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Credit language straight from USGBC
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22 Comments
Meter Calibration
We have meters from two different manufacturers; both do not have requirements or recommendations for calibration. Also, service providers and other contacts not able to perform requirement.
Question: Should we invest in a portable meter that can be tied in downstream of existing meters? By doing so, I would be able to compare/confirm GPM.
Note: One meter has hose bib down stream and can be isolated for testing. Second meter setup would not be a problem. Portable measuring device is designed for hose bib hookup and can be certified as well as calibrated.
Jenny Carney replied Director, YRG sustainability Feb 16 2010
Paul - seems like this might be workable.
My first strategy for meters not owned by the utility would be to figure out if the manufacturer guarantees meter performance up to a certain age or volume of water that has passed through, and then show that the meters are under that age/volume. In my experience, teams in the past have been able to use this approach where calibration intervals/protocols aren't established by the manufacturer.
An alternative would be for the project team (you) to perform and document the calibration or verification of the meters' accuracy. I am not aware of any requirement that calibration has to be performed by a third-party, so it seems this could be viable. Before investing in any specialized equipment, I'd suggest using a CIRCredit Interpretation Ruling. Used by design team members experiencing difficulties in the application of a LEED prerequisite or credit to a project. Typically, difficulties arise when specific issues are not directly addressed by LEED information/guide to get the green light on your intended approach. The more detail you could lay out in the CIR the better, including the specific equipment you intend to use, who will be performing the assessment, protocol followed, etc. The American Water Works Association's manual, "Water Meters - Selection, Installation, Testing, and Maintenance" might help you to come up with a valid testing scheme. Good luck!
PAUL ARAGAKI replied Mar 04 2010
Mahalo and Aloha from Hawaii
Chris Munn replied Aug 11 2010
If a manufacturer recommends replacing a meter instead of calibrating, can this be done during the performance period, or does this have to take place before the beginning of the performance period? The LEED credit form states:
"Provide a dated summary calibration report verifying proper functioning of each of the meters owned by the project building owner, tenant or property manager. The report must be within the manufacturer’s recommended interval, as measured from the conclusion of the performance period (e.g., if the recommended calibration interval is five years, calibration must have occurred within five years of the end of the performance period.) For meters where manufacturers recommend replacement instead of calibration, provide documentation to show proof of purchase date and manufacturers’ meter replacement program."
It sounds to me like it would be okay to replace during the performance period so long as it is done before the end of the performance period.
Water Metering for Multi-Building Applications?
What are the requirements to earn this credit for multi-building applications? The credit langage focuses on "the entire building and associated grounds" but how does this play out for campuses? Does each building need a meter, or is one meter for the whole campus acceptable? What about meters, such as irrigation, that can only effectively be installed to serve an entire campus?
Dan Ackerstein replied Principal, Ackerstein Sustainability, LLC Mar 02 2010
Good question - in terms of the building-level metering, the expectation is certainly that each building on a campus would have its own water meter. The more complicated question, which I'm not sure has a firm answer, is how campus buildings can document compliance with the irrigation meter component. I would think that one could focus on the credit intent, which is to ensure a level of metering granular enough to ensure effective performance monitoring and tracking of surprises like leaks or changes in use patterns. To that end, I think metering would be significantly more extensive than a single campus irrigation meter but perhaps not so ambitious as an individual irrigation water meter associated with every individual building on campus. That is, some kind of irrigation zone metering rather than a single figure for campus irrigation water use.
Recertification and Weekly Meter Readings
It's my understanding that once a project building is certified under the LEED EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. rating system the building enjoys the privilege of being a "LEED certified" building for up to five years. Within five years the building must apply for recertification in order to maintain its LEED status.
To the best of my knowledge once a building is certified GBCI, USGBC or both define the recertification performance period as starting on the day of certification and extending until the application date for recertification.
Does this mean that for a period of up to five years management at the project building will have to obtain weekly water meter readings? I could understand monthly but will somebody educate me on the rationale behind requiring five years of weekly water meter readings?
Natalie Bodenhamer replied Green Building Consultant, CTG Energetics, Inc Aug 16 2010
Brittany, my apologies for the delayed response. To some extent the requirements for re-certification remain in the development stages. The specifics for Re-Certification credit documentation (such as weekly vs monthly water meter readings) are not entirely clear. To be safe, I suggest assuming the Re-Certification requirements will align with the requirements during the Performance Period of the original submittal/certification.
In terms of the value of weekly readings, the intent of this credit to “understand consumption patterns and identify opportunities for additional savings”. By reading meters on a regular basis (weekly in this case) and compiling monthly summaries, the team can identify trends, patterns and anomalies in water use frequently. The weekly frequency provides an opportunity to recognize and correct issues found each week, rather than noticing and repairing an issue (that has been present for weeks) at the end of the month. Some facilities I have worked with take meter readings daily via the “daily rounds sheets” and this data can be entered into monthly summaries.
Brittany McCollum replied Intern, Viridian Aug 16 2010
Thank you, Natalie, and all!
