Having been directly involved in the "greening" of the professional cleaning industry for more than 20 years and now working to make it more sustainable as well, if there is one thing I have learned over the years it is that "green" and sustainability are not static issues. Instead, we should view "green," green cleaning and sustainability as always evolving and growing, with the ultimate goal of helping facilities operate in a healthier, more resource responsible manner.
An example of this evolution, which will impact commercial building owners, managers and the entire water technology industry, occurred late last year. In November 2013, at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Philadelphia, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) officially launched LEED v4. Although it builds on the previous LEED standards, one of the fundamental changes in this new version of the LEED rating system is an emphasis on water-related issues. In particular, LEED-EB (existing buildings) is designed to help improve efficiencies in older buildings, especially when it comes to energy and, of course, water.
Why the greater emphasis on water? In part, it is the result of advances in technology that help facilities use water much more efficiently, many of which have been introduced in just the past few years. Possibly even more important, however, is the fact that the USGBC as well as most green and sustainability experts foresee water concerns becoming a major issue in the 21st century. Not only that, but these concerns are likely to become more pressing sooner than anticipated. Taking steps now may help avoid, prevent or minimize water emergencies.
The LEED specifics
Before we go further, some terminology clarifications are in order. For a facility to receive LEED credits it must meet specific criteria as to water efficiency and now water conservation. What’s the difference? Water conservation references short-term measures taken to reduce water consumption during an emergency such as a drought. Once the emergency has passed, water consumption typically returns to normal.
Efficiency, on the other hand, is long term. Whether in a drought condition or, for that matter, during an unusually wet period, the steps taken to reduce water consumption remain in effect.
With that clarification, the following are the prerequisites for LEED v4 that commercial building owners and managers as well as those in the water technology industry should be aware of:
- Outdoor water use reduction: Using the EPA’s WaterSense Water Budget Tool, existing facilities must reduce water used for landscaping and outdoor vegetation by 30 percent.
- Indoor water use reduction: Certain fixtures and fittings must bear the WaterSense Label. In addition, cooling tower requirements from ASHRAE 189 have been adopted. Further water reduction requirements have been added for retail, hospitality and healthcare facilities specifically. Note: Formerly these prerequisites were referred to as “Water Use Reduction” and “Water Efficient Landscaping.”
- Building-level metering: A new requirement, each project must now be capable of measuring whole-building water use.
