Learn how high efficiency water fixtures help conserve the Earth’s limited potable water supply, a key green building objective covered on the USGBC LEED Green Associate Exam.
Table of Contents
Question
What green building objective does utilizing high efficiency water fixtures achieve?
A. Preventing stormwater pollution
B. Conserving the Earth’s potable water supply
C. Providing adequate watering for indigenous plants
D. Utilizing more unused graywater for flushing water closets
Answer
B. Conserving the Earth’s potable water supply
Explanation
Conserving the Earth’s potable water supply is a green building objective that can be achieved by utilizing high efficiency water fixtures. High efficiency water fixtures reduce the amount of water used for indoor plumbing, which reduces the demand on municipal water supply and wastewater systems.
This also saves energy and money for the building owners and occupants. The LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook states that one of the intents of the Water Efficiency category is to “reduce potable water use within buildings and for landscape irrigation”.
The primary green building objective achieved by utilizing high efficiency water fixtures is conserving the Earth’s limited potable (drinkable) water supply. High efficiency fixtures like low-flow toilets, showerheads, and faucets significantly reduce the amount of clean, treated water used in buildings compared to standard fixtures.
Potable water is a precious and increasingly scarce resource in many regions. Reducing potable water consumption through efficient plumbing fixtures helps to conserve this vital resource for essential needs like drinking, cooking, and sanitation. It lessens the burden on water treatment facilities and distribution infrastructure.
While efficient fixtures can help reduce wastewater loads and pollution, prevent overdrawing from aquifers and surface waters, and potentially make more graywater available for non-potable uses, their main green building purpose is potable water conservation. Using water efficiently indoors is a key component of LEED and other green building rating systems.
The other answer options are related to water but not the main objective of high efficiency indoor water fixtures:
A. Preventing stormwater pollution is achieved through site measures like pervious paving and bioswales, not indoor fixtures.
C. Appropriate plant selection and efficient irrigation systems conserve water for landscaping, separate from indoor water use.
D. Graywater from sinks and showers can potentially be reused for non-potable applications like toilet flushing, but this requires special plumbing and treatment, beyond just installing efficient fixtures.
USGBC LEED Green Associate certification exam practice question and answer (Q&A) dump with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the USGBC LEED Green Associate exam and earn USGBC LEED Green Associate certification.