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Credit language straight from USGBC
Need to check up on the exact LEED credit language from the LEED Rating System on the fly? LEEDuser includes the verbatim language. Members get:
- Easy access to the official LEED credit language with just a couple of clicks.
- On the jobsite without your bulky LEED Reference Guide? Check up on the credit language details here.
- Credit language content is used by permission of the U.S. Green Building Council.
5 Comments
Cooling Towers vs Irrigation
It is my understanding (largely from this site) that if a project does NOT have an irrigation system, it can qualify for the maximum five points under that credit, because the project has reduced the amount of water used in irrigation by 100% over a typical system.
It is also my understanding that a project that does NOT use any water to cool the chillers (they are air cooled), does NOT qualify for any points under this credit, though it has reduced the amount of water used by the cooling tower by 100%.
Why would an absence of a system earn full credit in one instance, and disqualify a project from earning points in another?
Thanks!
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC May 12 2010
You do understand things correctly, and raise a good question. It's kind of like EQc4.3 in earlier versions of LEED-NC, where you could only earn the point if you used carpet, so in some cases teams were adding small areas of carpet just to earn the point. Not exactly productive.
In that case, the credit was changed through 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 and in LEED 2009. LEED-EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. definitely has some kinks; maybe this issue will be revisited in 2012.
Jenny Carney replied Director, YRG sustainability May 19 2010
Another note on this...you can only earn the irrigation credits if you actually have some amount of vegetation on your site (something to irrigate). An absence of vegetation itself results in the same situation as with the cooling towers - the points are off the table.
Conductivity Meter and Auto Controls/No chemical management
Can our team still attempt WEc4.1 with a system that does not require blow-down and does not require chemical treatmentChemical treatment includes the use of biocidal, conditioning, dispersant, and scale-inhibiting chemicals to control biological growth, scale, and corrosion in cooling towers. Alternatives to conventional chemical treatment include ozonation, ionization, and exposure to ultraviolet light. as an alternative compliance method? Here is an excerpt from the plan:
1. Chemical Treatment: The water is pre-treated with a water softener and UV filter; there is no chemical treatment required.
2. Bleed-offBleed-off, or blowdown, is the release of a portion of the recirculating water from a cooling tower; this water carries dissolved solids that can cause mineral buildup./BlowdownBleed-off, or blowdown, is the release of a portion of the recirculating water from a cooling tower; this water carries dissolved solids that can cause mineral buildup.: The cooling tower has no automatic blowdown feature, which wastes water and requires 1,500 gallons of water per day. The blowdown process is used when cleaning with acid or eliminating hard metal or other buildup. Because the water is pretreated, blowdown will not be necessary. Because using the blowdown feature is not necessary, the system saves 1,250 gallons per day.
With no blow-down requirements (except for annual maintenance), there is no need for conductivity meterA device that measures the amount of nutrients and salt in water. Also know as a EC meter./automatic controls. Similarly, the cooling tower water is pre-treated with a water-softener (non-toxic) and a UV light. Overall this method minimizes the amount potable waterPotable water meets or exceeds EPA's drinking water quality standards and is approved for human consumption by the state or local authorities having jurisdiction; it may be supplied from wells or municipal water systems. consumption for cooling tower equipment through effective water management, (as stated by the intent of WEc4.1) but does not meet the requirements for conductivity meters or "chemical" treatment.
Would this system be ineligible for this credit?
Andrea Traber replied Director, Sustainable Buildings and Operations, KEMA Aug 23 2010
From what you are describing, you are using a very innovative system that would in fact qualify for credit WEc4.1. If any of your makeup water is from a non-potable source you may also be able to qualify for 4.2 and possibly 4.3 as well. It would be great for LEED Users if you could share the system name. Good job!
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