LEED Water Efficiency Concepts 3

Question 1

Which alternative water source is most commonly permitted under LEED for toilet and urinal flushing?

Accepted Answer

Rainwater harvested and stored on-site

Answer

Harvested rainwater is a widely accepted non-potable alternative water source for toilet and urinal flushing in LEED.

Question 2

What is the primary goal of the LEED prerequisite 'Indoor Water Use Reduction'?

Accepted Answer

Reduce potable water consumption by at least 20% compared to a baseline

Answer

The prerequisite mandates a minimum 20% reduction in indoor potable water use compared to the EPAct 1992 baseline.

Question 3

Which of the following landscape design strategies earns the most LEED points for outdoor water reduction?

Accepted Answer

Eliminating all irrigation for the entire landscape

Answer

Eliminating all irrigation achieves the maximum outdoor water use reduction, earning the highest available points.

Question 4

In LEED, what occupancy type is used to calculate the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) occupants for water use baseline?

Accepted Answer

8-hour occupancy per person per day for FTEs, with transient occupants at fractional hours

Answer

LEED uses 8 hours per FTE and assigns fractional hours to transient occupants based on their typical daily duration.

Question 5

A project replaces a cooling tower with an air-cooled chiller. What is the primary Water Efficiency benefit?

Accepted Answer

Eliminates cooling tower makeup water, reducing process water consumption

Answer

Air-cooled chillers eliminate the need for cooling tower makeup water, which can represent a significant portion of a building's total water use.

LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification Practice Test