Title: Reading and Audio-Visual Assignments
Course: WGF 105 DEVELOPMENT > Section: Content

Sub-Title | Building Water System Improvements – Bundling
Content
When specifying or replacing a component of the water system, consider bundling that component with other building equipment and strategies. Building technologies work best when they work together. A sustainable building can operate more efficiently and cost less when the impacts of systems on each other are considered. The system bundling section can be leveraged to further understand whole building synergies and explore examples for ideas on what technologies might best be bundled together.

Optimize Energy Efficiency

Technologies:

Piping, Plumbing Fixtures, Boilers/Steam System

Some water system components, when bundled together, can significantly reduce overall building energy consumption as over eight percent of total energy goes to heating, treating, and pumping water....

Some water system components, when bundled together, can significantly reduce overall building energy consumption as over eight percent of total energy goes to heating, treating, and pumping water. High efficiency faucets and showerheads reduce the quantity of water that need to be heated. A well-insulated and properly sized piping system (with minimal turns and direct paths) assures the energy that goes to heating the water is not lost during delivery. Having less water to heat allows for the purchase of a smaller boiler system, saving both money in energy utility bills and mechanical equipment operations costs.

Since energy conservation is a priority, these fixture upgrades can be integrated into an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC). Learn more on how to use ESPCs to mitigate the costs of energy-saving upgrades.

Optimize Water Systems

Technologies:

Alternate Water Harvesting Systems, Landscaping/Irrigation, Plumbing Fixtures

Retrofitting all components at once can be cost prohibitive, but bundling water-efficient fixtures with alternate water harvesting systems and landscape redesign can lead to significant savings. Op...

Retrofitting all components at once can be cost prohibitive, but bundling water-efficient fixtures with alternate water harvesting systems and landscape redesign can lead to significant savings. Optimizing the water system as a whole leads to the greatest reduction in potable water consumption and lead to synergies that can help reduce project scope. The first goal when optimizing the system is to reduce the demand for potable water by implementing water efficient equipment and landscape that requires little supplemental water. With reduced potable demand, water captured in alternate water harvesting systems can be stretched further or downsized. See BMP case studies for an example.
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Links/Uploads | Water System Improvement Bundling – Sustainable Facilities Tool                                                 http://sftool.gov/explore/green-building/section/21/water/system-bundling
Attributions | Image and content courtesy of Sustainable Facilities Tool – U.S. General Services Administration