(I05) The Hidden Carbon Footprint of Water

Though many of us do not immediately associate water with carbon emissions, the process of extracting and transferring water for domestic or industrial use is associated with significant embodied carbon. The LEED rating systems provides a framework for building teams to evaluate and make informed decisions about water systems design and operations. Implementing best practices for premise plumbing design in combination with new technologies for on-site water treatment, reuse and water quality monitoring enables building projects to meet today’s water demand without compromising future water supply. Efficient plumbing design and operations not only help preserve water resources; they critically protect human health and reduce the embodied carbon footprint of water use. In the LEED Water Efficiency Technical Advisory Group (WE TAG) and other LEED Committees, USGBC members and volunteers are working to develop LEED targets for water stewardship and resilience, particularly for the design, construction, and operation and maintenance industry. These include working to ensure that all projects contribute to net positive water use in their local watersheds and reducing the carbon footprint of water use. With humanity facing down global challenges such as the depletion of freshwater resources and climate change trends, these targets and strategies will become ever more important and ever more urgent. This session will present a new vision for the environmental impact of water use that moves beyond a traditional focus on water efficiency. Join members of the LEED Water Efficiency TAG and Energy & Atmosphere TAG (EA TAG) as they explore the relationship between water efficiency, embodied carbon, water quality and carbon mitigation. After reviewing important considerations for resilient, net-zero water design strategies and operations, speakers will answer moderated questions regarding best practices for on-site water reuse, new technologies for water quality monitoring, and how specific strategies earn credit in LEED.