| Credits: | .7 |
| Lecture: | 6 hrs |
| Class Activities: | 1 hr |
| Total: | 7 hrs |
Prerequisites: None
Class Description: Participants explore the underlying rationale for managing water use in a facility and develop their knowledge of water efficiency and the water assessment process. This class prepares the participant to take an active role in managing water use in their facility. One day.
Learning Objectives:
At the completion of Water Efficiency for Building Operators, a participant will:
- Develop an action plan for applying water efficiency concepts back on the job.
- Discuss the rationale of using water efficiently.
- Discuss how national industry standards, federal and local requirements, guidelines and programs address water efficiency.
- List the phases in a facility water assessment.
- Discuss case studies and resources for water efficiency technologies and best management practices.
- List sources of water and water using equipment in commercial and institutional facilities.
- Describe common water efficiency opportunities for at least three types of equipment or processes.
- Conduct a walkthrough audit and discuss efficiency opportunities with colleagues.
- Describe strategies for facility water reclamation and reuse.
Project: None
Texts: BOC 212 – Water Efficiency for Building Operators Handbook, NEEC.
Special Equipment for Instructors: Flush valves, range of aerators and water-saving showerheads, diaphragm for flushometer toilet, pressure tanks, handheld conductivity meter, landscape irrigation water audit catch cans, soil coring devices, pressure gauge, and dye tablets for toilet leaks.
Evaluation:
Test: 100%
Class Outline
I. Section 1: The Case for Water Efficiency
A. Why Bother Managing Water Use?
B. Reasons to Manage Water Use
C. Water Efficiency Basics
D. The Water & Energy Connection
E. Federal Requirements, Guidelines, & Programs
F. State Standards & Codes
G. Industry Standards
H. Discussion
I. Case Studies
J. Knowledge Check
II. Section 2: Evaluating Water Efficiency
A. Overview of the Water Assessment Process
B. Phase 1: Planning and Collecting Data
1. Defining the Water Assessment Scope
2. Collecting Data
3. Water Meters
4. Water and wastewater bill history and analysis
5. Contractor Qualification
6. Water Assessment Contract
7. Discussion
8. Knowledge Check
C. Phase 2: Walk-through Water Audit
1. Overview of Major End-Uses
2. Tools for Auditing & Monitoring Water Use & Losses
3. Domestic Water Fixtures
4. HVAC Systems
5. Irrigation and Landscaping Systems
6. Knowledge Check
D. Phase 3: Water Balance
1. Overview of Water Balance and Usage Graphs
2. Discussion
3. Typical End-Uses by Building Types
4. Knowledge Check
E. Phase 4: Identifying Improvements, Analyze Costs & Prioritize
1. Overview of Phase 4
2. Common Indoor Opportunities
a. Lavatory Fixture and Accessories
b. Apply Concepts Back On The Job
c. Single-pass Cooling
d. Evaporative Coolers
e. Cooling Towers
f. Boilers
g. Indoor Opportunities Checklist
h. Apply concepts back on the job
i. Resources
3. Common Outdoor Opportunities
a. Water Audit of Irrigated Landscapes
b. Why Build Healthy Soil?
c. The Right Plants in the Right Place Can Save Water
d. Lawn Alternatives: Easy-care, Low-maintenance Groundcover
e. Irrigation System Efficiency
f. Irrigation System Maintenance
g. Irrigation System Retrofits
h. Selecting and Working with Irrigation Contractors
i. Outdoor Opportunities Checklist
j. Knowledge Check
k. Apply concepts back on the job
4. Analyze Costs & Prioritize Opportunities
a. Analyzing Useful Life
b. Analyzing Life Cycle Costs
c. Discussion: Prioritizing Opportunities
III. Section 3: Walk-through Audit Group Exercise
IV. Section 4: Stormwater Management and Water Reuse
A. The context for stormwater management
B. Concepts & strategies for stormwater management
C. Rainwater collection and applications
D. Knowledge Check
V. Section 5: Review and Next Steps
A. Apply Concepts Back on the Job
B. Develop an action plan