Learn about LEED water efficiency and how gallons per minute (GPM) and liters per minute (LPM) measure the flow rate of water fixtures like faucets and showerheads. Understand key LEED concepts for the Green Associate exam.
Table of Contents
Question
Relating to water efficiency in LEED. gallons per minute or liters per minute refers to the amount of
A. stormwater runoff
B. captured rainwater
C. water used by flow fixtures
D. water used by flush fixtures
Answer
C. water used by flow fixtures
Explanation
Gallons per minute or liters per minute refers to the amount of water used by flow fixtures in LEED. Flow fixtures are fixtures that deliver a constant stream of water, such as faucets, showerheads, or hose bibs. The flow rate of these fixtures is measured in gallons per minute (gpm) or liters per minute (L/min), which indicates how much water flows through them in a given time period. The LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook states that one of the strategies for achieving water efficiency is to “use low-flow faucets and showerheads (maximum 2.5 gpm at 80 psi)”.
In the context of water efficiency in LEED, gallons per minute (GPM) or liters per minute (LPM) refers to the flow rate of water used by flow fixtures such as faucets and showerheads. Flow fixtures are plumbing fixtures where water flows continuously while in use.
LEED encourages reducing the flow rates of these fixtures to conserve water. It awards points for installing low-flow faucets, showerheads, and other flow fixtures that use significantly less than the standard flow rates (e.g. 2.2 GPM for faucets). Using flow fixtures with lower GPM/LPM values helps achieve the LEED water efficiency credits.
The other options are incorrect:
A. Stormwater runoff is measured in volume over time, not GPM/LPM
B. Captured rainwater is a water conservation strategy but isn’t measured with flow rates
D. Flush fixtures like toilets and urinals use water per flush (gpf), not per minute
So in summary, for the LEED Green Associate exam, remember that gallons per minute (GPM) and liters per minute (LPM) are the units used to quantify the flow rate of water flow fixtures like faucets and showerheads. Reducing these flow rates helps earn LEED points for water efficiency.
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.