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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.
16 Comments
RO Reject Water
My understanding of this is that RO reject water that is not considered potable by EPA standards could work. For example many lab projects require RO water for their work. This RO reject water can be treated on-site and get used for flush fixtures. This would also satisfy the credit correct?
Andrea Traber replied Director, Sustainable Buildings and Operations, KEMA Feb 23 2010
Yes, this would satisfy the credit since it is replacing use of 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.. More importantly, you will also want to check your local plumbing code which can be more problematic.
Since RO (reverse osmosis) reject water is higher up “water quality chain” because it is considered at least as clean as potable water you might consider additional reclaimed water uses that need higher quality water.
Calculating FTE for WEc2 & WEc3
This question is about calculating FTEFull-time equivalent (FTE) represents a regular building occupant who spends 8 hours a day (40 hours a week) in the project building. Part-time or overtime occupants have FTE values based on their hours per day divided by 8 (or hours per week divided by 40). Transient Occupants can be reported as either daily totals or as part of the FTE. Residential occupancy should be estimated based on the number and size of units. Core and Shell projects should refer to the default occupancy table in the Reference Guide appendix. All occupant assumptions must be consistent across all credits in all categories. for WEc2 & WEc3 under NC2.2.
In the design review of our project, GBCI has told us we should be using "typical/average daily occupancy" to calculate the FTE/
Transient occupancy for these 2 credits. We thought we were. We have
36 full time employees (50/50 male/female) plus 142 employees that
are in the office for an hour in the morning and an hour at the end
of the day (100 male plus 42 female). These employees consist of
delivery drivers and the outside sales force. We entered these 142
employees in the table under "Student/Visitor" in lieu of equating
them to FTE's so they will not be included in a group that calculates
shower and kitchen sink usage since they do not use these. Are we
calculating this correctly (as "typical/average daily occupancy")?
If not, how should we be calculating it? Thank you!
Andrea Traber replied Director, Sustainable Buildings and Operations, KEMA Mar 17 2010
In my humble opinion you are calculating transient occupancy correctly and classifying them logically as visitors for the reasons you state. However, since they are technically employees, not visitors, this may be the cause for the comment. Often providing a detailed narrative explaining your logic, calculations and approach are helpful to clarify situations that don't follow state requirements exactly. You might also try the calculation converting them to FTEs to determine impact. I suggest a conversation with your review team through the portal prior to re-submitting.
Septic Systems
Do septic systems count as on-site wastewater treatment? Our automotive dealership project will treat 100% of their wastewater via a septic system. Floor drains in shop areas will go through an oil/water separator and then into an underground collection tank for later removal by a tanker truck.
Andrea Traber replied Director, Sustainable Buildings and Operations, KEMA Mar 17 2010
Septic systems do count as on-site wastewater treatment, however, for WEc2 purposes you still need to reduce potable waste water quantities for flushing by 50% through standard methods like waterless and ultra-low flow fixtures, or by using recycled grey water, captured rainwater or municipal reclaimed water. Typically, septic systems do not provide a source of tertiary treated grey water for reuse, though you may be able to incorporate this feature in your septic system.
Erik Bergstrom replied Green Building Associate Jun 28 2010
Where is this requirement that in addition to a septic system (leech field) you have to reduce waste water for flushing by 50%? The ref guide gives you two options, and doesn't require that you do both (as far as I can tell).
Andrea Traber replied Director, Sustainable Buildings and Operations, KEMA Jul 01 2010
You are correct, you do not have to do both if you are using option 2, however, you do have to demonstrate that at least 50% of your total wastewater is diverted to the on-site system. This is probably self-evident in most cases, but just to be clear for the reviewers make sure to clearly state the facts. I would also add that even though it's not required to reduce flushing by 50% it's still a good idea.
LEED in Vietnam
Dear all,
regarding this credit it is required to (Option 2) to treat 50% of wastewater on-site to tertiary standard. In Vietnam we have different standard for wastewater treatment for different purpose. One of these is treat the sewage treatment water from effluent for irrigation (tertiary). However the limit of the parameter such BOD5 and TSSTotal suspended solids (TSS) are particles that are too small or light to be removed from stormwater via gravity settling. Suspended solid concentrations are typically removed via filtration. are higher than the ones indicated in the "Definitions" paragraph for tertiary standard treatment since we are in Vietnam. Do you think we can still apply for this credit?
Thanks
Andrea Traber replied Director, Sustainable Buildings and Operations, KEMA May 12 2010
Given that this is an international project, I strongly suggest that you submit an inquiry to your LEED reviewer. Theoretically, the LEED standards are to be applied consistently throughout the world as it's adopted in other countries. However, this may be infeasible in certain cases but only GBCI can make that determination. My bias would be to agree with you because the water is treated to tertiary standards of the local governing agencies for the intended use (landscaping) and as long as you meet the overall goal of treating 50% of wastewater on site and reuse it or let it infiltrate you meet the intent of the credit, and this reuse would also contribute to WEc1.1 and 1.2, if you use no 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. for irrigation.
Cistern Capacity
Hi,
My question is in regards to calculating the cistern capacity to reduce sewage conveyance. When completing the LEED letter template, is it based on the capacity of the cistern or the collection of rainwater over a year?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC May 28 2010
I'm looking at the LEED-2009 WEc2 LEED Online form, and it asks for "annual quantities" of captured rainwater, recycled graywater1. Defined by the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) in its Appendix G, titled "Gray water Systems for Single-Family Dwellings," as "untreated household wastewater which has not come into contact with toilet waste. Grey water includes used water from bathtubs, showers, bathroom wash basins, and water from clothes-washer and laundry tubs. It shall not include wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers." 2. The International Plumbing Code (IPC) defines graywater in its Appendix C, titled "Graywater Recycling Systems," as "wastewater discharged from lavatories, bathtubs, showers, clothes washers, and laundry sinks." Some states and local authorities allow kitchen sink wastewater to be included in graywater. Other differences with the UPC and IPC definitions can probably be found in state and local codes. Project teams should comply with the graywater definitions as established by the authority having jurisdiction in their areas., etc. So it seems to be looking for a quantity of water, not a cistern size. Which makes sense, because LEED wants to know how much 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. you're replacing—the system capacity you use to do it is of less interest.
Template NC 2009, does it work correctly?
Hi everybody,
filling out the Template, I arrive to that sentence:
"The project building uses non-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. for sewage conveyance, in addition to or in lieu of using high-efficiency flush fixtures, in the following annual quantities."
In my project there are both captured rainwater (for closets) and high-efficiency flush fixtures. Should I agree (put an X) with the statement?
Thank you in advanced.
Best regards
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Jul 13 2010
Yes, since you are using captured rainwater, which is a non-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. source, you should agree with that question.
Claudia Rieger replied Jul 13 2010
Thank you for your answer Roberts,
using both things I will have more 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. savings, that´s logical.
If I agree with the question, why the "Points Documented" change in 0?
Without "X" and typing my kGal of "Captured rainwater" i get 2 point plus Innovative Exemplary. Strange, isn´t it?
Andrea Traber replied Director, Sustainable Buildings and Operations, KEMA Jul 22 2010
Claudia, this is potentially a flaw in the template programming. You might advise USGBC. You might try here: http://www.gbci.org/org-nav/contact/Contact-Us/Project-Certification-Que...
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