This document discusses top mistakes to avoid when improving a building's water efficiency. It warns against not conducting thorough water audits, over or under estimating water use rates, failing to follow recommendations from water audits, and not prioritizing projects based on their return on investment durations. The document emphasizes the importance of measuring water usage accurately, addressing leaks, considering human factors, and conducting follow-up audits.

1. Lessons Learned
Top Mistakes to Avoid when Improving your
Building’s Water Efficiency
Troy Aichele
Aichele and Associates, LLC
October 7, 2010 CM 321 - Mechanical

2. Aichele
IKE + LEE
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5. Plunging into Plumbing – Specialty Systems
Instructors: Troy Aichele
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8. Objectives
1. Audits
2. Installation
3. The Human
Factor
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9. Troy’s Toilet Trivia
In the United States, when is the toilet flushed
more often than any other time of the year?
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10. Objectives
1. Audits
2. Installation
3. The Human
Factor
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11. Assemble Data
Historical Use
Cost Data /
Utility Rates
Building Use and
Occupancy
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12. Compare Benchmarks
Water Use / SF / Year Comparisons
120
100
80
Gallons
60
40
20
0
0 500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000
Hospital Size (Square Feet)
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15. Sensor Activated Water Closets
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16. Waterless
Urinals
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17. Find Existing Leaks
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18. Be thorough
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22. Actual Fixture Counts not matching
Audit Count
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24. Troy’s Toilet Trivia
Which toilet cubicle in a public restroom is
usually the cleanest? CM 321 - Mechanical

25. Over or Under Estimating Use Rates
Water Closet
– 3 / Day (Women)
– 1 / Day (Men)*
Urinal
– 2 / Day (Men)
Faucets
– 1 Minute / Person / Day
Shower Use
– 8 Minutes / Day
*3 / Day if no urinals
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26. Over or Under Estimating Use Rates
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27. Measuring with Bucket and
Stopwatch
Measure twice
and average
Measure 10%
of similar
devices
throughout
facility
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28. Objectives
1. Audits
2. Installation
3. The Human
Factor
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29. Lowering GPF without changing bowl
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30. Fixture Footprints
are not all the same
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31. System Shut-downs vs. Freezing
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32. Beta-Testing
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33. Problematic Existing Conditions
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34. Aerators vs. Flow Control
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36. Objectives
1. Audits
2. Installation
3. The Human
Factor
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37. Straying from Water Audit
Recommendations
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38. Low Water Flow Concerns:
Maintenance Problems
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39. Low Water Flow
Concerns:
User Negative
Feedback
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40. Putting Water Efficiency
Ahead of User or Building needs
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41. Troy’s Toilet Trivia
What percentage of Americans feel better
about themselves after flushing the toilet?
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42. Waiting for the perfect time
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43. Irrigation (Xeriscaping)
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44. Think you’re not eligible
for rebates ?
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45. Utility Rate Trends…
Utility Rate Trends 10 %
10%
$9.00
$8.00
$7.00
$6.00
$5.00
$4.00
$3.00
$2.00
Water
Peak
$1.00 Water
$/CCF
Waste
Sewer
$- $/CCF
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
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47. Follow-up Audits /
Stop looking for new products
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48. Boiler Stack Economizer
Condensate Recovery
Cost: $1,090
Water / Sewer Savings: 720 GPD
Return on Investment: 5 Months
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49. Prioritize Work via ROI Durations
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50. Objectives
1. Audits
2. Installation
3. The Human
Factor
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53. BONUS ROUND !!!
What day is World Plumbing Day?
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