LEEDuser expert
Robert Benazzi
Jaros Baaum & Bolles
Partner Emeritus
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To conserve water used for cooling tower makeup while controlling microbes, corrosion, and scale in the condenser water system.
Pilot Credit Closed
This pilot credit was closed to new pilot credit registrations on 3/1/2015. It is now available in the LEED Innovation Catalog for ongoing use by project teams as an innovation point rather than a pilot credit.
Requirements
* This credit language is drawn from the LEED v4 draft. Where other point totals are noted, this pilot credit is worth 1 point in total. *For cooling towers and evaporative condensers, conduct a one-time potable water analysis, in order to optimize cooling tower cycles. Measure at least the five control parameters listed in Table 1.
Table 1. Maximum concentrations for parameters in condenser water
| Parameter | Maximum level |
|---|---|
| Ca (as CaCO3) | 1,000 ppm |
| Total alkalinity | 1,000 ppm |
| SiO2 | 100 ppm |
| Cl- | 250 ppm |
| Conductivity | 2000 µS/cm |
Table 2. Points for cooling tower cycles
| Cooling tower cycles | Points |
|---|---|
| Maximum number of cycles achieved without exceeding any filtration levels or affecting operation of condenser water system (up to maximum of 10 cycles) | 1 |
| Achieve a minimum 10 cycles by increasing the level of treatment in condenser or make-up water OR Achieve the number of cycles for 1 point and use a minimum 20% recycled nonpotable water |
2 |
General Pilot Documentation Requirements
Register for the pilot credit- Participate in the LEEDuser pilot credit forum
- Complete the feedback survey:
Credit specific
Provide the following:- A water analysis measuring as a minimum the five control parameters measured in ppm or mg/l.
- Narrative describing the water treatment system and the number of cycles which the cooling tower can achieve without exceeding the control parameters. The narrative should also include the predicted acceptable corrosion rates for each pipe material within the condenser water system.
Additional questions:
noneChanges
- Changes made for 2nd Public Comment (08/01/2011): Separate language for EBOM projects to conform with new EBOM rating system structure Added Healthcare as an applicable rating system type. Clarification of cooling tower analysis process which requires a one time potable water analysis, following by an assessment of the maximum number of cycles appropriate to the project, along with additional measures to improve cooling tower efficiency.
- Changes made for 3rd Public Comment (03/01/2012): Removed CI & Retail CI from applicable rating systems Removed equipment requirements from EB:O&M Separated EBOM & BD+C submittal requirements to reflect change to EBOM requirements.
- Changes made for 5th Public Comment (1/15/2013): Updated tables to align with 5th Public Comment changes to LEED v4 WEc3. Removed additional BD+C documentation requirements that correspond to WEp2 from v4 draft.
What does it cost?
Cost estimates for this credit
On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.
Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.
This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.
Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »Frequently asked questions
See all forum discussions about this credit »Documentation toolkit
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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To conserve water used for cooling tower makeup while controlling microbes, corrosion, and scale in the condenser water system.
Pilot Credit Closed
This pilot credit was closed to new pilot credit registrations on 3/1/2015. It is now available in the LEED Innovation Catalog for ongoing use by project teams as an innovation point rather than a pilot credit.
Requirements
* This credit language is drawn from the LEED v4 draft. Where other point totals are noted, this pilot credit is worth 1 point in total. *For cooling towers and evaporative condensers, conduct a one-time potable water analysis, in order to optimize cooling tower cycles. Measure at least the five control parameters listed in Table 1.
Table 1. Maximum concentrations for parameters in condenser water
| Parameter | Maximum level |
|---|---|
| Ca (as CaCO3) | 1,000 ppm |
| Total alkalinity | 1,000 ppm |
| SiO2 | 100 ppm |
| Cl- | 250 ppm |
| Conductivity | 2000 µS/cm |
Table 2. Points for cooling tower cycles
| Cooling tower cycles | Points |
|---|---|
| Maximum number of cycles achieved without exceeding any filtration levels or affecting operation of condenser water system (up to maximum of 10 cycles) | 1 |
| Achieve a minimum 10 cycles by increasing the level of treatment in condenser or make-up water OR Achieve the number of cycles for 1 point and use a minimum 20% recycled nonpotable water |
2 |
General Pilot Documentation Requirements
Register for the pilot credit- Participate in the LEEDuser pilot credit forum
- Complete the feedback survey:
Credit specific
Provide the following:- A water analysis measuring as a minimum the five control parameters measured in ppm or mg/l.
- Narrative describing the water treatment system and the number of cycles which the cooling tower can achieve without exceeding the control parameters. The narrative should also include the predicted acceptable corrosion rates for each pipe material within the condenser water system.
Additional questions:
noneChanges
- Changes made for 2nd Public Comment (08/01/2011): Separate language for EBOM projects to conform with new EBOM rating system structure Added Healthcare as an applicable rating system type. Clarification of cooling tower analysis process which requires a one time potable water analysis, following by an assessment of the maximum number of cycles appropriate to the project, along with additional measures to improve cooling tower efficiency.
- Changes made for 3rd Public Comment (03/01/2012): Removed CI & Retail CI from applicable rating systems Removed equipment requirements from EB:O&M Separated EBOM & BD+C submittal requirements to reflect change to EBOM requirements.
- Changes made for 5th Public Comment (1/15/2013): Updated tables to align with 5th Public Comment changes to LEED v4 WEc3. Removed additional BD+C documentation requirements that correspond to WEp2 from v4 draft.
In the end, LEED is all about documentation. LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit, for premium members only, saves you time and helps you avoid mistakes with:
- Calculators to help assess credit compliance.
- Tracking spreadsheets for materials purchases.
- Spreadsheets and forms to give to subs and other team members.
- Guidance documents on arcane LEED issues.
- Sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions.
- Examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects.
LEEDuser expert
Robert Benazzi
Jaros Baaum & Bolles
Partner Emeritus
