TABLE OF CONTENTS - The Professional Green Building Council

Theme B: Creating a livable, healthy and environmentally viable citiesFigure 4: Water end use consumption data adjusted to match the projectedpopulation average.The summation of the flows that are counted within the CIRIA benchmarks(basically amenities and a proportionate share of the leakage flows) isapproximately 0.55 kl/m². This is remarkably close to the CIRIA average practicebenchmark, indicating good alignment between the data sets across the same setsof end-uses.4. WATER SAVING POTENTIALThere is a wide range of technologies and approaches that can be used to reducewater consumption within the office sector. Major items are briefly, but notcomprehensively, summarised as follows:Cooling towers: Reduction of energy consumption, increased cycles ofconcentration, correction of faulty treatment practices.Amenities: reduced flow taps, low volume flush toilets, waterless urinals,improved urinal flush controls.Leakage: Correction of faults causing leakage flows, particularly in mechanismsfor toilet flush, urinal flush and cooling tower filling, and also leaking taps.Tracing and correction of other leaks including pipe breakages.Irrigation: Use of drought resistant plantings, reduction of irrigated area, use ofdripper irrigation.Grey water. Capture and use of rainwater in cooling towers and toilet/urinal flush.Processing of black water (sewage) for use in toilet/urinal flush.Many of these mechanisms have extensive application in most buildings, but thedegree to which any technology is economic varies. In Australia, the cost of watersupply is typically only $A1-$A2 ($US0.85-$US1.70) per kl. Thus the water178