.1; Credit 1.3 (1 point) Same as Credit 1.1; Credit 1.4 (1 point) Same as Credit 1.1

We provide a novel solution that reduces net water consumption by addressing the water quality of the building. We also provide significant measurable environmental benefits, as follows;

By eliminating plastic bottles, we provide a reduction in plastic to landfills of 13.5 kg, a reduction in water consumed to make this plastic of 2,335 liters, and a reduction in GHG emissions of 40.5 kg PER PERSON.
Elimination of tap filters reduce landfill waste.
Elimination of under the counter RO reduces water usage by eliminating the inefficiency of the process and reduces volume to landfills of replacement cartridges.

Note: All of the above are possible through the application of our program depending on options approved by each owner. Additional credits may be available through CGBC recently revised existing building requirements.