So, I suppose that once USGBC/GBCI are able to clarify the recertification procedures, this may be cleared up, but we see a gap in necessary data collection. From the date on which my performance period ends to the date I receive my EB certification (since my recertification begins on the date I was certified), any data collected during this time will not be required for anything. Is this correct at this point?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Aug 20 2010
It seems like you are right, but as you note this is under development and it's hard to say for sure. I wouldn't want my team to get OUT of the habit of collecting data, when it's a good and needed habit.
Recertification and Weekly Meter Readings
Yes, Brittany, you're right - during the recertification performance period, all credit requirements should remain in place at the building, including weekly water meter readings.
The rationale for this is listed on pages 94-95 of the LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Operations and Maintenance: "Understanding a building's water use and consumption patterns can alert facility managers to consumption that may indicate leaks or other wasted water." and "Measuring water consumption at least weekly enables ongoing evaluation and improvement of fixtures and equipment over the life of the building."
By reading meters weekly, the facility manager is alerted to leaks or other water consumption issues when the problem starts, not weeks after the fact when the utility company's bill arrives. In addition, it helps the facility manager get a sense of the water usage and how it changes over the year, allowing him or her to quickly note and address any changes.
John Beeson replied Chief Mystic in Resident, betterENVIRONMENT, LLC Jun 01 2010
Hello Corinna, (long time, no talk!)
To follow up with this, the rating system (pg93) states, "meter data must be recorded on a regular basis and compiled into monthly and annual summaries". Then on page 94, under "Implementation", it references your quotation. So if a project team states only monthly reading and did not do weekly readings, the credit is denied?
Dan Ackerstein replied Principal, Ackerstein Sustainability, LLC Jun 01 2010
That's correct John - the requirement is that meters are read (and data recorded) at least once per week.
John Beeson replied Chief Mystic in Resident, betterENVIRONMENT, LLC Jun 01 2010
So, the rating system should read "meter data must be recorded on a weekly basis, at minimum"... That just seems a little misleading for project teams.
Jason Franken replied LEED Consultant, YRG sustainability Jun 01 2010
This is absolutely correct and a point that should be heavily emphasized. If a project building does not perform manual meter readings at a minimum interval of at least one week, they cannot earn this credit. If they perform the weekly manual readings, or use electronic data loggers to transmit the consumption data on a daily or weekly basis, they will qualify to earn one or more points under WEc1.
Natalie Bodenhamer replied Green Building Consultant, CTG Energetics, Inc Jun 01 2010
Additionally, be sure to include the monthly summary of all weekly readings. I spoke with a project team recently who submitted weekly readings, but did not summarize these readings in a monthly log. The review team asked the project team to submit a monthly log as well.
Sub metering clarification
Ours is a production facility which we are intending to achieve LEED. We have the main production building and other supportive building spaces (Canteen, hostels and toilets which are separate from the main building). We are thinking of applying for certification as a one facility and my question is that if we use meters for building spaces other than the main building will that be qualified as a sub metering?
Jason Franken replied LEED Consultant, YRG sustainability Mar 19 2010
Rashid, the LEED requirements for WEc1 specifically define sub-metering at the system-level, not at the space level, so a sub-meter that captures water consumption in your canteen, for instance, would not help you earn this credit, The qualifying types of sub-metering for this credit are: irrigation, indoor plumbing fixtures/fittings, cooling tower water, domestic hot water, or process waterProcess water is used for industrial processes and building systems such as cooling towers, boilers, and chillers. It can also refer to water used in operational processes, such as dishwashing, clothes washing, and ice making. use. You would need to demonstrate, for one or more of these sub-systems, that you are capturing at least 80% of the total water consumption on the entire project site for that sub-system.
RASHID HAMEEN replied Mar 21 2010
Thanks, Jason..i will look in to this...
hot water consumption sub-metering
oUR project is taking 'cooling tower' consumption as one of the sub-metering areas.For exemplary performanceIn LEED, certain credits have established thresholds beyond basic credit achievement. Meeting these thresholds can earn additional points through Innovation in Design (ID) or Innovation in Operations (IO) points. As a general rule of thumb, ID credits for exemplary performance are awarded for doubling the credit requirements and/or achieving the next incremental percentage threshold. However, this rule varies on a case by case basis, so check the credit requirements.,we would want to go in for Domestic hot water subsystem metering data.The project is a resort which supplies hot water through a boiler for all the hot water demands in the resort.It is metered as well on a daily basis.Would this be enough to go in for the exemplary performance.Please advice.
Natalie Bodenhamer replied Green Building Consultant, CTG Energetics, Inc Aug 20 2010
As long as 80% of the installed domestic hot water heating capacity is metered, you can include the meter. Having a meter on your boiler (that heats 100% of the water demand) meets the requirement for Option 2 of the credit. As long as Option 1 is fulfilled (whole building water meter) and your cooling tower meter meets the Option 2 requirements, the domestic hot water meter will satisfy Exemplary PerformanceIn LEED, certain credits have established thresholds beyond basic credit achievement. Meeting these thresholds can earn additional points through Innovation in Design (ID) or Innovation in Operations (IO) points. As a general rule of thumb, ID credits for exemplary performance are awarded for doubling the credit requirements and/or achieving the next incremental percentage threshold. However, this rule varies on a case by case basis, so check the credit requirements..
ZEB Tech singapore replied ESD Consultancy, ZEB-Technology Pte Ltd Aug 21 2010
Thank You Natalie
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